Nosara is a tranquil beach community, ideal for a nature lover's or a surfer's vacation. Hotels and private houses are spread apart and hidden into lush tropical greenery.

Even in the middle of the beach community one feels ensconced in a jungle and a walk through Nosara is shaded for most of the way by trees arching over the road.

The residents of Nosara are committed to preserving their natural environment. Almost half of the land in the area is protected forest where no tree may be logged, and a moratorium on hunting animals stretches back for over 20 years.

The beaches of Nosara form part of the Ostional Wildlife Reserve, located north of Nosara. Therefore, a 200 m broad strip of beach area is Nosara's protected zone where no construction is allowed.

The Beaches of Nosara:

Nosara has three different beaches, each with its own distinctive charm and activities.

The main beach of Nosara is Playa Guiones, a 6 km expanse of immaculate white sand running in a straight line from Punta Pelada to Punta Guiones in the south.

Playa Guiones ranks among the best surf spots on the Nicoya Peninsula. The beach offers easy access and the surf is consistent with long beach breaks, both lefts and rights.

At the very south of Playa Guiones is Playa Rosada which boasts a rare stretch of pink sand. For most of the time it is deserted and you can wallow in sun-warmed tide pools or take a look underwater with your snorkeling gear.

North of Playa Guiones, past a rocky outcrop, is the shell-strewn beach of Playa Pelada. Watch out for the blow hole in the rocks where you can take a truly natural shower. The spray is at its best during the transition of the tides.
The beach of Playa Pelada is protected by an offshore barrier reef which makes it well suited for swimming.
Towards the northern part of the bay you find tidal pools, and a rocky part with caves, one of them housing a bat colony.

At low tide you can continue north from Playa Pelada past the rocky cliff to get to the estuary of the Rio Nosara. Wading through the river brings you to Playa Nosara, the most remote of the Nosara beaches. The black-sand beach is backed by mangroves and runs into the turtle beach of Ostional.
The waves in front of Playa Nosara are among the tallest in Costa Rica. The surf is for experienced surfers, ans swimming is not advisable due to the strong currents.