Where to stay in Nosara

Start with the beach

Most of the decision is which beach you want to wake up near. Playa Guiones is the main one: six kilometres of beach, a consistent surf break, and the centre of Nosara's surf community. If you plan to surf, walk to the water or have children who want the beach every day, staying close to Guiones is the simplest choice.

Playa Pelada is the quieter beach about two kilometres north, set among rocks, with a slower pace. It suits people who want a calmer setting and don't mind a short drive or bike ride to the surf. Some places sit in the hills above town, with long views over the coast. Those are about the view and the quiet, and you will need a car or a driver to reach the beach.

There are no all-inclusive resorts here, and the main road through town is unpaved. Whichever area you pick, plan on a car, a bike or a golf cart for part of the week.

Hotel, villa or house

A hotel room is the simplest option for one or two people on a short stay. Someone else keeps the room, and there is often a restaurant on site. A private villa gives you a kitchen, your own outdoor space and room for a group to spread out, which matters more the longer you stay and the more of you there are.

Nalu sits in between. It is a boutique hotel of eight private villas: each one is a self-contained home with its own saltwater pool and kitchen, and a concierge team and an open-air studio sit behind them. If you want the privacy of a house and the help of a hotel, that is the idea.

Who is coming

Couples. A two-bedroom villa works well for two, with space and a pool to yourselves. Our Villa Sombra, Villa Mar, Villa Sol and Villa Flor are the Nalu collection's two-bedroom villas.

Families. Look for a kitchen, bedrooms that sleep children comfortably, a pool and a short walk to a gentle beach. Villa Jardín has a bunk room, and every villa has toys and books, with a crib and high chair on request. Our guide to Nosara with children goes into more detail.

Groups and multi-family trips. Check how many people each place sleeps and whether you can book several homes close together. Villa Lani sleeps up to fourteen, Villa Ohana up to ten and Villa Skai up to eight, and larger parties can combine villas.

Surfers. Stay near Guiones and be on the sand at first light, when the waves are cleanest and the beach is almost empty. Our guide to surfing Playa Guiones covers the break.

Yoga and wellness. Nosara sits inside the Nicoya Peninsula Blue Zone, and many guests come for yoga, movement and a slower pace. Look for somewhere with a studio close by, or a team that can host a private group. Nalu Studio is on the property, and Nalu Retreats plans private retreats.

When you are going

Dry season, December to April, is when most people come. Mornings are glassy, days are sunny and the town is at its most social. Rates are higher and the best places book months ahead. Green season, May to November, brings an hour or two of rain most afternoons, clear mornings, greener jungle, fewer people and lower rates. Many experienced surfers and flexible families prefer it. Our green season guide has the detail.

What to check before you book

• How far it is from the beach, and how you get there.
• Air conditioning in the bedrooms, and a kitchen if you are staying a week or more.
• Recent guest reviews, read for how the place handles problems.
• The cancellation policy. Small properties often have strict ones.
• Whether someone local can arrange surf lessons, childcare, a chef or transfers.
• How you will get from the airport. Liberia is about two and a half hours by road, and the local airstrip is ten minutes from us.

Where Nalu fits

Nalu is a short walk from Playa Guiones, set in a private jungle compound. There are two collections: five villas in the Nalu collection, and three larger ones in the Makai collection a block away. We are built for people who want privacy and a home base, such as families, friends travelling together and anyone coming to surf, practise yoga or slow down.

We are not the right place for nightlife, a resort pool bar or the lowest price in town. Nosara in general isn't either. If a quiet, private base near the beach sounds right, look at the villas or read our first-time guide.