Tours and things to do in Nosara & Playa Guiones

Park guides, catamarans, sportfishing, ziplines, rafting, and more. Every listing checked against live sources.

Nosara's 20 verified tours are led by 4 turtle-watching organizations and 4 ATV operators, plus 3 sportfishing charters and 3 yoga and retreat centers, including ADIO and AGLO, the local guide associations for the Ostional turtle nesting beach.

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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Yoga & Retreats $$$$

Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort

Playa Guiones

A wellness resort in the Guiones jungle offering daily drop-in yoga classes, week-long surf-and-yoga retreats, a spa, and Balinese-inspired accommodations. The property runs its own surf school and added Bodhi Residences for longer stays. Reservations are handled through an online booking system.

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Sportfishing $$$$

Costa Rica Fishing Charters (Nosara)

Nosara

This multi-destination operator runs inshore and offshore sportfishing charters out of Playa Garza on a 36-foot Topaz Express boat with twin diesel inboards, air conditioning, and full tournament tackle. Trips target marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, and dorado, with a bilingual crew and full Coast Guard safety gear aboard. Full-day and half-day charters can be booked directly through the company's website.

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Turtle Watching $$

Experience Nosara - Turtle Nesting at Ostional

Nosara

Experience Nosara is a Nosara-based adventure tour operator that runs a dedicated Ostional turtle tour, with a hatching-focused departure at 5 AM and a nesting-focused departure at 5 PM, depending on the season. A bilingual local guide who lives in Nosara leads the visit and covers round-trip transportation from the Nosara area and a seasonal snack. The company is a member of the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo and does not guarantee a specific sighting since nesting activity depends on the season and moon cycle.

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Sportfishing $$$

FishingNosara

Nosara

FishingNosara operates a fleet of five purpose-built sportfishing boats, the Wanderer, Discoverer, Harvester, Explorer, and Adventurer, moored in Garza Bay since 2009 and running over 200 trips a year. Each boat has its own captain and is rigged for offshore trolling or inshore casting, with tuna tubes, outriggers, and fighting chairs depending on the vessel. The company provides round-trip ground transport from Nosara-area hotels and a ferry out to the boats, and bookings are handled directly by phone or email.

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Boat Charter $$$

Get Hooked Nosara

Nosara

Founded by Playa Garza native Jason Alfaro, this local tour outfit runs boat-based excursions out of Playa Garza alongside its land tours, including inshore and offshore fishing with local fishermen, snorkeling trips to a nearby shipwreck, and sunset cruises. Fishing trips on the 28-foot boat target amberjack, grouper, mahi mahi, snapper, and wahoo to keep, with roosterfish, sailfish, and marlin released. Bookings go through WhatsApp.

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Catamaran & Sailing $$$$

Kaya Nosara Boat Tours

Nosara

Kaya Nosara runs sailing catamaran tours out of Playa Garza under a Coast Guard-licensed captain with over a decade of experience, offering morning and sunset outings as well as half-day and full-day private charters. The classic sailing catamaran Kaya holds up to 18 guests on private charters or 13 on mixed group tours, with music, drinks, and stops for swimming and wildlife viewing along the Nicoya coastline. Private full-day charters start at $2,300.

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ATV & UTV $$

Monkey Quads ATV & Jungle Cart Rentals

Playa Guiones

An ATV and jungle-cart rental company based in Guiones offering self-drive rentals and guided tours to waterfalls, Ostional beach, and snorkeling spots. The company runs a fleet of quads and carts for getting around Nosara. Bookings are taken online or by phone.

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Park & Nature Guide $$

Nature Tours Gabriela

Nosara

Nature Tours Gabriela is a solo naturalist guide operation led by Gabriela Brendle, offering hiking and birdwatching in Nosara's tropical dry forest, kayak paddles through the Nosara River and mangroves watching for crocodiles and birds, and horseback rides along the river to a waterfall. Tours run in English, German, and Spanish and are rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor across more than 200 reviews.

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Yoga & Retreats $$$

Nexus Institute for Yoga & Wellness

Playa Guiones

A Yoga Alliance certified training school steps from Playa Guiones, running in-person 200-hour, 300-hour, and specialty yoga teacher trainings. The school has operated in Nosara since 2003 and schedules multiple cohorts through the year. Programs are residential and held on-site.

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Sportfishing $$$

Nice'n Tight Sportfishing

Nosara

Captain Eduardo runs inshore and offshore fishing charters based in Playa Garza, targeting roosterfish, snapper, and grouper close to shore or marlin, sailfish, and tuna farther out on the 45-foot High Roller. The operation prepares fresh sashimi on board and can arrange for the catch to be cooked Tico-style at Soda Playa Garza. Trips are booked directly with the captain by WhatsApp.

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ATV & UTV $$

Nosara ATV and Surf

Playa Guiones

Nosara ATV and Surf is a family-run outfit led by local guide David Marin, offering ATV rides to the Pilas Blancas waterfall, a coffee-country route, and a coastal trip to San Juanillo's coves, each including fruit, drinks, and safety gear. The same company runs private, semi-private, and small-group surf lessons at Playa Guiones or Playa Pelada depending on tide and swell.

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Boat Charter $$$

Nosara Sea Saw Tours

Nosara

Based in Playa Garza and run by Captain Juri with first mate Guido, this operator combines inshore and offshore fishing with snorkeling stops, wildlife watching, and sunset cruises out to the local pink-sand island. Trips include handcrafted drinks and fresh fruit, and catches such as tuna are served on board. The company holds a 5.0 rating across 38 reviews on TripAdvisor.

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ATV & UTV $$

Off Road Adventure Nosara

Nosara

Off Road Adventure Nosara runs guided ATV tours through the gravel roads, river crossings, and jungle trails around Nosara, including waterfall runs to Pilas Blancas and Mala Noche and a coffee farm route into the mountains. The company also rents ATVs and scooters by the day, week, or month for visitors who want to explore on their own.

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Turtle Watching $

Ostional Turtle Tours (Gredy Bran Gómez)

Nosara

Gredy Bran Gómez is an independent licensed guide based in Ostional who runs turtle-watching tours under the name Ostional Turtle Tours, recommended in visitor reviews for arribada and egg-hatching visits to the refuge. As with all Ostional guides, tours require advance contact since group sizes and beach access are regulated and arribada timing cannot be scheduled ahead. Booking runs through direct email or WhatsApp rather than a company website.

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Surf School $$$

Safari Surf School

Playa Guiones

A surf school teaching at Playa Guiones since 1998, offering single lessons through full turn-key surf vacation packages. It is based at the Olas Verdes Hotel and uses ISA-trained instructors. The school holds STOKE sustainability certification and also runs camps in Panama and Ecuador.

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Surf School $$$

Ten Toes Surf

Playa Guiones

A surf-coaching outfit at Playa Guiones offering water sessions, theory sessions with video analysis, group retreats, and a surf-and-stay house. Coaching follows a structured method aimed at measurable progression for all levels. A portion of proceeds funds free lessons for local children through its Tiny Toes program.

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ATV & UTV $$

Tico Tours Nosara

Playa Guiones

Tico Tours Nosara is a long-running local operator offering ATV tours through rivers and jungle trails, guided horseback rides including a sunset beach option, and kayak trips through the Nosara estuary's mangroves. Their ATV routes include the White Rocks mountain and river adventure and a coffee-farm run at Santa Rosa.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I watch turtles nest near Nosara?

Yes, ADIO Ostional Guides and AGLO, the local guide associations for the Ostional wildlife refuge, are both verified, along with 2 other turtle-watching operators.

Are there yoga retreats in Nosara?

Yes, 3 verified yoga and retreat centers serve the zone, including Blue Spirit Costa Rica and Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort.

Is Nosara good for ATV tours?

Yes, 4 verified ATV operators serve the zone.

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