Playa San Juanillo

A sheltered cove split by a rock point, with calm water for swimming on one side.

Playa San Juanillo is a small cove beach north of Ostional formed by two adjoining stretches of white sand meeting at a rocky point. Calmer water on one side of the rocks makes it swimmable and locally popular for snorkeling, while the road in passes through a small rural village. It sees far fewer visitors than Guiones or Pelada.

SwimmingModerate surf, swim with care
SurfNot a surf beach

Good for

Facilities

Getting there

From Nosara, drive north on Route 160 past Ostional toward the village of San Juanillo; the road is partly unpaved and a 4x4 or high-clearance vehicle is recommended, especially in rainy season.

On the map

Tide times · All beaches in Nosara

Nearby in Nosara

Turtle Watching $

ADIO Ostional Guides (Asociación de Desarrollo Integral de Ostional)

Nosara

The Ostional Integral Development Association is one of two official community guide groups authorized to lead visitors into the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, where entry without a licensed guide is prohibited by law. Guides walk small groups onto Playa Ostional to see nesting olive ridley turtles or, during an arribada, the mass nesting event that draws hundreds of thousands of turtles ashore between July and December. Reservations go through the association's own phone lines rather than a website.

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Turtle Watching $

AGLO - Asociación de Guías Locales de Ostional

Nosara

AGLO is the second official community guide association authorized to lead turtle-watching tours inside the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge. The group posts real-time updates on its Facebook page when an arribada begins, including which nightly time slots have guides available, since the mass nesting event cannot be scheduled in advance. Guides lead small groups onto Playa Ostional to view nesting olive ridley turtles under red-light-only conditions required to protect the animals.

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Yoga & Retreats $$$$

Blue Spirit Costa Rica

Nosara

A hilltop yoga and meditation retreat center overlooking the Pacific and a protected turtle-nesting beach. It hosts week-long retreats, workshops, and teacher trainings led by visiting facilitators, and offers a shuttle reservation service for arriving guests. The center focuses on meditation, kirtan, and spiritual programming.

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