Activities
The Nosara area is loaded with a number of activities for visitors and residents to enjoy. For example, take a horseback ride through the jungle and onto the beaches, enjoy a guided ocean kayak tour, visit the black sand beaches of Ostionial for a peek at the greenback turtles laying their eggs (or possibly seeing the little turtles hatching and finding their way down to the ocean). Go deep sea fishing where you can catch Tuna, Marlin, Swordfish, and Barracuda . The Marlin and Swordfish are "catch and release" but the Tuna and many other varieties can be brought home for a mouth-watering feast. Watch the humpback whales crash off the blue waters of Playa Guiones. This page contains information on activities in our area including surfing, snorkelling, deep sea fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, zip line tours, waterfalls, rodeos, cultural events and much much more. Simply click on one of the table entries below to jump to the appropriate section.
Deep Sea Fishing
The waters surrounding Costa Rica are renowned for the variety and quantity of the fish. The ocean literally teams with marine wildlife. The locals will often fish from the shore, standing in the surf and using only a line wound around a piece of board. For more sophisticated fishing, you can readily arrange for a local charter tour and fishing expedition. These are available for a full day or a half-day. Some captains will provide hourly service. The captains are all experienced mariners with many years of experience fishing the local waters. We can help you arrange a fishing expedition or you can check out Fishing Nosara. The boats typically leave out of the village of Garza which is just south of Playa Guiones and only a couple of miles away. There are lots of choices in the size of boat and the various fishing options. The ocean is typically very calm and once you get past the surf, you can relax and enjoy a great time concentrating on the sport of fishing. We have encountered marlin, swordfish, tuna. whale sharks, sea snakes, humpback whales, turtles, turtles mating, flying fish and a lot more that we cannot name. Every trip has been an adventure. Check out the pictures below. The first one shows Wendy's first big fish - 185 pounds of airborne Marlin! She was so excited. Mary Louise's fish was a lot smaller but she practiced hard with the broom handle before she was allowed to reel in her catch. The last two pictures contain a couple of photos of a true trophy fish that was literally too big to land. All trophy fishing in Costa Rica is of the "catch and release" variety.
More Fishing Photos! Click on each of these for a larger picture.
Rodeos
Inevitably there will be a local "rodeo" somewhere in the district and these are amazing events to watch. A week or so before the big day, some men in trucks will roll into town and proceed to set up a rodeo arena (typically a three or four rail pole fence) and some seating stands. Depending on the size of the rodeo, there may even be a stand for a band. The Red Cross along with their ambulance will always be in attendance. While the event may be advertised as Bull Fighting, you can rest assured that the bulls always survive and only the riders or anyone else in the arena might get hurt. Apparently, once the bull has dispatched his rider after roaring out of the chute, the bull is then free to challenge any of the young men you will see watching the events from inside the arena. It seems to be cool to "count coup" by trying to touch the bull's tail! Various two-legged targets can be seen diving under the fence to escape the bull. Once the bull slows down, the mounted cowboys inside the arena will corral the bull and lead him away in readiness for the next ride. Outside the arena, you will find more entertainment. You can sample the local food at a variety of food stalls. You can also take your chance with a choice of various gaming machines. These may be games of chance that you have never seen before. Of course, everyone joins in to witness the Rodeo Queen entourage. Typically, the evening will close with a dance where everyone is welcome. The music is fast with a strong, pounding latin dance beat. Naturally, the bar service remains open and active all day long and long into the night.
Surfing
Surfing is a regular sport on Playa Guiones - our beach. The waves of Playa Guiones are regarded as some of the finest available throughout Costa RIca. Typically the surfers are out extremely early in the morning, catching the best waves.
They then retire for a food break and a long siesta until the evening surf
comes up. You can rent surf boards and "boogy boards" at several locations throughout the subdivision. Try contacting Rick Walker at
Corky Carrol's Surf School right across the street or Juan Surfo (El Punto) just up the street
from The Gilded Iguana.
You can reach Juan via his email at
juansurfo@yahoo.com or by phone at 011-506-682-1081.
Each year, a national surfing competition is held on Playa Guiones. Surfing competitors, officials, suppliers and sponsors all congregate on the beach for a couple of days of competition. Bring your camera and your binoculars to capture the fun. Of course, surfers attract their own unique suite of groupies which are often fun to watch as well.
Snorkeling
Snorkelling attracts a regular audience to the tidal pools at the South end of Playa Guiones. The water here is relatively shallow and extends out for a few hundred yards. This is an ideal location for beginners. For the more adventurous, you can take a short drive North to the more extensive underwater sights at San Juanillo. This is a large bay where the water is deeper and the variety of fish is more extensive. You can rent snorkeling equipment at several locations in the area. Remember to wear a T-shirt in the water if you are susceptible to sunburn. You will encounter a great length of our beach and you can clearly see - there are no big hotels built right on the beach! If you do not have snorkle gear, you can rent equipment from Cafe de Paris or at Coconut Harry's Surf Shop.
Turtles
Turtles are fascinating little guys and the Costa Rica oceans and beaches are a major natural habitat. We will often see turltes on Playa Guiones but these are not many in number. Take a short drive (about 1/2 hour in duration and through three small, shallow rivers) north to the Village of Ostional. The black sand beaches here are a veritable magnet for the turtles. The University of Costa Rica has established a research station on the south side of the village. You can visit the beach for a small fee. Here the turtles are incredibly numerous. The villagers find the nesting turtles so invasive that they have planted cactus hedges between their houses and the beach to prevent the turtles from digging up their back yards. September is the prime month for the mother turtles to come ashore to lay their eggs but they can be found in smaller numbers just about any time of the year. The mother turtle will dig a hole with their rear flippers about a foot deep and lay around 100 eggs. She will again use her rear flippers to cover up the nest with the black sand. You will be advised not to disturb this process should you come across this event. She will repeat this cycle three times during a season. These eggs with hatch in about 60 days and the tiny babies, each about the size of a small cookie, will dig their way up to the surface and wiggle their way down to the ocean. Of course, during this trip they are prime targets for all manner of predators, including humans. The locals are allowed a harvesting period and take good advantage of this time. In the local bar during this season, it is entirely macho to down a raw turtle egg followed by a chaser of the local vodka called Guarro!
Yoga Lessons
Nosara boasts its own internationally recognized Nosara Yoga Institute. Local masters can provide you with complete lessons. Sometimes we have a regular Yoga class conducted under the ranchito beside the pool. Other times, you will see Yoga classes being conducted down on our beach. Contact our Reservations Agent, our Manager or Keilyn at the front desk for further details.
Massage
Local masters can provide you with complete massage therapy treatments. You will find an amazing variety of massage treatments available in Nosara. Swedish massage! Korean massage! Relaxation massage! Deep muscle massage! And a dozen other choices can be arranged. Many of these are within only a couple of blocks walking distance. Also, there is a small gym closeby where you can put yourself through a good workout with Russian Kettle weights and a good assortment of training equipment. Contact our Reservations Agent, our Manager or Keilyn at the front desk for further details. See the pictures below for some details. Click on each for enlarged view.
Beach Time
You can always join the locals and visitors alike at the uncrowded beach.
Catch the early morning sunrise and check for sea shells. You can
take a beach lounger down and enjoy the ever present sun. You can join friends
and loved ones at sunset - celebrating the start of evening. Take your
favourite cocktail and wander down just before 6:00 pm and watch sun sink
below horizon with beautiful red colours. You will see the Pelicans patrolling
the surf for a few final snacks, the surfers catching the last waves of the day
and if you are lucky you may catch the
brilliant blue twinkle of the final glimpse of the sun for that day.
Gallery of Playa Guiones Photos
Gallery of More Playa Guiones Photos Jogging
For the joggers, enjoy an early morning run in the sand along our 5
or so miles of beach. When the tide is out, there is a broad band of hard
sand that is excellent for running. If you want to truly challenge the
calf muscles, you can also run for a while in the soft dry sand further
up the beach. According to the experts, this is excellent training. Drink
lots of water and enjoy the serenity of dawn. The sun rises around 6:00
AM so you will be encouraged to rise early. At that time of the day,
there will probably be only a few surfers out riding the curls. If
you get too hot, you can always run in the shallows for a while to cool
down. You can also visit the blow holes at Playa Pelada (the next bay to the north up the coast,
sometimes called Olga's Beach) to get a refreshing
blast of salt water. Click on the last image in this set to see a larger
view of the beach at sunset time. Swimming
If swimming is your choice, again, take to the beach almost anytime
during the day for a plunge in the warm blue waters. The beach is shallow
and safe. Take a towel, some suntan lotion, your favourite book and enjoy.
The waters of Playa Guiones are warm and inviting. Bring goggles if you
are not accustomed to salt water. Also, as you walk out to reach a comfortable
depth, we recommend that you shuffle your feet along the bottom. If there are any
we fish, etc. in your vicinity, they will readily get out of the way. However, if you
are taking large steps, you just might land a foot on some poor unsuspecting little guy and
sometimes they have their own peculiar protective devices. There are no serious
riptides in Playa Guiones but always be aware no matter where you swim. Other Activities
We have a host of other activities available in the community, including the following:
1. If sightseeing of a different flavor is preferred, you can adjust your schedule to visit some of the local graveyards. While this might seem a bit macabre, the Costa Ricans are intensely family oriented and take great effort to commemorate their loved ones. The style and accoutrements of their grave settings are quite different than what we are accustomed to in North America.
2. We also have a Nudist Colony in the area. Enough said on these sightseeing opportunities. The surfer ladies are an attraction as well.
3. If Kareoke is your style, you will find one or two bars in the neighborhood that will indulge you. Of course, many of the local bars have professional entertainment on a regular basis. The Gilded Iguana hosts Amateur Night once a week that attracts a large crowd. These "amateurs" usually can match many of the professionals.
4. Some of the bars also provide facitlites for pool tournaments and table tennis tournaments. Check the local postings when you visit.
5. The creeks in the area feature a white fresh water crab. These can be hunted at night with the use of a strong flashlight and a local guide. You will need a strong constitution to survive crawling through the muck, the bush, the dark and the insects to complete one of these missions. Collect a pucket of these critters and you have the makings of an interesting meal.
6. In addition, here is a photo of a suspension bridge in the Cloud Forest at Monteverde. The Cloud Forest is an amazing place that requires a full day to travel up the mountains. It also requires a full day to exit over what are probably the worst roads in the country. However, the trip is well worth the rocky roads. Far above the coast, you will be able to look down and view the Gulf of Nicoya. The wildlife is impressive, including the elusive and beautiful Quetzal. You will find a Butterfly Farm, a Hummingbird Hotel and numerous nature tours along with a host of quality restaurants. Make a reservation and take a jacket as the mountains are much cooler than the coastal lowlands.
7. Spanish Lessons are readily available in the Village of Nosara. Rates range around $13 per hour per person and less per person for small groups. Perhaps the best way to learn the language with a local coach and countless opportunities to practise your new skills.
Pool Time
If you prefer, you can merely stay close and enjoy the unending beautiful weather by lounging beside (or floating in) our large kidney-shaped pool with the unique tile pattern om the bottom. We have a large ranchito equipped with a table, chairs and a delightful pair of comfortable hammocks if you do not want to sit out in the direct sunlight. Also, we have a set of pool loungers with padded covers you can arrange how you like poolside. We have a volleyball net that can be setup across the width of the pool if you have a large enough group to play.
If you have friends who are
guests at other hotels in the neighborhood, you may be able to visit one
of the many other pools. Be sure to ask permission and always shower before
taking that refreshing dip. Click on the last image to see my favourite
photo of our pool at dawn and check the reflection.
Of course, there are many other activities available for you. We can help arrange whitewater rafting trips, jungle tours, midnight crawler expeditions, turtle tours, volcano expeditions, etc. Check with our office for currently available events.
Gallery of Swimming Pool Photos
Volunteering
You can enjoy other activities in Nosara as well as the tourist items. Local residents and visitors have donated time, effort and funds for a variety of worthy volunteer causes in the community. Some of these are listed below.
1. We have a local library called the David Kitson Memorial Library, named after a long time resident. Beverly Kitson, wife of the late David Kitson, leads an active effort to help increase the breadth and facilities of the library which is located just off the square in the Village of Nosara. Many others find ways to contribute here as well. For example, a young couple from Guelph, Ontario, Canada visit each year, bringing more computers and software from Canada for the Library. Not only do they ensure that all the computers are working, they also teach classes in contemporary computing through the Library.
2. Nosara also has an emerging technical school called the Fucan Nosara. Here, local youths are trained in carpentry, electrical, welding, construction, etc. The school welcomes donations of funds, equipment and volunteer effort.
3. Nosara has a relatively new high school located a bit north and east of the village. Again, any assistance to the high school as well as the area elementary schools here is always much appreciated. Pop in and visit. Most of the schools will have an English teacher if you are not fluent in Spanish. Although education is a national priority, the outlying schools always seem to be in need of sometimes even basic essentials.
4. The area has been blessed with a Montesorri School as well. While this is a private venture, we know that volunteer assistance, support, supplies, etc. are always welcome. Sponsors are always needed for local children so they can attend this school and learn the critical skills they will need for the future
5. Bobby Johnston, one of the major fixtures of our community who has served so many supportive volunteer oraganizations, also leads another volunteer group that solicits funding for the neutering of stray dogs. You will notice that Costa Rica has an overabundance of stray dogs. This program seeks to reduce the number of strays in our area. A qualified veternarian regularly visits our community and provides the service.
6. Brenda down at Harbor Reef Hotel runs a volunteer program to protect and preserve the Howler Monkeys in the area. These little guys often run afoul of the electrical power grid, suffering serious injury. Of course, they add a unique dimension to our community and folks try to ensure their ongoing presence.
7. The local Red Cross has just purchased a new ambulance which benefits the entire community. Again donations are welcome to ensure it is maintained and serviceable for the future. Our manager has served for years on the local school board and also the Red Cross board. If you wish to help out, please contact him during your visit.
White Water Rafting
Of course, we can always get back to more tourist items. For example, you can go white water rafting. Look at the expressions on the faces of our friends in the following rafting photos.
Active Volcanoes
You can visit a real live volcano at Arenal located north and east of Nosara about a 5-hour drive away. Neaby, Lake Arenal with its strong perpetual winds is a world renowned site for wind surfers. The hot, relaxing waters at Tabacon Resort or Los Lagos Resort near Arenal are worth a visit. More photos of this exciting spot are available but nothing can match the sounds, sights, smells and experience of the 'real thing'. If you are lucky enough to catch the "show", you will see huge red boulders blowing out the side of the mountain, crashing down and exploding into multiple, smaller boulders in an exciting display. Click on the last volcano photo to see a close up of the big one!A ring of volcanoes with the associated hot springs can be found in the Rincon area north of Nosara near the town of Liberia. Further north in Nicuaraga, another set of volcanoes remain active. Further afield and closer to the capital of San Jose, you can visit the Poaz volcano and also the Irazu volcano. On a clear day, apparently, you can see both oceans from the heights of Irazu.
Radio Stations
The FM bands in Costa Rica are full of interesting radio stations. Sometimes, it take a bit of effort to get used to the high paced Spanish chatter and the totally different music. However, if you would like try a fascinating mix of English and Spanish radio, we particularly like Radio Dos at 99.5 FM. Tune in to ex-pat radio host Evan Luck in the afternoons for a wonderful mix of enjoyable popular music. He is more than interesting to listen to with his appreciation of the local culture, customs and various annoynances. He is sometimes a bit droll but always worth listening to. Altenatively, you can tune into Radio Dos over the Internet and capture a whiff of paradise from anywhere on the planet. They have the absolutely best radio jingles ever! You will find yourself singing along.
Weddings
Many young folks have dreamt of holding their wedding ceremony on a lush beach in the tropics. Guess what? You can do this at Villas Canadiense. In fact, one of our partner, Carl Tamarro and his lovely bride, Mary Anne were married on our very own beach and we held the wedding reception poolside at Villas Canadiense. We constructed an arch from available driftwood and decorated it with palm fronds and natural flowers. The ceremony was conducted by one of the local judges. We all hoisted champagne glasses for a toast to the newly wedded couple on the beach through the photograph session. Then, we all retired to Villas Canadiense for a lovely reception with great music. The reception was catered by one of the nearby restaurants. Check out the photos below and if you have any questions, contact our Reservations Agent. We have hosted other weddings as well and she can help point you in the right direction for the singular event of a lifetime.
Gallery of Villas Canadiense Wedding Photos
Tennis
Our subdivision sports a pair of tennis courts. Located not far from the Nosara Hotel (at the north end
of Playa Guiones), these twin courts
can be booked by telephone. Of course, we recommend early morning or late afternoon matches unless you want
to melt! Below are a set of recent pictures of our tennis courts. Click on photo for enlarged view.
Iguana Farm
Apparently, there is an Iguana Farm close on the east coast of Costa RIca. We have never been there but you can see large
(up to 1.7 meters long) Iguana and all manner of smaller ones. You can learn about how they puff themselves up and
jump to the ground, expelling the air to cushion their landing. Learn about their mating habits and
special survival mechanisms. Learn about which ones are edible and which ones
can run across water. Of course, we have lots of wild ones that live on our
property and regularly visit the pool area.
Horse Back Riding
There are many horse lovers in the area. You can take trail rides or rent horses for a sunset beach ride. You can contact Jorje Luis Espinosa at 506-2682-0360 to make a reservation. The sunset tour through the jungle and out onto the beach is fantastic and the horses are really gently. Make sure your sunset tour is at low tide to maximize the experience. The cost is around $50 per person and can take up to four hours. Bring your camera and enjoy! You can also take horseback tours with Gunther. They have English, German and Spanish guides. Non-riders can get riding lessons as well. Guides will point out wildlife, birds, flowers, and plants and explain them to you. Take a look at the following photo and picture yourself on our beach at sunset. Click on photo for enlarged view.
Gallery of Horeseback Riding Photos
Zip Line Tours
There are many zip line tours available throughout Costa Rica but we have two terrific locations very closeby. The first one is located about 1/2 hour drive in the Village of Samara. The 12 link circuit is located in the jungle above the village and runs from tree to tree. Platforms are located at each stop and the guides are well versed in their craft. The equipment is mostly Mountain Equipment Coop gear so you should feel safe. Getting up to the first platform is relatively easy as you climb a sloped ladder with rails on both sides. The guides will lead through the circuit with assistance whenever needed. On the next to last platform, the guides will stop and usually provide a healthy fruit snack while you gaze out over the beautiful ocean bay of Samara. At the final platform, the guides will instruct you on how to rappel down to the ground. You can reach them at www.samarabeach.com/wingnuts/index.html or by phone at 011-506 2656-0153.
The second zip line tour is much more open and travels from hilltop to hilltop on the hills north of the Nosara River in behind the Village of Nosara. Contact Canopy Tour Miss Sky. You can also reach them by phone at 011-506-2682-0969. Just think about zipping across a river valley with big trees down below, a river flowing below and you are so high up that the buzzards are circling below you! What fun! Guests meet at the office on the way to Nosara where you are registered and equipped. A large cattle truck will drive you to the first station. All of the stations are equipped with large concrete pillars anchored deep into the hillsides with twin cables. A full team of experienced guides will lead you through this 21 link circuit. The final leg is intended to cross the Nosara River and land on the fifth floor rooftop disco bar. When we last took this exciting trip, the final leg was still under construction. At the end of the trip, the truck will return you to the office location.
Gallery of Photos of the Wingnuts Canopy Tour in Samara
Gallery of Photos of the Miss Sky Canopy Tour in Nosara
Kayaking
Or rent a kayak and take a tour up the Nosara River into the mangroves as seen in the next picture. You can contact Joe at The Gilded Iguana by phone at 011-506-2682-4089 or on the web at www.thegildediguana.com Of course, there is always another sunset to end the daylight hours. You can also take an ocean kayak tour. Paddle down the Nosara River and up the Montana River. Take along a rod and go fishing for snook or red snapper. Your experienced guide will explain the minutae of nature along the way. Contact our Reservations Agent, our Manager or Keilyn at the front desk for more information. Click on the last photo for a larger view of this image.
