🇨🇷 Nosara,
Costa Rica
#923
Nomad Score
6.3
Coords
9.9799546, -85.6528372
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ESSENTIALS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏙️ City | Nosara, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica |
| 👥 Population | Approximately 6,000 (fluctuates significantly with seasonal tourism) |
| 💻 Internet Speed | Fiber optic is now common; 50-200 Mbps via providers like Cabletica or Itellum |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | 1 USD ≈ 515 CRC (Costa Rican Colón); USD widely accepted in most establishments |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Generally safe in the main Guiones area, but most nomads prefer filtered or bottled water due to high mineral content |
| 🔌 Power | 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets (same as USA/Canada) |
| 📶 SIM Card | Libertad (formerly Movistar) or Claro; available at San José (SJO) or Liberia (LIR) airports |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) in Nosara; Revolut and Wise work at most local ATMs |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Selina Nosara, Sendero Hotel, and luxury villas via Surfing Nosara |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Yes, cards accepted at high-end restaurants/hotels; cash (Colones) needed for 'Sodas' and local surfboard rentals |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb and VRBO are the primary platforms; prices range from $1,500 - $5,000+ USD/month |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | 4You Hostels Nosara (approx. $35/night for a dorm bed) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Playa Guiones (near the surf break, shops, and restaurants) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Pelada (quieter, slightly more affordable) or the hills of Las Huacas (best views and cooling breezes) |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | Selina Nosara Cowork ($20/day, $175/month) located in Playa Guiones |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | Destiny Cafe (excellent Wi-Fi and healthy bowls) or Organico Bakery |
| 💼 Networking Events | Weekly 'Nomad Meetups' at Selina; Nosara Real Estate networking events at The Guilded Iguana |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Nosara Community Facebook group and Tuesday night 'Pizza & Tunes' at Il Volo |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | No Uber; use local 'Tuk-Tuks' ($5-$15 per ride) or the Nosara Taxi WhatsApp service |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Froggy's Nosara (ATVs/Quads $70/day) or Nosara MTB & Surf for bicycles |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Playa Guiones (world-class surfing) and Playa Pelada (swimming and tide pools) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | Sansa Airlines (daily flights from SJO to Nosara airstrip) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | United, Delta, and American Airlines flying into Liberia (LIR) airport, 2.5 hours away |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | Route 160 (mostly unpaved/dusty; 4x4 vehicle strongly recommended year-round) |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | No trains; the main transit point is the Nosara Airstrip (NOB) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | Limited public bus service (Alfaro Company) to San José; no local passes available |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | Shared shuttles like Tropical Tours Shuttles to Tamarindo or Samara ($50-$60) |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏥 Best Hospital | Paradise Medical Services (Local clinic); Hospital Metropolitano in Liberia for emergencies |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort (classes approx. $20) and Nosara Yoga Village |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Nosara Fitness (Playa Guiones) and the gym at The Guilded Iguana |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Nosara Laundry (wash/dry/fold service priced per kilo) |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | No major apps; most restaurants use WhatsApp for direct orders and local delivery drivers |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Gallo Pinto for breakfast; Casado (rice, beans, protein, plantain) for lunch |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | LuvBurger (plant-based burgers) and Naked Foods (raw vegan options) |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Howlers Ice Cream (handcrafted local flavors) and Robin's Ice Cream |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Super Nosara (in the village) is significantly cheaper than the boutiques in Guiones |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Unimart.com (Costa Rican Amazon equivalent) or local 'Encomiendas' from San José |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | Del Mar Academy market orders or direct from Super Nosara via WhatsApp |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | The Guilded Iguana (live music) and La Luna for sunset cocktails at Pelada |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Guiones Brew Co. (craft beers brewed in the jungle) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | Kaya Nosara (small-batch wines and tapas) |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Local 'Chiringuitos' during the Sunday market and the BBQ stand at Playa Pelada |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Huacas (Italian/Mediterranean) and Coyol (Upscale mountain-top dining) |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | The Sibu Sanctuary (monkey rescue) and the Ostional Turtle Arrival (Arribada) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | The Gilded Iguana Art Gallery (rotating local exhibits) |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | The old 'Finca' ruins in the mountains; Nosara is more known for nature than history |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | Iglesia Católica de Nosara (located in the town center/pueblo) |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Nosara Civic Fiesta (Rodeo/Bullfighting in January) and Envision Festival (nearby in Uvita) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | Nosara Pueblo (the traditional village, distinct from the Guiones tourist zone) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | None; community performances are held at the Nosara Civic Center |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Nosara Farmers Market (organic market) every Tuesday morning |
| 🎼 Music Scene | Live acoustic sessions at Beach Dog Cafe and sunset DJ sets at Selina |
| 🎨 Street Art | Local murals depicting surf culture located along the main dirt road in Guiones |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Tico Cooking Classes at Soda Rosi’s |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | Artesanos Art Gallery (local pottery and wood carvings) |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | The original thatched-roof structures in the Pueblo |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | The 'Pura Vida' lifestyle and the Guanacasteco Cowboy ( Sabanero) culture |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Nosara Biological Reserve (mangrove boat tours and hiking trails) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Ostional National Wildlife Refuge (famous for Olive Ridley sea turtle nesting) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | The jungle trails connecting Guiones to Pelada (walking only during sunset) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | Coyol Restaurant (best overlook of the coastline) and the Pelada Cliffs |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Lagarta Lodge biological reserve (270+ bird species documented) |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Playa Pelada (permit usually not required for small sunset fires, but follow local guidelines) |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | Correos de Costa Rica (Post Office in the Pueblo) or DHL drop-off at the mini-mart |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | Cyber Nosara (basic repairs and tech accessories) |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Ping pong tables at Selina Nosara and various local hostels |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Nosara Spanish Institute (intensive courses available) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | David S. Kitson Public Library (one of the only public libraries in the region) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Nosara Civic Association (NCA) - provides community resources and advocacy |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | None; Nosara is an outdoor-focused town |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | None; casinos are mainly located in larger cities like Liberia or San José |
BUSINESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $240,000 in Guiones) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. $3,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $140,000 in the Pueblo) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $330,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. $3,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $180,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. $5,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $400,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. $2,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $224,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | 30% (Standard); simplified regimes available for SMEs |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 15% |
| 🏦 Tax System | Territorial tax system (only income earned within Costa Rica is taxed) |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 25% (Personal income tax) |
| 🧾 VAT | 13% (IVA) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | No specific CFC rules currently in place |
| 🏠 Property Tax | 0.25% of the registered property value annually |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | Approx. 1.5% transfer tax plus legal/notary fees |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | 0% tax on foreign-sourced income under the Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa (Rentista/Estancia) |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING NOSARA