Nosara travel guide

Nosara is a small village about 26 km north of Sámara without much to see or do in it – which makes it ideal if you like lying around on beaches. Indeed most people come for the three unspoiled beaches which are a few kilometres from the village. Playa Nosara is to the north of the village across the Nosara river, and a site for nesting turtles . Playa Pelada, the prettiest and smallest, south of the river between rocky headlands, is a popular spot for surfers and has a bat cave at one end which is good to explore – ask locally for details. Playa Guiones is a long expanse of white sand backed by low dunes and forest, with good, long surf breaks. Note that it’s about 5 km from Playa Guiones to Nosara village heading north – a long, hot walk. There is no bus but hitching is possible if you’re prepared to do it in sections.

The roads between the main road and the beach are labyrinthine and finding the beach or your hotel can be tricky; look for signs along the main road indicating where to turn off. For Playa Pelada follow signs to Olga’s Restaurant or La Luna. To get to Playa Guiones, turn off at Café de Paris and follow the road straight on to the beach.

Nosara is one of the few places where there is no development on the beach and that contributes in large measure to the appeal of the area. Much of the property backing Pelada and Guiones is owned by North Americans and Europeans, and the hills above Nosara are dotted with the holiday homes of the rich and famous. Some of the expatriate community have joined together to form the Nosara Civic Association, http://www.nosaracivicassociation.com, which keeps control over development and protects the habitat and wildlife.