Central Nicoya

Central Nicoya: Nicoya to Islita

Some of our favorite Costa Rican beaches can be found in Central Nicoya, on the 15 miles of coast between Nosara and Islita. Each locale is unique; some are social scenes with palm trees and ice cream carts, while others are vacant except for a handful of surfers.

At Playa Garza, parakeets chatter in fig trees as fishermen mend their nets. Playa Pelada offers tide pools, golden sand, and calm surf. Sunsets are a community event at Playa Guiones; with half the town attending the puesta del sol with blankets, dinner, and the occasional guitar.

Ostional

Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, north of Nosara, is one of the world’s most important nesting beaches for Olive Ridley sea turtles. Between July and December, close to the last quarter of the moon cycle, mass nestings, known locally as “arribadas“, can be observed here. Thousands of nesting turtles arrive in wave after wave for up to a week. The largest recorded arribada occurred in November of 1995, with an estimated 500,000 nesting females.

Our Favorite Hotels

What to do in Central Nicoya

Activities in Costa Rica extend over land and sea. This section of the Pacific Coast offers visitors the opportunity to relax, recharge, and explore the coast and inland rainforests.

LANDED arranges privately guided experiences with our clients’ unique interests in mind. We’ve tailored experiences such as:

• Surf Lessons
• Zip-line Canopy Tours
• Horseback Riding
• Deep-sea Fishing
• Snorkeling
• Kayak Tours

Guests to this area can also sit back at the beach and enjoy several self-guided activities. From December to April, visitors can be part of a rodeo at one of the traditional wooden arenas. Dye workshops, Guaitil pottery, and leather working can also be arranged.

What is the Weather Like?

Costa Rica is located in the tropics and close to the equator and is considered a rainforest country with warm temperatures being characteristic throughout the year. There are two well-defined seasons:

Dry Season: December – April
Green Season: May – November

Average temperatures in Nosara vary very little throughout the year. Considering the humidity in this area, temperatures feel warm and muggy year-round. The hottest months, February till April, have days with highs of 93°F and lows of 78°F. The coldest month, December, has days with highs of 86°F and lows of 76°F. The rainiest months, May till November, are also the least cloudy ones. The rain, especially on the Pacific coast, typically occurs during the afternoon or evening and is “warm”. You’ll experience a short mid-year mini Dry Season towards the end of July and the beginning of August when rainfall decreases significantly for 3-4 weeks. The rainiest months are September and October.

These averages are changing, please check extended weather forecasts using your favorite weather app prior to departure.

Getting There

The airstrips in Nosara and Islita receive domestic flights from Liberia and San Jose international airports.

This area can also be reached by car from San José (4.5 hours) or Liberia (about 2 hours), passing through the friendly savannah towns of Santa Cruz and Nicoya—these towns are famous for hand-crafted hammocks and sabanero boots.

Private charters to several domestic airfields can also be arranged.

For domestic flights within Costa Rica, you will most likely be traveling on a small aircraft which imposes weight restrictions on luggage, typically 25 pounds per person.

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