How to spend a week in Nosara without wasting a single morning.
A day-by-day Nosara itinerary built around surf, wellness, food, and the moments you only find when you know where to look.
Day 1 — Arrive, settle, decompress
Land in Liberia, take the 2.5hr transfer through the peninsula. The road to Nosara is part of the transition — rolling hills, howler monkeys in the trees, the Pacific appearing between ridgelines. Check in, rinse off, walk to Guiones before sunset. Robin's Bakery for breakfast tomorrow.
Day 2 — First surf, first lesson
Morning surf lesson at Guiones with Safari Surf School. Small groups, patient instruction. Afternoon: Bodhi Tree for a yoga class, then rest. La Luna for dinner — make the reservation before you leave home.
Day 3 — Jungle day
Kayak the Nosara River at dawn. You'll see crocodiles, great blue herons, mangrove channels, and absolute quiet. Back by 9am. Café de Paris for breakfast. Afternoon at the pool. Organico for provisions.
Day 4 — Surf progression day
Two sessions. Dawn patrol at Guiones (6–8am), breakfast, second session at 10am. Afternoon: massage at the villa. The Gilded Iguana for cold beers and nachos at sunset.
Day 5 — Witch's Rock boat trip
Early departure — usually 5:30am by truck to Playa Tamarindo, then boat north. Full day of two legendary breaks. This is the day you'll talk about. Book it on Day 1 of your trip.
Day 6 — Ostional turtles (if timing aligns)
Check the arrival timing with BZN. If the arribada is happening, go. A mass nesting of 50,000 olive ridley turtles is one of the most extraordinary wildlife events on Earth. 8km north of Nosara, 30 minutes by car.
Day 7 — Slow morning, long goodbye
Last sunrise at Guiones. Robin's for breakfast. One more session if you can manage it. Pack out the way you came in. The drive to Liberia hits different on the way back.
Recommended vendors
Lessons
Safari Surf School
The most respected surf school in Nosara. Small groups, local instructors, all levels.
Yoga
Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort
The anchor of Nosara wellness. World-class teachers, open-air shalas, drop-ins welcome.
Restaurant
La Luna
Cliff-side dining above Playa Pelada. Best sunset view in Nosara. Reserve ahead.
Water
Nosara River Kayak Tours
Mangrove estuary kayak at dawn. Crocodiles, herons, kingfishers.
Surf Trip
Witch's Rock Boat Day
Boat trip north to Witch's Rock and Ollie's Point — two of Costa Rica's most legendary surf breaks.
Wildlife
Ostional Turtle Arrival
Olive ridley mass nesting at Ostional Wildlife Refuge. We track the timing.