Nosara Travel Guide
When it came time to plan my bachelorette trip, I traded the typical weekend of bar hopping for something more my style—a yoga retreat in the laid-back beach town of Nosara, Costa Rica. Nestled along the country’s Pacific coast, Nosara is known for its stunning beaches, consistent surf, and thriving wellness community. Between daily yoga sessions, long walks on the sand, and fresh, flavorful meals, it was the perfect blend of movement and relaxation. The scenery was so beautiful, and the energy so grounding, that by the end of the trip we were all already talking about when we could come back.
Where to Stay
I booked this beautiful Airbnb in Playa Guiones, which was just a short drive to the main part of town.
Pros: The house was gorgeous and designed to maximize indoor and outdoor living with each room opening directly to the outside. Outside of the con mentioned below, I thought the house was a comfortable stay for our group, and I loved the pool area. There was plenty of space to hold yoga classes for 10 people. The host was extremely helpful in providing recommendations for all of the activities I was looking for. They also offer chef-cooked meals for a reasonable price.
Cons: The house is marketed to fit 10 people, but it actually only fits 8 comfortably. The owner states that the extra two spots for children to squeeze into a small bed each, which wasn’t very forthcoming, but she was able to bring an extra mattress for us. I also found a roach in the kitchen drawer. I know I was staying in a jungle area and insects and critters are guaranteed, but giving a heads up in case someone has a phobia like I do.
Where to Eat
A Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that is situated right on the beach. This is such a perfect place for a sunset dinner, as the view is breathtaking. The food and drinks were incredible too. Everything was just perfect! Highly recommend this place and to make a reservation in advance.
Coyol is known as the sister restaurant to La Luna. This restaurant is located in the mountains of Nosara. It’s a bit of a rocky trek up and down, but it is so worth it. You get a stunning view of Nosara and the beach, which makes it a perfect place for a sunset dinner.
The restaurant specializes in meat-centered dishes cooked on an open fire. It seemed like they only allowed one reservation per table for the night, which allows you to “slow down and savor the moment’ as their website states. I recommend making a reservation in advance.
Right where downtown Guiones and Route 160 meet is Organico Bakery and Grocer. The bakery is on one side of the street and the grocer is across the street. I loved going to the store to grab some takeaway food and snacks. I dined in at the bakery restaurant on my last day here and had the huevos rancheros which was delicious. I wish I would’ve tried it sooner in my trip!
This hotel was so gorgeous! I hope to come back and stay here one day. They have a restaurant specializing in local, fresh food open all day and a juice bar in case you want to get fresh-squeeze juices.
Things to Do
Go snorkeling
We got a recommendation from our Airbnb host to use a person named Morris for snorkeling. He doesn’t have a website and contact was done via Whatsapp and payments were made via Paypal. I know this may sound sketch, but one thing I learned about Nosara is that this is how most people do business.
We also had an amazing time on this tour. The whole trip took about 2 hours and we were able to snorkel around an ancient underwater statue.
Go surfing
Nosara is known for surfing. Its consistent waves and warm waters make it a great place for both beginners and seasoned pros. My friends used Agua Tibia Surf School. They each just rented surfboards which only cost $15 for 3 hours.
Go to the beach
If water activities aren’t your thing, I still suggest spending time at the beach. The water here is so warm and just nice to be in or around. There are several places to access the beach from downtown guiones.
Do some yoga
I was lucky enough to have Devon Young as our private yoga instructor from Colibri Retreats during my time in Nosara. Since that’s not always a possibility, I highly recommend popping into town to take a yoga class. I would recommend taking a class at Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort or the Harmony Hotel.
Walk around town
I definitely recommend spending some time walking around Downtown Guiones area. There are plenty of shops, coffee and smoothie bars, and restaurants to experience. You can set your GPS to this location to get to the start of the main area.
Walk along one of the trails
Head over to NCA trails site to find one of the trails to walk. We chose Senderos (pictured left) but I can’t find it on the map now. It was a very very short trail so if you’re looking for more of an adventure I’d recommend trying a different one. However, it was still beautiful here and we were able to see some monkeys.
