The Gilded Iguana (Nosara, Costa Rica) ★★★

The surf culture is strong in Nosara, Costa Rica. Unlike most surf towns around the world, Nosara is a real life time machine, taking travelers back to the town imagined by expat explorers in the 1960s.

You won’t find high-rise condos, fast-food restaurants, or late-night beach bars along these Costa Rica beaches. Just 200 meters from The Gilded Iguana, Playa Guiones, the region’s most famous surfing beach, is an unspoiled landscape protected by environmental laws. From sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year, the town paddles out to surf the dependable waves spread out across the expansive beach. From beginners to pros, Playa Guiones makes room for everyone.

Our Costa Rica surf hotel offers access to the most consistent beach breaks in the world, breaking well at all times of the year. Beyond the swell, our eco-friendly, all-natural lifestyle rounds out appeal for yoga retreats and a culinary scene that offers freshly-grown produce and just-caught seafood.

If you’re seeking balance in your busy life, you’ll find it in Nosara.

Family and single guests.

The Gilded Iguana is the original surfer spot in Nosara, a long-time destination for an international community of surfers seeking an off-the-grid escape. At our Nosara beach hotel, surfers of all ages and experience levels calibrate their equilibrium on the waves off one of the best beaches in Costa Rica, Playa Guiones.

We proudly claim many firsts at our Costa Rica hotel: first structure built in Nosara, first telephone in town, and first live music venue. Few things have changed since The Gilded Iguana took on its current form as a hotel, restaurant, and town meeting place in 1988. A new design by acclaimed architect Benjamin Saxe captures our essence and history, while appealing to style-conscious travelers with equal measures of rugged luxury and authenticity.

Designed by acclaimed architect Benjamin Saxe and San Jose-based interior design firm Sofa Interiorismo, our Nosara hotel rooms feature artisan craftsmanship, indoor and outdoor showers, and outdoor living space, giving you every opportunity enjoy more on your vacation. Our spacious rooms are designed for guest comfort and an authentic Nosara experience. They include artisanal, handmade elements, custom furniture, and high-end furnishings. At The Gilded Iguana, the basics like free Wi-Fi are a given, and extras like surfboard storage complete a stay at our Nosara accommodations.

Welcome to the focal point of The Gilded Iguana. Since the 1980s, our bar and restaurant has been many things to many people: a surfer hangout, a nightlife spot, a community meeting place, and everything in between. Come to experience the best in Nosara, Costa Rica restaurants and stay for the fresh food, inventive cocktails, and live music.

The Gilded Iguana is the original Nosara surfing hotel. For the last 40 years, we’ve been the spot where locals and visitors gather before or after heading to Playa Guiones, the region’s most famous surfing beach, just 200 meters from the hotel.

Our full-service surf school offers professional instruction to surfers of all ages and skill levels, and our retail shop includes everything you could need to complete your Costa Rica surfing trip, from long boards down to the needed essentials.

Opening in November 2019, our surf shop will sell a full range of high quality surfboards of all shapes and sizes...and who doesn't love a brand new DHD?! We are stoked to announce that we will be selling DHD Surfboards in our shop starting in November. Also, pick up high-quality apparel by Billabong, RVCA, Dakine, Salty Crew, and our brand "Gilded Iguana". This will be the go to shop for all of your surfing needs in Nosara. Quality is at the core in everything we do, and the products we sell reflect just that. We hope you enjoy the products as much as we do! Shred On! Yew!

Paddle out at The Gilded Iguana, the original Costa Rica surfing hotel, with lessons from our full-service surf school. Surfers of all ages and experience levels will enjoy the consistent break off Playa Guiones, the region’s most famous surfing beach. From the beginners to the pros, our retail surf shop everything from surfboards down to all the essentials. When you’re ready to hit the waves, the beach is just 200 meters from the hotel.

Find everything you need to plan your Costa Rica adventure right here. Get your adrenaline pumping at our mountain biking center. Located where the mountains meet the sea, The Gilded Iguana is surrounded by a fun and unique riding terrain. If you’re looking to achieve balance in your busy life, relax into deep renewal with our wellness offering, from yoga and fitness classes to simply laying out at our outdoor pools.

Whether you're traveling alone or with the family, experience Nosara's best adventures steps away from the hotel. From sea turtle watching to a yoga retreat, you can find various one-of-a-kind experiences at The Gilded Iguana.