Town of Nosara
The Beaches of Nosara
The town of Nosara is in the province of Guanacaste. The area known as “The Beaches of Nosara” encompasses two very different communities: Nosara, a little town boasting an airstrip, a pharmacy, a disco bar and a year-round supply of fresh fruits & vegetables in two fully stocked grocery stores; and Playa Guiones, a developing community just minutes away from Nosara, comprised of about 3,000 Canadians, Americans and Europeans, all living on or nearby two fabulous beaches, who enjoy the convenience of good hotels, shopping, a medical clinic, full service office center, hardware stores, private school and many excellent restaurants and bars.
Beaches Protected by Federal Law
The two primary beaches in the community, Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada, are pristine, untouched coast lines, as federal law guarantees that no commercial or residential development will ever be permitted on the beaches. To further protect the natural beauty of the area, the Nosara Civic Association (NCA) was formed with the creation of "The American Project" in 1968 by a visionary American investor whose forward-thinking vision resulted in Playa Guiones becoming Costa Rica's first self-contained, planned and completely expatriate community.
The Costa Rican government later decreed the first 600 feet of all beaches to be “owned by the people” with no commercial or residential development allowed, to ensure they remain as pristine as they are today.
The beaches of Nosara are international attractions thanks to the excellent surfing and fishing, and the turtle watching on nearby Playa Ostional is a family-favorite tourist destination. World-class Yoga, hiking, horse-back tours, and other outdoor activities abound in Nosara and Guiones. The more adventurous will want to try the highest and longest zipline experience in the world.
Nosara/Playa Guiones Public Services
The Town of Nosara offers a complete range of Public Services:
- Police Station
- Emergency Medivac
- Veterinary Clinic
- Pharmacy
- Doctor's Office
- Red Cross
- Post Office
- Bank
*Public Services phone numbers and more information is available on this page of the Visit Nosara website www.visitnosara.com/public.html.
Activities in Nosara/Playa Guiones
There are a wide range of things to do in Nosara:
- Surfing
- Canopy Tours
- Kayak Tours
- Fishing Trips
- Horseback Rides
- Yoga
- Spas and Fitness Center
Activities phone numbers and more information is available on this page of the Visit Nosara website www.visitnosara.com/activities.html.
Restaurants
There are many excellent French, Italian, Costa Rican, as well as North American restaurants in the community. Restaurant phone numbers and information is available on this page of the Visit Nosara website www.visitnosara.com/restaurants.html.
Hotels
Hotel phone numbers and information is available on this page of the Visit Nosara website www.visitnosara.com/hotels.html.
The Town of Playa Guiones
Playa Guiones is a friendly and sociable retirement community, where thousands of wealthy North Americans and Europeans have found their own piece of paradise, with a laid-back lifestyle and high standards of sustainable living blended seamlessly with the creature comforts of low key beach life.
In addition to the first class Costa Rican, Italian and French restaurants in the area, the world-renowned Nosara Yoga Institute is just steps from the beach. Healing centers are plentiful, offering massage and bodywork in an idyllic setting for people to get in tune with their natural rhythm.