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We are located in Nosara, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica, on the Nicoya
Peninsula. Many people rent a car when they vacation in Costa Rica, and the
recommended vehicle is a 4x4 or four-wheel-drive SUV. This is because the
roads in Costa Rica can be pretty rough in some places. Nosara is all dirt
roads, river crossings, and just plain all terrain vehicle country. The only
pavement in Nosara is the runway at the airport. We encourage you to fly
to Nosara. It is a short 40 minute
flight from San Jose.
High-Season is December-April,
when we have almost no rain. This is considered summer here, even though we are in
the Northern Hemisphere, at about 9 degrees north of the Equator. Temperatures
average in the upper 80s.
In off-season,
Nosara is a quiet, tranquil rural agricultural town with a friendly population.
Rainy season (also known as Green Season) is a bit misunderstood by most
people. Temperatures average in the low 80s. There are really only two months
of very heavy rains, September and October. The remainder of the year we
have only nice cool, short afternoon rains. It is during this period of the
year (May-August) that the jungle comes alive and becomes lush and fertile.
Butterflies are everywhere, in the height of their breeding season. The fruit
trees produce, the rice fields are bright green, and the roads develop new
potholes. Because there are fewer tourists during this time, many hotels reduce
their rates. This is a wonderful time to bring the whole family, with school-age
children out on summer vacation.
Nosara
is one of the last areas of Costa Rica that is all but untouched by big development.
Our beaches are protected areas, which leaves them clean and pristine. Many
times, you will have miles of beach all to yourself. We have no large hotel chains. The hotels here are diverse and unique,
family run businesses that cater to many different tastes. The atmosphere
is different at each one.
Playa Pelada
is a white beach, the central beach of the Nosara area. It has received the
Blue Flag of Ecology two years in a row, meaning that our beach is clean and
pristine. The first 200 meters of shoreline is protected zone. Along the
beach you will find small rocky outcrops, where you can stand in the sea
spray. We also have several caves that have been hollowed out of rock outcrops
by centuries of waves. Take care while swimming, especially during high tide,
as rip-tides can be dangerous. A few pangas, small fishing boats, are available.
At low tide, small tidal pools and depressions in the rocks are fun to explore
for tiny sea creatures.
Playa Guiones
is a long stretch of white beach a short walk to the south from Playa Pelada.
It is popular with surfers because it has consistent breaks all along the
beach. Most of the restaurants and bars are found along this beach, but once
again, more than 200 meters back.
Playa Nosara
is a black beach on the north side of the mouth of the Nosara River. It
is rich in biodiversity, and a naturalist's dreamland to explore.
Playa Ostional is
still further to the north, about a 20 minute drive. You can only cross the
Nosara River and the Rio Montaña in a car during dry season, so a
horseback ride or ATV is the only way to get there in wet season, when the
river is up. It is the second largest nesting site in the world of the Olive
Ridley Sea turtle. During the "arribadas", thousands of turtles cover the
beach.
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