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Where to Stay in Nosara: Guiones, Pelada or the Hills?

Nosara isn’t one compact town, and that catches plenty of people out. It’s a few beach areas joined by dirt roads, with the village and the airstrip about 6 km inland.

• Playa Guiones: the surf beach, with most of the hotels, surf schools, yoga studios and cafés. The best pick without a car.
• Playa Pelada: a quieter bay just north, with tide pools, fishing boats and La Luna for sunset.
• The hills: Las Huacas and the slopes above Guiones, with jungle views and more privacy. You’ll want wheels.
• Nosara village: supermarkets and the airstrip, about 15 minutes from Guiones by taxi. Most people stay closer to the beach.

Here’s a quick look at all 15, with rough nightly rates for two people:

Hotel	Area	Rough Nightly Rate
Silvestre Nosara	Playa Guiones	Check direct rates
Tierra Magnifica	Playa Guiones	About $240 to $630
Lagarta Lodge	Playa Pelada	About $185 to $420
Esh Hotel & Spa	Las Huacas	Check direct rates
Domo Nosara	Playa Pelada	Check direct rates
The Harmony Hotel	Playa Guiones	From about $260
The Gilded Iguana	Playa Guiones	About $215 to $620
Olas Verdes Hotel	Playa Guiones	About $180 to $340
The White Palms	Playa Guiones	Check direct rates
The Nomadic Hotel	Playa Guiones	About $170 to $320
Ride On! Surf Hotel	Playa Guiones	Check direct rates
Casa Vitality Nosara	Playa Guiones	About $220 to $240
Green Sanctuary Hotel	Above Playa Guiones	About $100 to $130
Villa Mango B&B	Playa Pelada	About $90 to $120
Jungle’s Edge	Playa Guiones	About $60 to $120

Rates jump from December to April, and plenty of hotels raise them again around Christmas and Easter. September and October are the wettest months, and some hotels close for a few weeks then.

Luxury Hotels in Nosara

Luxury in Nosara means small and design-led, not big resorts. These six are worth it for a honeymoon, a long surf trip or a few days of being looked after.

1. Silvestre Nosara Hotel & Residences

Silvestre is the pick for families and friends traveling together. Instead of hotel rooms, you get residences of about 1,000 square feet. Each has two bedrooms, a full kitchen and a washer and dryer.

Breakfast is included and served up on the rooftop. Up there, you’ll also find an infinity pool, a bar and a lounge above the jungle. There’s an open gym, and every residence comes with a performance surfboard, which is a nice touch in a surf town.

The bigger units sleep up to seven, and the penthouse has four bedrooms. Rates are only on its own booking page, so check there for your dates.

2. Tierra Magnifica Boutique Hotel

Tierra Magnifica is a small, romantic hotel in the Playa Guiones area, built around big suites and good food. Rooms range from the Brisa room with one king bed to Vista suites with two kings.

Breakfast is made fresh each day, and the chef cooks Costa Rican dishes with a fine-dining twist. It’s a nice reason to stay in for dinner.

Rates run about $240 to $630 a night. Book a Vista suite when the view matters most.

3. Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge

Lagarta Lodge is on Cerro Lagarta, a hill above Playa Pelada, with views over two rivers, the beaches and the forest. It borders the Nosara Biological Reserve, about 90 acres of trails down to the river.

There are infinity pools, a restaurant and bar, a wine cellar, a spa with yoga, and an observation tower. A free shuttle runs to the beach and from the Nosara airstrip.

Rates run about $185 to $420 a night. Fair warning: the road up is rough, so take it slow in a rental car.

4. Esh Hotel & Spa

Esh is the design lover’s pick, in Las Huacas, just above Playa Guiones. It takes adults and teens 13 and up, so it stays calm.

The top rooms are one-bedroom villas with a private plunge pool. Others come with an outdoor bathtub or a balcony in the trees. Almar serves Mexican Pacific food, and Ember & Ash is the cocktail bar.

Vitalis Spa handles massages, and both Guiones and Pelada are a few minutes away. Rates are on its own site, so check there for deals before you book.

5. Domo Nosara Boutique Hotel

Domo is a small boutique hotel in Playa Pelada, in a renovated local landmark close to the beach and restaurants. There are 13 suites, with one- and two-bedroom options.

The tiled pool in the courtyard is the heart of the place, with two cabanas for lazy afternoons. Suites suit couples, friends or small families.

Rates are on its own booking page. Pelada is quieter than Guiones, so it’s a good fit when you want sunsets more than nightlife.

6. The Harmony Hotel

Harmony is a relaxed wellness hotel in Playa Guiones, open since 2005. The beach is a two-minute walk down a jungle path, so you can surf before breakfast.

There are 24 rooms and bungalows around a large pool, plus two three-bedroom villas. Breakfast is included, and the Healing Center does massages, facials and acupuncture. The juice bar uses produce from the hotel’s own farm.

Rates start around $260 to $290 a night in the green season, before tax, and climb a lot in high season. Every guest gets one free yoga class a day, so make it part of your morning.

Mid-Range Hotels in Nosara

Mid-range in Nosara costs more than in most beach towns, at about $170 to $350 a night for most rooms. In return, you get great locations close to the surf at Playa Guiones.

7. The Gilded Iguana

The Gilded Iguana is the classic surf hotel in Playa Guiones. It’s about 100 meters south of the mini super and a short walk from the beach.

Its Surf Club runs private, semi-private and group lessons. It also rents boards by the day or week, including soft tops and high-performance boards. The restaurant serves locally sourced food and cocktails, and there’s a pool and a kids’ club for ages 4 to 10.

Rates run about $215 to $620 a night. It’s a fun base when surfing is the plan.

8. Olas Verdes Hotel

Olas Verdes calls itself the closest hotel to the beach in Playa Guiones, and it’s hard to argue. The sand is about a 200-meter walk through the refuge jungle.

Suites come with separate living areas, and there are two saltwater pools, open 7 AM to 9 PM. El Manglar, the restaurant, serves seafood and Costa Rican food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Rates run about $180 to $340 a night. The concierge can set up surf lessons, so you can be in the water on day one.

9. The White Palms of Nosara

The White Palms has just nine rooms, so it feels more like a guesthouse than a hotel. It’s in the K-section of Playa Guiones, near Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort.

There’s a restaurant on site, and the beach is about five minutes away by golf cart. It suits couples who like small places with a personal feel.

Rates are only on its own booking page. Book early in high season, since nine rooms go fast.

10. The Nomadic Hotel

The Nomadic Hotel is 75 meters west of Giardino Tropicale, about 800 meters from Playa Guiones. It’s often listed as a hostel, but the rooms on booking sites are all private.

A full breakfast is included, and there’s a saltwater pool for hot afternoons. Rooms range from queens to superior rooms.

Rates run about $170 to $320 a night. It’s a good-value base for walking to the beach and the cafés.

11. Ride On! Surf Hotel

Ride On! is built for surfing. It’s the last property on the street that corners with Surf Simply, in Playa Guiones, just steps from the waves.

Rooms are comfortable, with a night security guard and help with late check-ins. The hotel also runs surf camps and private surf packages with lessons and video analysis.

Rates are only on its own site, so check there for packages. It’s a great fit when surf is the whole point of the trip.

12. Casa Vitality Nosara

Casa Vitality is a small bed and breakfast in Playa Guiones, about a five-minute walk from the beach. It’s a five-bedroom house on three floors, split into suites and hosted by Ryan and Yan.

Each suite has a private bathroom, air conditioning and a kitchenette. There’s a shared pool, a big terrace, a gas BBQ and free bikes, and breakfast is included every day except Sunday.

Rates run about $220 to $240 a night with taxes. Kids aren’t allowed and the minimum check-in age is 20. It suits couples who want a quiet, homey base near the surf.

Budget Hotels in Nosara

Nosara isn’t a cheap town, so budget here means about $60 to $130 a night. These three give you a pool and a fair price.

13. Green Sanctuary Hotel

Green Sanctuary is on a hill above Playa Guiones, about a 13-minute walk from the beach. It’s simple, calm and good value for Nosara.

There’s a pool, a yoga deck and breakfast included. That helps a lot in a town where breakfast out costs more than you’d think.

Rates start around $100 to $130 a night. It’s uphill on the way back, so save the walk for the cool of the evening.

14. Villa Mango B&B

Villa Mango is a small B&B on the edge of the Nosara Biological Reserve, 500 meters east of Lagarta Lodge. Playa Pelada is a short walk away.

There are seven rooms, some with ocean views, plus a saltwater pool and a terrace looking out over the Pacific. Most rooms use fans, and air conditioning costs extra in several of them.

Rates run about $90 to $120 a night. Ask for the Tortuga or Rana room, since those two have the ocean view.

15. Jungle’s Edge

Jungle’s Edge is a Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and yoga retreat that also takes regular guests. It’s north of the 506 Tennis Center, 50 meters east of Il Basilico, in Playa Guiones.

There’s a pool, a fitness center and yoga classes, and the crowd is social, so it’s easy to meet people.

Rates run about $60 to $120 a night, which makes it the cheapest pick on this list. Just don’t expect a quiet resort.

Which Nosara Hotel Should You Pick?

For a first trip, stay in Playa Guiones. The Gilded Iguana and Olas Verdes put you a short walk from the surf, cafés and yoga.

For a splurge, Esh is the couples pick and Silvestre is best for families or friends sharing. For quiet sunsets, Lagarta Lodge or Domo in Playa Pelada are hard to beat.

For yoga and spa days, Harmony is a two-minute walk from the surf in Playa Guiones.

For a small, homey B&B close to the surf, Casa Vitality is a five-minute walk from Playa Guiones.

On a budget, Green Sanctuary and Villa Mango keep costs near $100 a night. Book early for December to April, since most hotels here are small.

Our guide to things to do in Nosara covers surf, yoga and turtles. Our guide on how to get to Nosara covers flights, shuttles and the bus.

Nosara Hotels FAQ

What Is the Best Area to Stay in Nosara?

The best area to stay in Nosara for most people is Playa Guiones. It has the surf, the cafés and most of the hotels, and you can get around on foot.

Playa Pelada, just north, is quieter, with tide pools and sunset at La Luna. The hills around Las Huacas have views and privacy, but you’ll want a car, an ATV or a golf cart.

Do You Need a Car in Nosara?

You don’t need a car in Nosara when you stay in Playa Guiones. Tuk-tuks cost about $6 to $8 a ride and take up to three people.

For Pelada or the hills, rent an ATV or a golf cart for about $60 to $80 a day. It’s easier than a car on the dirt roads. They’re dusty in the dry season and muddy in the wet one.

Are There Beachfront Hotels in Nosara?

There are no beachfront hotels in Nosara, because the coast is part of the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. Nothing can be built on the sand.

The closest are Olas Verdes, about 200 meters through the jungle, and Harmony, a two-minute walk down a jungle path. Most Guiones hotels on this list are a short walk from the sand.

How Much Does a Hotel in Nosara Cost?

A hotel in Nosara costs about $60 to $130 a night on a budget. Mid-range runs $170 to $350, and luxury about $185 to $630.

That’s more than in most Costa Rican beach towns. December to April costs the most, and September and October are cheapest, though some hotels close for a few weeks then.

How Far in Advance Should You Book a Hotel in Nosara?

Book a hotel in Nosara one to two months ahead for December to April, and earlier for Christmas, New Year and Easter. Small places like The White Palms, with nine rooms, fill up first.

In the green season, May to November, a week or two ahead is fine, and rates drop too.

Is Nosara Good for Families?

Nosara is good for families who want a calm beach town. The Gilded Iguana has a kids’ club for ages 4 to 10, and Silvestre’s two-bedroom residences come with full kitchens.

Playa Pelada has tide pools that kids love at low tide. Waves at Guiones can be strong, so keep little ones close to shore.