Where should I fly into?

• Liberia airport is the largest airport close to Nosara (about 2.5 hours drive away by car)

How should I get to Nosara from Liberia Airport?

• Take a private shuttle from Liberia to Nosara (vs renting a car at the airport. It’s a pain and the drive sucks, leave it to the pros). We love Nosara VIP Shuttle. Ask for Christian and tell him Autumn and Eddie sent you. He’ll take great care of you and it’s only ~$250 US including tip for a group (depending on how many ppl and luggage)

• Alternatively, take a small plane flight on Sansa or another local airline if the times work for you (leave at least 90 min or so to go through customs and get to the small flight desk at the airport). The small flight times hardly ever work, but it is totally worth it if it does! Especially for 1-2 ppl. With lots of people, it gets pricey. And with lots of luggage, you can’t take the small flight. 

Do I need a car in Nosara? How can I get around?

• The location of Casa Plantara is walkable to anywhere in town and the beach, but if you want to venture to other places, you may want to rent a car or ATV.

• If you do want a car, rent a 4WD car in Nosara from National, Budget or Avis rental car across from Cafe de Paris (now called Organico Bakery but still on Google Maps as Cafe de Paris as of last trip).

• Or rent a golf cart from Limo Dan or an ATV from Nosara ATV Rentals (David). We do an ATV (called a side-by-side) vs a car every year now—more fun and fits more people.

• For shorter rides in Nosara, take the tuk tuks (small moto taxis that fit 3 ppl in the back). They are so fun and most rides are around $5 - 10 US including tip. They make it easy to get around when it’s hot and you don’t feel like walking. 

What about surfboards and other beach stuff?

• If you surf or want to try, or even just love an easy beach day, get a membership at Iguana Surf Club for the length of your stay—it is totally worth it! They have surfboards, boogie boards, towels, chairs and tents you can take down to the beach for the day. It also has a great juice, coffee and acai bar. This is a must-do for anyone who wants to surf.

• Surfers—the boards at Iguana Beach Club are great, you really don’t need to travel with your own. There are also lockers and showers. Can’t reco this enough!

• If you decide not to do a membership, it’s worth a trip to the Super Nosara store (massive warehouse) for beach supplies

If I don’t have a car, are there shortcuts to get around?

• There’s a great trail walk on and along the beach from Guiones to Pelada, it is a really nice walk for sunset 

• There is also a nice trail from Nalu to the south side of Guiones, so you don’t have to use the main road much (which is what all the map directions tell you).

• Things are much closer than they look on Google Maps when you take walking trails vs roads

What restaurants and bars do you recommend?

• La Luna - fave by far, make a reservation and go around sunset 

• Posada Margarita - newer pizza spot that is awesome! Nicer, great for dinner. We went here legit like 2x a week or more last visit 😂

• Gabi’s food court (right next door to Casa Plantara) is great for a causal meal when the fam wants different things. Vegan cafe, sushi, Italian, tico food, burrito place, ice cream, all in one spot. Go to each stall and order and they’ll bring it to your table. Everything we have tried has been great!

• Howlers (the taco shop attached to Juan’s Surf Shop) - great super casual lunch or dinner spot. Bathing suits welcome, great margaritas, the bar in the day is fun 

• Beach Dog Cafe - great for a late breakfast, lunch and live music Tues (open mic), Fri and Sat at dinner. One of our faves, super chill and such kind staff that works here

• Guilded Iguana - bougie hotel just down from Casa Plantara with a good restaurant. More American-type food. Sometimes they have live music. Kids love to run around the yard and play while parents eat

• Organico Bakery (also called Cafe de Paris) - great breakfast and early lunch spot. Awesome baked goods and the best avo toast. Their mini golf course is so much fun! They also have a pool and basketball courts that you can use as a customer. A perfect morning adventure. (They also own the Organico grocery store across the main highway which is perfect to grab groceries, but it is expensive) 

• Coyol- this is a fancier MUST experience. Rent a shuttle/van (from Christian at Nosara VIP) if you want to have drinks, it’s a 20-minute trek straight up a mountain to the most incredible sunsets you’ll ever see. Known for their smoked meats. Get a reservation for about 30 min before sunset. Get a picture on the swing overlooking the sunset, VERY Instagram-worthy. 😂

• Fin Shop - great little speakeasy bar hidden in the co-work spot, Outpost. You don’t need to be a member to go and it has THE BEST COCKTAILS. Like not just in Nosara, but that we’ve ever had 

• Sendero Hotel - one of our favorite places to hang in Nosara. Just so pretty and vibey. Awesome for coffee, lunch or dinner. The most beautiful setting.

• La Bodega - hidden gem! It’s a small grocery store in the Peleda area. At night it has an awesome Asian food menu—noodle and rice dishes, spring rolls, so yum! Also, El Chivo is attached, fun bar with food and live music at night sometimes 

• Olga’s - very local bar on the beach in Pelada. Perfect for sunset, kid friendly. Hubert is the owner and usually behind the bar. Always kids playing soccer in the front on the beach. Ok bar food, but definitely worth going for sunset drinks.

• Il Peperoni - this place is very much local, has a massive eclectic menu - sushi, pizza, great falafel sandwiches and traditional tico food. The best Casado in Nosara. Go to the beach at Olga’s for sunset and then walk over to Il Pep for a super casual dinner, swimsuits and coverups are fine!

• Luv Burger - this is an all vegan and gluten free spot, but totally worth it for non-vegans too. The wood fire pizza is incredible, especially the Lucile (potato and rosemary, best we’ve had since Italy). Also, get the charcoal margarita. Not too sweet and so yum! Great homemade falafel 

• Mahalo Poke Bowl & Food Truck Village - in Giuones, great for a quick lunch, three food trucks next to each other, great quick food to have on the way to or from the beach 

• Guiones Brewing Co - great pizza and beer, cool container building where you can sit on the roof 

• Seekret Spot - awesome ice cream! Two locations, one in Guiones and one in Peleda  

• Destiny Cafe - great outdoor breakfast spot, only place we found open super early for breakfast. The breakfast burrito is great, awesome smoothies and creative coffee drinks 

• Lagarta Lodge - hotel up the hill with gorgeous views. Go for brunch or sunset

• Mamagui - newer nice Italian place just to the south in Guiones. Upscale and delish. Also worth going to this new little complex during the day, there’s also grocery store with great sandwiches and prepared food and ice cream 

• Harmony Hotel restaurant - upscale and really good. Worth going even if you aren’t staying here. Great sushi  

What are some things to do in the area?

• Every night sunset is THE THING. Plan to be on the beach with a beverage of your choice each night a little before sunset. 

• If you are coming with kids, Nosara Day Camp is INCREDIBLE! Your drop your child off at Al Chile at 8am or so and they go on amazing adventures each day with Cynthia and her amazing team. They return around 1:30 each day with so many fun stories to tell. Highly recommend! Here’s their Instagram where they post daily schedules and info: https://www.instagram.com/nosaradaycamp?igsh=MnRnMXBnazBiejc0

• Yoga & Pilaties - lots of places, we love Harmony Hotel, Nalu, Bodhi Tree and are excited to try the new Aleo Studio this year

• Mini golf at Cafe de Paris - such a fun course, great breakfast activity with family or friends

• Zip lining with Miss Sky Canopy tour (do the morning session so it’s not as hot)

• Horseback Riding on the beach (check around, lots of options in Nosara) 

• Surf Lessons at Iguana Surf Club; they also do photos for you surfing

• Turtle Hatching - Ostional Wildlife Preserve you go late evening or early in the morning to see mamas lay eggs (dry season) or the babies go into the ocean (mini rainy season) 

• Boating - Jason at Get Hooked Nosara can do fishing, pink island, snorkeling at the shipwreck and it’s such a fun day on the boat whatever you do

• ATV Tours - Jason from Get Hooked can also help arrange ATV tours of various lengths and difficulty levels. In some seasons, you can even see waterfalls in the jungle on the tours

• The Skate Park, which also has slack lines, a climbing wall and basketball courts is right down the street from Casa Plantara and there is a skate shop you can rent from if you’d like

• Shopping the local spots is fun, too! There’s an awesome thrift store called Hot Tamale that we love. Also worth checking out Love Nosara, Lobo, Olo Alaia Surf & Brew, Soli Surf Shop and others right outside Casa Plantara