Directions
Getting to Nosara
This page is an overview of how to get to Nosara, Costa Rica. First, however, you need to get to Costa Rica. You are most likely going to fly, and will be flying to San Jose, or Liberia.
There are a number of airlines that fly to San Jose. Delta, American, Taca, Martin Air, and Spirit Air. You are a bit more limited flying into Liberia, and will most likely be flying Delta or American. I personally like to fly Martin Air and Taca, as the staff is super nice and the planes are new. I almost always fly into Liberia as the drive from Liberia to Playa Guiones is a considerable amount shorter than from San Jose and is super easy, especially now that GPS is available through your Car Rental Agency.
Flying to Nosara from San Jose:
Once you are in Costa Rica, you will need to get to Nosara. If you fly into San Jose, I recommend flying from there to Nosara. It is much easier to fly into Nosara, 45 minutes compared to 5.5 hours in a car. Nature Air is the way to go as they have the best new twin prop planes and operate flights daily...
Now that our airport in Nosara is done with the renovation (we now have a completely new runway), flying will be even easier. I also always stay at the Casa Roland in San Jose, which is right around the corner from where Nature Air flys, making my trips that much easier. You can book tickets at natureair.com or through various travel agencies.
Driving to Nosara from San Jose (and Liberia):
If you aren't flying, you are driving. From San Jose the drive to Nosara is in the neighborhood of 5 hours, plus or minus a hour. It is very easy to get stuck behind a few trucks and spend an hour doing 20km. What follows are directions with mileage and pictures of every turn...
Coming from Liberia:
If you are coming from Liberia, it is super easy. You will hang a right out of the airport and go 60km until you get to Nicoya. You will hang a right towards Nicoya and Samara, and then follow the directions below from Nicoya. (Nature Air now flies to and from Liberia!)
From San Jose Airport:
International Airport in San Jose... You will need to get on Calle 1 towards San Ramon. Follow the signs, it is pretty easy.
You will stay on Calle 1 for 124km (78 miles) until you get to the signs below. You will hang a left towards the Puente.
You will go over the Taiwan bridge until the road comes to a T which is the picture below. This leg is 48km (30miles). Hang a Right at the T towards Nicoya and Nosara.
The next main intersection you will come to will be the pic below. It is 13km (8 miles). You will hang a left at the flashing light.
You then follow that road right through Nicoya. On the left about a km after the turn there is a gas station on the left and a great little tico lunch/breakfast stop, super cheap and good. Follow this road until you come to another T, and are looking at the store below. 13 km (8 miles). Hang a Right.
Follow this road for 19km (12 miles) until you pass the gas station on the left. This is your last stop for good gas and I recommend filling up (they only take cash, about 5 bucks a gallon). About 100m after the station you will hang a right on a dirt road. There are signs to Nosara.
At this point you should slow down and start paying attention. There are many places where the roads are washed out, or very narrow one way bridges are around blind corners. About every third drive I have seen someone crashed. Follow this road for 8 km (5 miles), it seems like so much longer, until you come to another T shown below, and hang a right.
You are now only 12km from Nosara! Keep driving until you see the sign below...
At this sign you are less than a km from the surfingnosara.com business location where you will need to pick up the key to Casita Ray,
Once you reach this point, look for Coconut Harry's on your right. Hang a left onto the main road of Playa Guiones. Cafe De Paris will be on the left. Proceed down a few hundred feet and the Surfing Nosara Real Estate office will be on the left. Here, Erik Rich and Crew will provide you with the keys and will accompany you into the unit located just a few kilometers away.