Nosara is a rapidly growing tourist town approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Liberia, in the Guanacaste Province in Northwest Costa Rica. Nosara and the surrounding area, with its lush greenery and miles of beautiful beaches, is one of the more popular tourist destinations for North American and European travelers in Guanacaste. On the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, Nosara offers two sandy beaches: Playa Pelada and Playa Guiones. Close to the jungle, this area is warmer and has more scenic lush greenery than the northern regions of the Guanacaste province. The climate is another reason for Nosara's popularity; the dry season (November-April) boasts sunny, non-humid days, while the rainy season (May-October) usually offers sunny days with brief rain showers in the afternoons. The temperature remains a consistent 80-100 degrees Farenheit throughout the year.

The village of Nosara is situated 3 miles inland from the beaches. The population of Nosara includes an upscale, planned community of North Americans and Europeans, based in Playa Guiones -- the "Proyecto Americano" -- just south of the town of Nosara. Playa Guiones is the commercial hub of the Nosara area with the majority of hotels and restaurants. Trying to avoid the explosive and unchecked growth of other nearby tourist towns such as Tamarindo (in Northern Guanacaste), the civic association of Nosara carefully planned the layout of the town. There are a large number of homes in the area, but the environmental integrity of the area has been maintained, with many of the indigenous plants and animals peacefully co-existing alongside their human neighbors. Nosara is often identified as a prime example of "responsible" growth, inspiring the development of other regions as they respond to the impact of Costa Rica's increasing popularity as a tourist destination. Development in Nosara and the surrounding areas is carefully monitored and held to high standards. As a result, Nosara avoids the standard

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jumble of hotels and tourist attractions prevalent at other beaches along the Guanacaste coastline, which is much of Nosara's appeal to visitors and residents alike.

Nosara maintains its secluded charm by rejecting many of the commercial establishments that accompany the tourist crowd. Although a number of small hotels and restaurants exist, these establishments are tucked away on heavily-treed side streets. There are only a few other signs of overt civilization, including a small post office, several churches, a pharmacy, a library, and a medical clinic. For all its seclusion, however, Nosara is easily accessible. There is an airstrip in Nosara serviced by Sansa (the national airline) and Travelair (a private regular schedule airline) several times daily from San Jose. The recently expanded Liberia International Airport is approximately a 1 - 1.5-hour drive, and major US-based airlines (Delta, Continental, US Airways, and America West) have all recently instituted direct flights from the United States. There are also several daily bus services from San Jose. For those that prefer to drive, the trip is approximately 4 hours from San Jose. While the roads in and immediately surrounding Nosara are unpaved, the Costa Rican government has recently announced a plan to pave that section of the province. Samara, a large tourist town nearby, does currently have paved roads to all nearby major cities, and is approximately a 30-minute drive from Nosara.

Despite its reputation for tranquility, Nosara offers a diverse array of attractions. Historically, surfing has been the main appeal for visitors and newfound residents in the area. Nosara is known worldwide for having the most consistent surf on the entire coast (delivering waves 95% of the time) and, as a result, is a virtual mecca for surfing enthusiasts. More recently, tourism in Nosara has begun to attract those with interests that are much broader than surfing. In the immediate vicinity, there is world-class sport fishing, boat tours, swimming, snorkeling, horseback riding, bird watching, massage therapy, yoga, hiking trails, and kayaking. The Ostional Wildlife refuge, a 20-minute drive from Nosara, is another popular local attraction. For several days each month, thousands of sea turtles visit the beach in Ostional to lay their eggs, drawing tourists from all around the world.