Nosara is a tranquil beach community on the north pacific coast of Costa Rica in the Province of Guanacaste. Known for its pristine beaches and lush tropical forests, Nosara is a destination for many nature lovers, surfers, yoga enthusiasts and people looking for a simpler way of life. The community itself is comprised of people from all walks of life and who have come from all around the world to enjoy the rich Costa Rican culture.

The natural wonders of the area comprise a dry forest that provide habitat for many species of plants and animals. Howler monkeys, coatis, armadillos, raccoons and morpho butterflies can be seen daily in the dry forest located within the community surrounding. Wild cats are rarely spotted but if you are lucky you can have an encounter with a jaguarundi or caucel.

Nosara it's also part of the Ostional Wildlife Refuge, a unique protected area that receives thousands of Olive Ridley Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) every year during their massive nesting seasons known as “arribadas”. These occur, at the start of the last quarter moon. The best months to see “arribadas” are between July and December. During these months the number of nesting turtles may be in the range of hundreds of thousands as opposed to tens of thousands for the dry season months, definitely one of nature's greatest phenomenons.

Light sand beaches, year round surf, rivers, hills, raw land and dirt roads make Nosara an amazing place. There are also many conveniences such as L'acqua Viva Hotel,supermarkets, hardware stores, medical clinics, and its airport.

Nosara is located 257 kilometers (160 miles) from San Jose (the capital). There's a good bus service with daily departure, leaving at 5:30 a.m. and arriving  approximately at 11:30 a.m. to Nicoya city, where you need to take Nosara town bus. 

You can also get Nosara there by plane. More info. 

Nosara beaches

Nosara beaches are the great attraction, especially for those seeking to be in touch with nature in a serene atmosphere and surrounded by wildlife in abundance.

Nosara has three beautiful beaches: Nosara, Pelada, Guiones, and is located 7 kilometers from Playa Ostional (belonging to Santa Cruz (Canton), where as we said, almost every month thousands of turtles come to spawn, especially olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) whose nesting habits are widely known, and the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Playa Guiones it's notable as an ideal beach for surfing, and Pelada beach for its rock formations, uncovered when tide goes down,  showing a variety of life forms: snail, sea star, octopus, fish and corals,sea urchins and crabs, among others.

Nosara wildlife is very varied and colorful. Representative of this diversity can be mentioned are birds, mammals, reptiles and fishes, amphibians and insects among many other types.

Due to amounts that can be seen, local people and visitors become quickly  familiar with the howler monkey, (monkeys known as congo), the iguana, the armadillo, the raccoon, the squirrel and pizotes. Although rarely, the paca, the ocelotey and the panther still  can be found. Heron, pelican and lizards are the best aquatic environment representatives of Nosara.