Travel Backpacking | Hostels and Hot Rollers

Just a heads up…this is a little taster post about Nosara. Looks like we will be spending at least a month exploring the area, so if this is somewhere that interests you…stay tuned!

I know it may seem like we were in Monteverde for weeks, but in fact, we were only there for 3 days. Our time there was so jam packed, and frankly, so cold, that we were ready to get back to the beach for some chill out time. So early one morning we boarded a shuttle to our next beachy destination, Nosara

Playa Guiones

Throughout our travels, we’ve met so many people who had recommended Nosara to us. It had been on our radar since before we even left Canada, and for whatever reason we had missed it in our previous travels through the Nicoya Pennisula.

Much like Mal Pais/Santa Teresa, Nosara is known to be a town of surfers and Yogis. There is a focus on healthy food, and healthy living. Totally up my alley. We read a sign in one restaurant that stated “No Shirt, No Shoes, Nosara.” I figure that pretty much sums up the vibe!

No shortage of these guys hanging around Nosara!

The town of Nosara is actually about 5 km inland, but most people refer to the nearby beaches as Nosara. The most popular beach, and the one we stayed at, is Playa Guiones. This is where the surfing is.

Like many beaches in Costa Rica, Nosara is turtle central, meaning the beach front is protected from development. I like the beaches like this because you can walk along the beach without the obstruction of condos, houses or restaurants ruining the view. The town is set back about 200m from the beach,and there is beach access set up pretty much everywhere. You certainly never have a hard time figuring out how to get to the beach!

one of the main strips in Playa Guiones.

I would describe the layout of Playa Guiones as a web of streets. I think we spent the first three days wandering around trying to get our barrings, and to be honest, I still think we missed several parts of the town. Most local businesses provide maps of the area, and if you are visiting I suggest you pick one up.

We stayed in Nosara for 5 days, but will be heading back there for three weeks at the end of our trip. The longest span of time we’ve ever spent in one place. Rest assured you will be hearing plenty about this funky little beach front community, as it is pretty apparent that we are big fans.

Pura Vida

Kate

Follow me on Twitter:@caketress

As I mentioned before, we were kind of grouchy during our stay in La Fortuna. That being said, we did manage to rustle up a few of our favourite places for you to check out.

The entrance, I loved this little patio.

My Coffee: Seriously, what would a “Favourite Places” post be without a coffee shop.

Being away from the beach certainly had one huge perk, we were now in the land of coffee! There were coffee shops everywhere in La Fortuna, some of which even grew their own beans. I was a trooper, and tested out three different shops before deciding on my favourite.

I had to put my glasses on because I looked so tired, this coffee helped!

My Coffee is centrally located right across from the central park. It’s actually a nice combination of restaurant and coffee shop. I could have easily gone there for a glass of wine and dinner, but I also didn’t feel bad just ordering a Cappuccino and sitting down.

Their service is wonderful, and it is apparent that the owners take a lot of pride in their establishment. Little touches like bringing you water, and playing ziplining videos on their flat screen really make them stand out.

If you are looking for a delicious coffee in La Fortuna, I would highly suggest My Coffee.

Doesn’t look like much I know!

Soda Sabor Tico: I can’t take credit for this place, it’s all Shaun. During our time in La Fortuna, Shaun was definitely getting sick of chickpeas and eggs and was on the hunt for some delicious, and cheap grub. He struck out one evening on a quest for a burger and fries.

When he returned, I could tell he struck gold. Not only had he found a soda that sold a burger and fries for 5 dollars, but it was half a block from our hostel. This soda sold both typical Costa Rican, and western food. It was always packed, a sure sign that it is a good place to eat. If you are looking for a bargain, this is a great place to go.

It was a cloudy day, but I swear there is a volcano there!

La Fortuna Park: This park isn’t hard to miss, it is literally the centre of La Fortuna. Like I said in previous posts, there isn’t much to do in La Fortuna outside of tours. So, I ended up spending a lot of time in the park. It’s not huge, but it has a lot of benches, and other places to sit, enjoy a coffee, and marvel at the Arenal volcano looming overhead.

The church in the background is also worth checking out. I popped in one afternoon while I was wandering around and It is gorgeous inside.

So there you have it, anther edition of “Our Favourite Places” is complete. As always, if you have questions about this area, or any others we’ve visited. Feel free to ask in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.

Pura Vida!

Kate

Follow me on Twitter:@caketress