Nosara Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Nosara
District
Fisherman on the Nosara beach (Playa Nosara)
Nosara Location in Costa Rica
Country	Costa Rica
Province	Guanacaste
Canton	Nicoya
Creation	26 January 1988
Area
• Total	134.57 km² (51.96 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	4,912
• Density	36.501/km² (94.538/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−06:00
Postal code	50206

Nosara is a special district in Costa Rica. It is located in the Guanacaste province and is part of the Nicoya canton. This beautiful area is known for its stunning beaches, amazing surfing, and rich wildlife. It is a popular spot for both locals and visitors from all over the world.

History of Nosara
Geography and Nature
Population and Communities
- Oceanfront Communities
Villages in Nosara
Getting Around Nosara
Gallery
See also

History of Nosara

Nosara was officially created on January 26, 1988. This date marked its establishment as a district.

Geography and Nature

The Nicoya peninsula, where Nosara is located, has many unpaved roads. Despite this, Nosara is one of the oldest communities in Costa Rica where people from other countries have chosen to live. It is also an important area for fishing and farming.

Coastal Areas and Wildlife

Unlike many other towns along the coast, Nosara does not have many buildings directly on its beaches. This is because a large part of the coastline is protected as the Ostional Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is very important for sea turtles, especially the olive ridley and leatherback turtles, which come here to lay their eggs.

Surfing and Yoga

Nosara is a famous place for surfing. Playa Guiones, one of its beaches, has great waves almost every day of the year. It is known for having rideable conditions for over 330 days annually. Playa Guiones is also a very popular place for yoga in Costa Rica. Several well-known yoga schools are located here. Nearby, Playa Pelada is another popular surf spot and a favorite hangout for local people, who are called "Ticos."

Nosara Town Center

The main town center of Nosara is about 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles) inland from the beach. In "Nosara town," you can find many important places. These include the market, a pharmacy, and the post office. There are also churches, a school, and a police station. The town has the David S. Kitson public library and a Red Cross clinic. Nosara does not have a hospital. There is also a Banco Popular branch in a small shopping area near Playa Guiones.

Population and Communities

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
2000	2,875	—
2011	4,912	70.9%
Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos Centro Centroamericano de Población

In the 2011 census, Nosara had a population of 4,912 people. By 2024, it is thought that this number has almost doubled.

Oceanfront Communities

Nosara has five main communities located right by the ocean. Each one is named after its beach: Playa Nosara, Playa Guiones, Playa Pelada, Playa Garza, and Playa Ostional. These areas have the most homes owned by people from other countries. They also have many tourist hotels and restaurants, especially around Guiones and Pelada.

The "suburb" of Esperanza de Nosara is next to the Playa Guiones area. It sits between the first two beach entrances to the south. Esperanza has the biggest market in the Guiones area, a school, and a soccer (football) field. You can also find some new housing, hotels, and restaurants there.

In 2017, experts from the University of Sydney in Australia studied over 5,000 surf spots around the world. They found that Nosara was the fastest-growing surf town globally.

The Nosara River flows through the village, adding to its natural beauty.

Villages in Nosara

The main administrative center of the Nosara district is the village of Bocas de Nosara.

Other villages in the district include:

Ángeles de Garza
Bijagua
Cabeceras de Garza
Coyoles
Cuesta Winch
Delicias
Esperanza Sur
Flores
Garza
Guiones
Ligia
Nosara
Playa Nosara
Playa Pelada
Portal
Río Montaña
Santa Marta
Santa Teresa

Getting Around Nosara

Roads and Routes

The district is connected by the following main road:

National Route 160

Nosara Airport

Nosara has its own airport, called Nosara Airport. It is only about 15 minutes away from the beaches. You can fly there using Sansa Airlines. You can also get a taxi service from the bigger international airports in San Jose and Liberia to Nosara.

Local Transportation

The town of Nosara is spread out and surrounded by jungle. Many people who live there use motorcycles to get around. Not many people own cars. If you are visiting, you can rent a car, but it is not always needed. ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) or golf carts are often cheaper and can still get you to most places. Another fun option is to call a tuk tuk. These are small cars that can carry up to three people in the back and are used like taxis.