If you’ve found yourself here, reading this, then Nosara is already on your travel radar – and the Nosara yoga scene very likely has something to do with it. Even if you’re not a yogi. Hear us out…
Nosara is one of Costa Rica’s great wellness destinations, in very large part due to the yoga studios, yoga retreats, private yoga instructors, and meditation spaces that make their home here. So even if you’re not a yoga-first kind of traveler, yoga is to thank for the healthy restaurants, the epic surf, the robust tourism infrastructure, the luxury Nosara vacation rentals, and even the greater community, which genuinely leans into every aspect of living well. (Nosara is part of Costa Rica’s famous Blue Zone, after all.)
Spend any amount of time here, and you immediately understand that this is a special place. Here, your morning practice can happen in an open-air shala with birds in the trees, ocean breezes whispering in, and the rest of the day still wide open before you. And once you’ve spent a little more time here, it’s easy to see that yoga is only part of what makes Nosara so special.
In Nosara, your wellness experience also lives outside the studio. It’s the early surf session, the walk down Playa Guiones, the sound of howler monkeys somewhere beyond your terrace, the slow paddle through mangroves, the afternoon rain moving through the jungle, and, if timing is on your side, the unforgettable sight of olive ridley sea turtles coming ashore at Ostional…
How Does the Nicoya Blue Zone Shape Wellness in Nosara?
Long before Nosara became internationally known for retreats and wellness travel – in fact, long before the term “Blue Zone” had even been coined – the Nicoya Peninsula had already honed in on at least one ideal approach to living well.
Nicoya, the greater region where Nosara is located, is one of the world’s original (and rare) Blue Zones, where people on average live longer, healthier lives. What’s so astounding, though, is that it doesn’t boil down to a single miraculous secret, but rather to a combination of everyday, ordinary habits: regular movement, local food, strong family and community ties, plenty of time outdoors, and a sense of purpose known locally as plan de vida.
And while you can’t recreate a lifetime of Blue Zone habits during just a vacation week in Nosara, you can spend a little time in a place shaped around them. Walk to dinner. Take your meals outside. Swim and surf because it’s fun, not because you’re squeezing in a workout. Linger on the terrace. Watch the stars wink back into existence every night. It’s good for you, after all!
Nosara didn’t become Costa Rica’s unofficial yoga capital all at once. There was no decision, no vote, no mandate that made it so. It happened a little more gradually than that, as yogis and wellness enthusiasts discovered the region’s diverse landscapes, consistent surf, and sugar-sand beaches. Everything else followed.
Over the years, though, Nosara yoga and wellness culture did mature. Today, the area is home to established yoga schools, retreats, private instructors, meditation spaces, and open-air shalas where jungle soundtracks and Pacific breezes become part of the practice.
If you’re a dedicated yogi, you can build your entire stay around the various classes, workshops, retreats, and private instruction you find here. And if you’re not, you can still choose to take just a class to two. To invite an instructor for a private class at one of our Nosara vacation rentals. To return to a practice you haven’t had time for lately.
And if someone else in your group would rather surf at dawn, walk Guiones, sleep late, or book a massage? Perfect. Nosara is all about flexibility. Everyone in your family or group can carve out their own special version of vacation wellness, while still finding plenty of space for you to come back together when it’s time for lunch, a swim, sunset, or whatever else the day brings.
Part of what’s so magical about Nosara wellness is that it’s right outside your door. You don’t have to look for it and sometimes, it even finds you first.
At some of our Nosara vacation rentals, you may wake to the unmistakable call of howler monkeys. Colorful parrots before you’ve even made coffee. Iguanas that scuttle where they please. The road, the stroll, the path to the beach may pass beneath trees rather than storefronts, and a walk anywhere becomes part jungle stroll, part vacation ritual. As we said, it’s special place.
And then there’s the water. That’s a big reason why you’re here, right? And yet, it’s not even all about the beach or the Pacific. Start at the Nosara River and its mangrove habitat, where kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and river sightseeing invite you to slow down and enjoy the natural world around you. Then, transition to the ocean and all its myriad wonders, from surf and swimming to ocean kayaking and paddleboarding, snorkeling and scuba.
After a few days of surf, sand, saltwater, jungle, and fresh air, it clicks: while so many arrive in Nosara to “do wellness,” we almost all end up simply spending more of our lives outdoors. Nosara’s just that kind of place. Even the weather plays a part. An afternoon shower moving through the trees can be every bit as memorable as a blue-sky morning, especially when you’re watching it from a covered terrace with nowhere urgent to be.
Because at the end of the day – or your vacation – Nosara’s magic isn’t really about one stand-out; it’s the accumulation of small encounters that keep reminding you of exactly where you are.
Just north of Nosara, Ostional National Wildlife Refuge protects one of Costa Rica’s most extraordinary wildlife spectacles: the mass nesting of olive ridley sea turtles, known as an arribada.
During an arribada, turtles come ashore en masse to nest, sometimes over the course of several nights. Peak months generally run from July through December, with some of the largest events often occurring in September and October. Green and leatherback turtles can also nest within the refuge.
Wildlife, of course, doesn’t adhere to an appointment calendar. There’s no guarantee your trip will coincide with an arribada simply because you happen to be visiting at the right time of year. Of course, that unpredictability is also part of what makes witnessing one so extraordinary… so do your best on timing, hope for the best, and return, if necessary!
If you do get to see nesting (or hatching!) turtles, we strongly recommend doing so with an authorized guide. Guided visits help protect nesting turtles, nests, and hatchlings while making sure visitors follow the refuge’s rules around light, photography, distance, and access.
And if you’re lucky enough to witness it? It’s almost impossible to compare the experience to anything else on a conventional wellness itinerary. Watching sea turtles emerge from the Pacific and make their way across the sand is almost an otherworldly experience – the sheer number of turtles, their size, the whole event… it’s pretty close to magic.
And sometimes, that’s exactly the kind of reset you came to Nosara to find.
Spend a few days in Nosara and you’ll quickly discover that the local approach to wellness often begins on your plate.
There’s no shortage of choice. Nosara has developed an excellent food scene, with everything from smoothie bowls, fresh juices, organic cafés, and plant-forward menus to locally caught seafood, excellent coffee, international cuisine, and relaxed restaurants where you can wander in after the beach and happily linger through sunset.
If you’re traveling with a group – or just have a diverse palate – you’ll appreciate the variety. Your dedicated yogi may want a fresh juice and breakfast after morning practice. Your surfers may come back ravenous and ready for something considerably more substantial. Someone else may have spent the morning doing absolutely nothing and still be very interested in lunch. Nosara can accommodate every last craving.
There’s also something very fitting about eating this way here. The Nicoya Peninsula’s traditional Blue Zone diet has long centered on simple foods, local ingredients, fruits, vegetables, beans, corn, and meals shared with other people. Nosara’s modern restaurant scene is much more international, of course, but the region’s appreciation for fresh food, eating well, and sharing a meal together feels right at home.
We’re of the belief that no vacation should require everyone to follow a one-size-fits-all itinerary. That’s one of the biggest reasons we love private Nosara vacation rentals for families, couples traveling together, and larger groups.
Nosara / Playa Guiones | 5 bedrooms | 5 baths 1 half bath | 10 to 16 guests
Casa Tres Hermanas sits right where Nosara does some of its best work: close enough to North Guiones Beach that surf, restaurants, shops, juice bars, yoga, and wellness classes are all part of the natural rhythm of the day, yet private enough that the house is still your own world once you’re inside.
This is a villa for travelers who want ease without giving up privacy. You can walk three minutes to the beach, one minute to Lola Restaurante & Bar, Posada Margherita, and Elixir, or a few more to Nalu Studio, La Isla Juice Club, Nosara CR Surf School, boutiques, the Healing Centre at Harmony, and the rest of North Guiones’ low-key polish. Then you come home to the lap pool, the yoga shala, the sauna, the ping pong table, air-conditioned bedrooms, breakfast preparation, daily cleaning and laundry, and Sadie, your dedicated concierge.
That’s the discreet luxury of Casa Tres Hermanas. You don’t need to announce yourself in Nosara to enjoy it well. The beach is there when you want it. The town is there when you want it. And when you’ve had enough of the outside world, the villa gives you a private place to come back to, settle in, and let the day belong only to your group.
Between Nosara & Samara | 12 Beds | 12 Baths | 30 Guests
Welcome to Hacienda Nicoya, a serene sanctuary designed for peace, creativity, and mindfulness. Nestled within a 500-acre nature lover’s paradise, our authentic Costa Rican hacienda is the perfect retreat to disconnect from daily life. With 12 individual rooms, we offer an intimate boutique experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the breathtaking 360-degree natural beauty surrounding you. Step outside your room and wander through lush greenery to the inviting shores of Playa Barrigona, where new adventures await.
Discover a blend of traditional Costa Rican architecture and modern comforts at Hacienda Nicoya. Enjoy two delicious communal family-style meals daily, crafted from locally sourced ingredients. Our secluded location enhances your experience, providing a tranquil lifestyle off the grid. Whether you’re drawn to outdoor activities like surfing and yoga or prefer relaxing in the open-air spaces and sun-soaked pools, this is your sanctuary in nature.
With direct access to Playa Barrigona, just 200 meters away, you can enjoy 700 meters of pristine white sand. Explore nearby hiking trails right from your doorstep, or venture into the vibrant towns of Samara and Nosara, both within a short drive. At Hacienda Nicoya, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Costa Rica and find your ultimate escape.
Yoga may have helped put Nosara on the wellness map, but a week here tells a much bigger story: There are the turtles at Ostional. The howlers in the trees. The surf, the mangroves, the food, the warm air, the long walks, the jungle rain, and those wonderfully unplanned hours when nobody in your group seems particularly interested in checking the time.
That’s all part of the Nosara wellness story, too.
At LVCR, we’ll help you choose from our Nosara vacation rentals and build a stay around the version of vacation that actually sounds restorative to you. Tell us who’s coming, what you love, what you’d rather skip, and how you’d like your days to feel. Tell us what “wellness” means to you.
And did you know? When you reserve one of our rental villas in Costa Rica, you’re guaranteeing yourself both a spectacular vacation home and full (and FREE) travel concierge services. So go ahead, dream big. And rest easy knowing we’ll take care of all the details.
