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.
Nosara surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to LIR, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when Central America is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in Central America — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
¿Prefieres español? Recibe el Strike Report en español, gratis →
Get the full Nosara trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (210°)
- Direction range
- 190° - 250°
- Size range
- 0.5m - 2m
- Ideal size
- 1.2m - 1.6m
- 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 kind of wave is Nosara?
Nosara is a beach break in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Nosara?
Nosara picks up swell from the S round to the WSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. It starts working at around 0.5m and handles up to about 2m, with the sweet spot around 1.2 to 1.6m. Period matters too: aim for 12s or longer, as anything under 8s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Nosara?
An E wind is dead offshore at Nosara, and anything from the NE round to the ESE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 5am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Nosara?
Nosara has a preferred tide range, roughly 0.3m to 1.5m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Nosara?
The most reliable run of swell at Nosara comes Apr to Oct. There's a second window in Nov to Mar too. Year-round. Rainy season has bigger swells.
How cold is the water at Nosara?
The water at Nosara averages around 28°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Nosara good for beginners?
Yes, it's one of the friendlier waves around, rated 3/10 for difficulty. Expect a moderate crowd (6/10) when it's on. Rips on bigger swells.
How do I get to Nosara?
The nearest airport on our list is LIR, then it's roughly a 2-hour drive. Beach access from town.
What other surf spots are near Nosara?
The closest breaks we track are Playa Guiones (1.1 km), Playa Negra (25 km) and Playa Avellanas (29 km), handy when Nosara isn't working. We track 6 spots around Guanacaste in total.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Year-round. Rainy season has bigger swells.
Getting There
👨👩👧👦Family Travel
Nearby Spots
Playa Guiones
🌅 7km of beach break • Yoga surf fusion • Costa Rica consistency
Playa Negra
🖤 Guanacaste's premier left • Consistent reef quality • Urchin territory
Playa Avellanas
🐷 Beach pigs fame • Lola's legendary • Quality upgrade
Tamarindo
🌴 CR's famous town • Beginner paradise • Complete package
Playa Grande
🐢 Turtle sanctuary • Powerful hollow • Conservation surf
Santa Teresa
☀️ Pura vida showcase • Consistent beach peaks • Yoga surf fusion
Plan a trip around Nosara
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.