Plan Your Nosara Stay: Activity & Excursion Guides

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Our 7 launch planning and comparison guides help you choose the right surf coach at Playa Guiones, plan non-surfing days on Río Nosara and in Nosara Town, respect sea turtle nesting rules at Ostional, and build a 3-, 5-, or 7-day itinerary.

All 7 Nosara Activity & Planning Guides

1. Surf Lessons in Nosara: How to Choose a Coach — Comparing 90-minute vs. 2-hour private lessons (331978P2 vs. 469876P1) and Guiones sandbar tides.
2. Things to Do in Nosara Beyond Surfing — Wood-fire cooking (12541P27), mangrove kayaking (375503P1), mountain ATVs (331349P1), bamboo bikes (389530P1), and waterfalls (12541P24).
3. Nosara Activities for Families with Kids — Age minimums (zipline age 7+ on 12541P29), calm Río Nosara floats (12541P25), and gentle wildlife walks.
4. Wildlife & Nature Experiences Around Nosara — Nosara Biological Reserve hikes (444953P1, 444953P2), mangrove paddles, and ethical sighting distances.
5. Planning a Responsible Ostional Turtle-Watching Outing — Olive Ridley arribada moon cycles, mandatory certified guides (5604877P1), and zero-flash rules.
6. Private vs. Shared Tours in Nosara: Which to Book — Side-by-side breakdown of private vs. small-group outings and airport transfers.
7. Three Days in Nosara: Activity-Focused Itinerary — Day-by-day 3-, 5-, and 7-day schedules pairing surf, river paddles, and cooking.

Featured Tours Covered Across Our Guides

Private Surf Class with a Local Instructor

Our local and experienced surf coaches will have you standing up and riding your very first wave, or improving your existing skills, in no time! We are experts in this area and know where to catch the top waves suited for your experience level.

• Departure / meeting zone: Playa Guiones (any convenient Guiones beach entrance) · Area hub: Playa Guiones · Category: Surf Lessons & Coaching
• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes · Format: Private (Private tour (your group only, up to 6 travelers per booking))
• Included: Surfboard
• Run by: Tierra Costa · Reviews: 5.00 average from 21 customer reviews on Viator
• Cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before scheduled departure for a full refund.

See Current Price & Availability — Use the deal buttons on this page to check open dates and live pricing on Viator.

Kayaking and Stand-up Paddle Boarding in Costa Rica

Come join us on a unique experience in our beautiful wild national reserve. Its a magnificent place for all to admire and get to know our ecosystem and ways to sustain it. We will drift down river with the perfect tidal conditions to ensure maximum entertainment. Grab a "Pipa" wh...

• Departure / meeting zone: Boca Nosara / Río Nosara & Río Montaña (Playa Guiones pickup option) · Area hub: Playa Nosara & Biological Reserve · Category: Kayaking & Paddleboarding
• Duration: 2 hours · Format: Shared (Shared small-group tour (up to 30 travelers per booking))
• Included: Snacks; Kayaks, doubles or singles and SUP boards are provided
• Run by: Everyday Nosara Outdoor Experience · Reviews: 5.00 average from 37 customer reviews on Viator
• Cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before scheduled departure for a full refund.

See Current Price & Availability — Use the deal buttons on this page to check open dates and live pricing on Viator.

Hiking and birdwatching Nosara

The Nosara biological reserve is a 85 acre property and has a great potential, having many species of birds, some mammals, many reptiles and among other things that our visitors will be able to observe at the same time, all tourists will be guided by guides with enough experience...

• Departure / meeting zone: Nosara Biological Reserve (85-acre reserve near Playa Nosara) · Area hub: Playa Nosara & Biological Reserve · Category: Wildlife & Nature
• Duration: 2 hours · Format: Shared (Shared small-group tour (up to 12 travelers per booking))
• Included: Binoculars; Licensed Guide; Telescope
• Run by: Hiking Tours Nosara · Reviews: 4.64 average from 22 customer reviews on Viator
• Cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before scheduled departure for a full refund.

See Current Price & Availability — Use the deal buttons on this page to check open dates and live pricing on Viator.

Tour of Ostional Beach Turtles

Discover the natural wonder of Lora turtle arrivals at Playa Ostional, a fascinating event that attracts thousands of females each month. Watch as between two and two hundred thousand turtles arrive at the beach, especially from July to October, on Luna Menguante, when between 20...

• Departure / meeting zone: Playa Guiones / Nosara pickup to Ostional National Wildlife Refuge · Area hub: Ostional National Wildlife Refuge · Category: Turtle-Watching Excursions
• Duration: 2 hours · Format: Private (Private tour (your group only, up to 15 travelers per booking))
• Included: Certified guide; Entrance to the wildlife refuge; In-vehicle air conditioning
• Run by: Nahual Tour · Reviews: 1 customer review(s) on Viator (5.00 score)
• Cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before scheduled departure for a full refund.

See Current Price & Availability — Use the deal buttons on this page to check open dates and live pricing on Viator.

Nosara River Small-Group Family-Friendly Gentle Rafting Safari

Start your day with a relaxing safari float down Nosara river. Definitely the top way to explore the beautiful landscapes of Nosara. Look out for multi-colored birds, Howler monkeys, iguanas, maybe even a crocodile!

• Departure / meeting zone: Río Nosara (100m after Hostel Nicao, 300m before Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary) · Area hub: Playa Nosara & Biological Reserve · Category: Private & Family-Friendly Tours
• Departure & season note: Green-season schedule: operates June 1 through December 31.
• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes · Format: Shared (Shared small-group tour (up to 6 travelers per booking))
• Included: Snacks; Bottled water; Lifejacket & paddel
• Run by: Costa Rica Descents · Reviews: 4.80 average from 10 customer reviews on Viator
• Cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before scheduled departure for a full refund.

See Current Price & Availability — Use the deal buttons on this page to check open dates and live pricing on Viator.

2-Hour Cooking Class in Nosara

You will get hands-on training from a local chef. You will learn traditional Costa Rica cooking techniques and cook on wood fire stove. Vegetarians options, please let us know ahead. Enjoy this amazing culinary experience and book now! Memories of traditional Costa Rican foods wi...

• Departure / meeting zone: Nosara (near Hostel Nicao / 300m before Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary) · Area hub: Nosara Town (Inland Village) · Category: Food, Cooking Classes & Culture
• Duration: 2 hours · Format: Shared (Shared small-group tour (up to 6 travelers per booking))
• Included: Lunch; Bottled water
• Run by: Costa Rica Descents · Reviews: 4.99 average from 159 customer reviews on Viator
• Cancellation: Cancel at least 24 hours before scheduled departure for a full refund.

See Current Price & Availability — Use the deal buttons on this page to check open dates and live pricing on Viator.

See also our Nosara Tours FAQ and Where to Stay in Nosara guide.