Where Is Nosara, Costa Rica?
Where in Costa Rica, how to get there, and what's nearby.
The last forty minutes of the drive into Nosara are mostly on a dirt road full of dust in the dry season and potholes in the rainy season. Most people who love Nosara say this is part of the magic.
Even though Nosara is only a 2h 30m drive from the closest international airport, the rough road makes it feel much more secluded than it actually is. And after spending a couple of hours winding through mountains and valleys, without a map, most new visitors aren't sure exactly where they are.
The short answer: Nosara, Costa Rica, is a small district in Guanacaste Province on the Nicoya Peninsula, on the country's northwestern Pacific coast.
This post will give you the mental map that many guides leave fuzzy. We'll explain where Nosara is in relation to airports and other important landmarks, and we'll also sort out the confusion between the district of Nosara, Nosara town, and Playa Nosara.
Where Is Nosara, Costa Rica?
Nosara is in Guanacaste Province, on the Nicoya Peninsula, on Costa Rica's northwestern Pacific coast. The town center sits about six kilometers (4 miles) inland from a stretch of three named beaches: Playa Guiones, Playa Pelada, and Playa Garza. The closest international airport is Liberia (LIR), about 2h 30m northeast by car. Coordinates land at about 9°58′ N, 85°37′ W if you want to drop a pin.
Where Nosara Sits on the Nicoya Peninsula
If you've never been, the Nicoya Peninsula is the long arm of land that juts south from Costa Rica's northwestern coast, with the Pacific on its outer edge and the Gulf of Nicoya on its inner edge. Nosara sits on the outer side, roughly halfway down the peninsula's length.
The most useful way to find it on a mental map is by what's nearby.
To the north, about 2h by road, is Tamarindo. Tamarindo is one of the larger beach towns in Guanacaste, with many restaurants and bars right along the beach. While Nosara is all about nature and being active, Tamarindo is more about the nightlife.
Just 30m up the coast from Nosara is Ostional, a small village best known for sea turtle arribadas (mass nesting events of endangered olive ridleys that happen roughly once a month).
To the south is Sámara, a little under an hour away by road. It's a more compact, more pedestrian-friendly town than Nosara, with a calmer, more swimmable beach.
Further south, about 4h of road travel take you to Mal País and Santa Teresa at the peninsula's southern tip. Similar to Nosara, Santa Theresa is a surf destination with a greater focus on nightlife.
What is not nearby:
- The Caribbean coast (Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Tortuguero) is on the opposite side of the country, a full day's travel away.
- Manuel Antonio is on the Pacific too, but well to the south past the Gulf of Nicoya. It's not a side trip from Nosara.
- San José, the capital, is about five hours southeast by car.
What's the Difference Between Nosara District, Nosara Town, and Playa Nosara?
When people say they're going to Nosara, they almost always mean the coastal stretch around Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada, not the official town of Nosara.
Nosara District
Most people who say they are traveling to Nosara are referring to the Nosara District. The Nosara district encompasses a large area, including several beaches and the town of Nosara.
According to the 2024 census, the area has 8,716 permanent residents across 3,228 households, but Nosara is heavily impacted by a floating population not captured in that census data. In December 2024 alone, Nosara hosted 26,650 temporary residents in short-term rentals.
Playa Guiones is the main beach town in the Nosara District. It stretches about four miles and is one of the most consistent surfing breaks in the world, with waves pretty much every day.
While the town now has a few paved roads, it's still quite wild, with jungle-trail shortcuts throughout and a protected jungle reserve between town and the beach.
Playa Guiones is also where the most hotels, Airbnbs, restaurants, and shops catering to tourists are located. Most visitors to Nosara spend a lot of time in Playa Guiones regardless of where they stay.
Nosara Town (Downtown Nosara)
Nosara town (also referred to as downtown Nosara) sits about six kilometers inland from the beaches of Nosara. This is where the largest concentration of daily amenities (like grocery stores, the library, the post office, etc.) is located, and many locals live in this area.
Nosara town is more of an administrative center than a tourist destination, and sadly, most travelers never go there, but if you have time, it's worth exploring and getting a taste of local life in Nosara. Many excellent shops, restaurants, and events are in this area.
Playa Nosara
If you look at Google Maps, you'll see that there is a beach in the area called Playa Nosara. I'm actually not sure why Google Maps calls this beach Playa Nosara, because this is not how locals refer to the area.
Many people assume this is the main beach in Nosara, but it's actually one of the most secluded. It's difficult to access, and most of the time it's pretty empty, but more advanced surfers sometimes come here for empty lineups.
Which Airport Should You Fly Into for Nosara?
Liberia Guanacaste Airport (LIR) is the closest international airport to Nosara. Most people should fly into LIR because it's only a 2h 30 minute drive from Nosara. Although the last 40 minutes of the drive are bumpy, most of the drive is smooth and on paved roads.
It's also possible to fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San José, but the drive is about 5h, twice as long. Most of the drive from San Jose is on paved roads, but there are often many potholes, and traffic leaving San Jose can be quite bad.
Nosara also has its own small airstrip in town, Nosara Airport (NOB). Sansa Airlines operates a handful of flights daily between NOB and the two international airports. The flight takes about 30 minutes from LIR and 90 minutes from SJO, and the views from single-engine turboprop planes are amazing. The downside is that since the planes are so small, they are more sensitive to weather, and they have strict luggage limits.
From LIR or SJO to Nosara, the three usual options are a rental car, a private door-to-door shuttle, or a shared shuttle that picks up other travelers along the way. For more intrepid or budget-conscious travelers, it's also possible to take public buses. Rates and timing vary by season and operator.
What Is Nosara Like?
Nosara is a rural area on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula, home to several towns and beaches. The biggest draw to Nosara is Playa Guiones, a long sand beach with consistent year-round surf, no rocks, and waves forgiving enough for absolute beginners.
The coastline in Nosara is part of a protected reserve where no development is allowed on the beach. This has led to an amazing, unique habitat along the coast, unlike anything else in Guanacaste. The vibe in Nosara is all about wellness (with fresh, healthy food valued over nightlife), an active lifestyle (with an emphasis on surfing, yoga, and mountain biking), and respect and appreciation for nature (it really feels like a town inside a jungle).
If any of that sounds exciting to you, you'll really appreciate how special Nosara is, and you should definitely consider visiting.
For the longer version of what Nosara is, when to visit, what to do, and where to stay, see our full Nosara travel guide, coming soon!