Nosara Costa Rica

Guiones, the town south of Nosara, is a tucked away delight with lucrative real-estate—which has skyrocketed in the last decade—vibrant flora, and a world-class white-sand beach. The town, which has a sizeable population of ex-pats, has no shortage of accommodations that can be described as mostly private, luxurious, and immersed in natural beauty.

The North American retirees have effectively made Guiones an extension of the U.S., though with good taste. With no centralized town in the community, everything is spread-out, thus providing a very relaxed setting.

The actual town of Nosara, as well as the airport, is a few miles away from the beach. The town is a bit run down and doesn’t offer much in terms of accommodations or other tourism services.

Guiones beach is considered to be one of the country's better Surfing destinations, both for beginners and advanced surfers. Surfers aren’t the only visitors who enjoy this beach though, it is also great for swimming and taking in the sun.

Although there are a few budget options in the area, accommodations in Guiones, with a variety to choose between, definitely seem to favor travelers in search of luxury.

Flights to Nosara are offered daily from San José and Liberia, and then continue southward to Sámara. Buses from Nicoya leave daily, taking about 2.5 hours to complete the journey. Also, a bus from San José leaves daily.

The 22 mile (35 km) road from Nicoya is plagued with potholes and lacks proper signage. Visitors commuting to Nosara should consider a four-wheel drive vehicle, particularly during the rainy season.