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52 places to practise yoga in Costa Rica

Regions of Costa Rica

Most Popular Destinations in Costa Rica: Nosara

Nosara is a beach town on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste, known for its surf, protected coastline and more yoga retreat centers than almost anywhere in Costa Rica. It suits travelers who want a quiet, health-minded week of yoga and surf, about 2.5 hours' drive from Liberia airport.

By Sara Zen · Published · Updated

Update, November 2026: We've rechecked every place in this guide. Two of the stays we listed in 2012 have changed: the Ahki Retreat property was sold and no longer operates as a retreat, and we couldn't confirm that Costa Rica Yoga Spa is still running. The Gilded Iguana is now a hotel with a restaurant, spa and surf club.

Nosara is a beach town on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula, in Guanacaste. It's one of the oldest foreign-resident communities in Costa Rica, and decades of local effort have kept development low and set back from the beaches, with forest between the houses. Playa Guiones, Playa Pelada and the coast up to the Ostional wildlife refuge are known for consistent surf and quiet, wild beaches. Today Nosara is best known as a yoga town, with more retreat centers than almost anywhere in the country.

Sunset over a beach in Nosara, with a rocky, tree-topped headland offshore

Getting there

The nearest international airport is Guanacaste Airport (LIR) in Liberia, about 2.5 hours away by car; from San José it's about 5 hours. Sansa also flies small planes to Nosara's airstrip. Many local roads are still dirt, dusty in the dry season and muddy in the rainy months, so a car with good clearance helps.

Yoga and places to stay

  • The Harmony Hotel. A garden hotel a 2-minute walk from Playa Guiones, with a Healing Centre that runs several yoga, breathwork and meditation sessions a day.

A swimming pool among gardens at the Harmony Hotel

  • Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort. A large yoga resort in the hills above Playa Guiones, with four yoga shalas, daily classes, retreats and teacher trainings.
  • The Gilded Iguana. Once a popular restaurant and bar, it's now a surf hotel with a restaurant, a spa and a surf club offering lessons and board rentals. Website: thegildediguana.com.
  • Costa Rica Yoga Spa. A small hilltop lodge with a big teak yoga rancho above the Montaña and Nosara rivers. Its website is gone and we couldn't confirm it's still running, so check before you plan a visit.

Costa Rica Yoga Spa's thatched yoga rancho and lodge on a green hillside

  • Ahki Retreat. A retreat center designed on Vastu Shastra principles. The property has since been sold and no longer runs as a retreat; our profile keeps the history.

The former Ahki Retreat lit up at night

For all the open centers in and around Nosara, see our guide to choosing a yoga retreat in Costa Rica and our guide to where to do yoga in Costa Rica.

Places to eat

  • Rosi's Soda Tica. A no-frills soda (a small Costa Rican diner) in Guiones serving typical dishes like gallo pinto and casados, cooked in an open kitchen. A local news report said it was moving to a larger spot near Bagelmen's, so ask around for its current location.

People having breakfast at Rosi's Soda Tica

  • The Gilded Iguana. The hotel's restaurant and bar is still a popular place for a meal near the beach.

A band playing at The Gilded Iguana

  • Beach Dog Cafe. A casual cafe on the road to the beach at Guiones, popular for breakfast bowls, fish tacos and drinks, with many vegetarian and vegan options. It doesn't have an official website we could find, so check recent reviews for opening hours.

People eating at Beach Dog Cafe

Things to do

  • Surf. Playa Guiones has consistent beach-break waves that suit learners and improvers. Coconut Harry's, one of Nosara's longest-running surf shops, rents boards and runs a surf school. See our yoga and surf guide for combining the two.
  • Ostional turtles. The Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, just north of Nosara, is one of the few places in the world where olive ridley turtles nest in mass arrivals called arribadas. Go with a local guide.
  • Canopy tour. Miss Sky Canopy Tour runs a zipline course in the hills near Nosara and still appears on tour listings. Book through your hotel or a local tour desk.

A woman on a zipline canopy tour

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Nosara?

Fly into Liberia (LIR) and drive about 2.5 hours, or take a small Sansa flight to Nosara's airstrip. From San José the drive is about 5 hours.

Is Nosara good for beginner surfers?

Yes. Playa Guiones has a consistent sandy beach break and several surf schools that teach beginners.

Why is Nosara known for yoga?

It has more yoga retreat centers than almost anywhere in Costa Rica, plus daily drop-in classes, so it's a natural base for a yoga week or a teacher training.

When is the best time to visit Nosara?

The dry season, from about December to April, has the most sun. The rainy months, from about May to November, are greener and quieter, with September and October usually the wettest.

[Updated on: 4 November 2026]

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