Nosara
Nosara has evolved into Costa Rica's yoga-and-surf mecca—a wellness-minded beach town where the mellow, consistent waves perfectly complement the morning vinyasa flow. The main breaks of Playa Guiones offer long stretches of forgiving beach break peaks, ideal for learning and longboarding, while better surfers find fun walls during larger swells. The vibe is decidedly New Age meets pura vida, with green juice stands and spiritual retreats lining the dusty roads. For those seeking warm water waves without the intensity, served with a side of holistic living, Nosara delivers exactly what it promises.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (210°)
- Direction range
- 190° - 250°
- Size range
- 0.5m - 2m
- Ideal size
- 1.5m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 12s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (80°)
- Offshore range
- 40° - 120°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.3m - 1.5m
Water temp
28°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
3/10
Crowd level
6/10
Access: Beach access from town.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at Nosara?
Nosara works best on a mid tide, ideally between 0.3m and 1.5m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
What wind direction is offshore at Nosara?
Offshore wind at Nosara blows from the E (80°). Anything in the 40° to 120° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
What swell size and direction work best at Nosara?
Nosara wants SSW swell (190° to 250°) between 0.5m and 2m, with a period of 12s or more for quality waves.
When is the best time of year to surf Nosara?
The main season at Nosara is Apr-Oct. A secondary window runs Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar. Year-round. Rainy season has bigger swells.
How do I get to Nosara?
Fly into LIR, then allow about 120 minutes by road. Beach access from town.
What kind of wave is Nosara?
Nosara is a beach break, a peak with lefts and rights. Difficulty is rated 3/10.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Year-round. Rainy season has bigger swells.
Getting There
👨👩👧👦Family Travel
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