Executive Summary
Wondering where to stay Nosara Costa Rica? Where you base yourself affects your trip more than in most towns. This guide breaks down 12 of the best Nosara surf hotels, ranging from a $40/night minimalist hostel up to $385+ luxury boutique retreats, helping you secure the perfect accommodation Nosara has to offer based on your budget.
Where you base yourself in Nosara affects your trip more than in most towns — see our complete guide to surfing Nosara for why a car matters here, and our surf spots guide for which beach to prioritize based on where you end up staying. Below is the full list from our Expedia shop, sorted by price, so you can see exactly what you’re choosing between before you book.
Briefing Outline
Quick Reference
| Property | Category | From (per night) | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnt Toast Surf Camp – Hostel | Budget | ~$40 (estimated) | 6.4 |
| The Nomadic Hotel | Budget | $84 | 9.6 |
| La Negra Surf Hotel | Budget | $127 | 8.6 |
| Aloha Surf Nosara | Budget | ~$133 (estimated) | 8.8 |
| Olas Verdes Hotel | Boutique | $150 | 10.0 |
| RideOn Beach House | Boutique | ~$180 (estimated) | — |
| Nosara Beach Hotel | Boutique | $201 | 9.4 |
| Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge | Boutique | $214 | 9.8 |
| The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel | Budget | $290 | 9.8 |
| Tierra Magnifica Boutique Hotel | Boutique | $328 | 10.0 |
| The Harmony Hotel | Boutique | $385+ | 9.6 |
| Moana Surf Resort | Budget (mislabeled) | $520–765+ | 9.8 |
Under $100/night
Spot: The Nomadic Hotel. Timing: Steps from Nosara Beach.
The Nomadic Hotel
$84/night, 9.6 rating. A hostel-style property steps from Nosara Beach, with free full breakfast, a pool, terrace, bar, and bike rentals included. The best-rated accommodation Nosara option under $100 on this list.
Spot: Burnt Toast Surf Camp. Timing: Authentic budget backpacker vibe.
Burnt Toast Surf Camp – Hostel
From roughly $40/night (dorm rooms), 6.4 rating. The most no-frills, authentically budget option here — 500m from Playa Pelada, with lessons at both Guiones and Pelada, ATV tours, and yoga packages available. Just five rooms in a jungle setting with a shared kitchen, so it’s more backpacker surf camp than hotel — book accordingly.
$100–200/night
Spot: La Negra Surf Hotel. Timing: Right on the beachfront at Guiones.
La Negra Surf Hotel
$127/night, 8.6 rating. Right on the beachfront at Guiones, run in a B&B format with a pool, spa massages, and a full restaurant covering breakfast through dinner.
Spot: Olas Verdes Hotel. Timing: Basecamp for Safari Surf School.
Olas Verdes Hotel
$150/night, 10.0 rating. Also beachfront on Guiones, with two pools, free cooked-to-order breakfast, a spa, yoga classes, and surfing right on-site — this is where Safari Surf School, one of the area’s most established surf programs, is actually based.
Spot: Aloha Surf Nosara. Timing: Tropical garden settings.
Aloha Surf Nosara
Around $133/night (estimated), 8.8 rating. Two outdoor pools plus a children’s pool, a tropical garden, library, and bike rentals, with individually decorated rooms.
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Spot: RideOn Beach House. Timing: Steps from the Guiones lineup.
RideOn Beach House
Around $180/night (estimated). A laid-back boutique surf lodge just steps from the Guiones lineup, highly rated by past guests for its low-key, surf-first setup.
Spot: Nosara Beach Hotel. Timing: Beachfront suites with sea views.
Nosara Beach Hotel
$201/night, 9.4 rating. Beachfront suites with sea views, an on-site restaurant (La Luna), a spa, a children’s pool, and free breakfast included.
Spot: Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge. Timing: Hilltop perch above a nature reserve.
Hotel Boutique Lagarta Lodge
$214/night, 9.8 rating. A hilltop perch above a nature reserve, with infinity pools overlooking jungle and ocean — capuchin monkeys are a regular sight from the property.
$250+/night
Spot: The Gilded Iguana. Timing: Established surf hotel with poolside bar.
The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel
$290/night, 9.8 rating. One of Nosara’s most established surf hotels, with a free breakfast buffet and a poolside bar known for its tropical cocktails.
Spot: Tierra Magnifica. Timing: Adults-only and hilltop views.
Tierra Magnifica Boutique Hotel
$328/night, 10.0 rating. Adults-only and hilltop, with sunrise yoga, sweeping Guiones views, an on-site winery, a spa, and its own restaurant.
Spot: The Harmony Hotel. Timing: Nosara’s most beloved boutique property.
The Harmony Hotel
From $385/night, 9.6 rating. Widely considered Nosara’s most beloved boutique property — bungalows with outdoor showers and hammocks, plus a dedicated healing center for spa treatments.
Spot: Moana Surf Resort. Timing: True beachfront luxury.
Moana Surf Resort
$520–765+/night, 9.8 rating. Genuinely upscale despite sitting in the budget category: a beachfront resort with a full-service spa, an outdoor pool, BBQ grills, and direct surf access from the property.
TACTICAL ALERT
Depending on where you look, Moana Surf Resort is occasionally grouped into the budget category online, but it is not budget. If you’re planning a splurge trip, this is the top end of what’s currently in the shop.
Which one should you book?
If you’re keeping costs tight, The Nomadic Hotel is the strongest value on this list — sub-$100 with breakfast included and a 9.6 rating. If you want to be walking distance from a genuinely good surf school without paying boutique prices, Olas Verdes Hotel puts you right where Safari Surf School operates. For a proper splurge, The Harmony Hotel or Moana Surf Resort are the two to choose between, depending on whether you want boutique bungalow charm or full beachfront resort amenities.
“Whether you need a $40 bed near the beach or a $400 bungalow, Nosara’s lineup accommodates every type of traveling surfer.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the cheapest place to stay in Nosara from this list?
Burnt Toast Surf Camp, with dorm rooms starting around $40/night — the most authentically budget option in either shop category.
Is Moana Surf Resort actually a budget option?
No — despite being listed in the budget category, it prices at $520–765+/night, making it the most expensive property on this list by a wide margin.
Which hotel is closest to a good surf school?
Olas Verdes Hotel, which houses Safari Surf School directly on-site.
Do any of these include breakfast?
Yes — The Nomadic Hotel, Olas Verdes Hotel, RideOn Beach House, and Nosara Beach Hotel all include free breakfast as part of the stay.
Keep Reading
More on planning your Nosara trip:
- The Complete Guide to Surfing Nosara & Playa Guiones, Costa Rica
- Best Time to Surf Nosara: A Season-by-Season Swell Guide
- Surf & Yoga in Nosara: How to Combine Both on One Trip
- Best Surf Spots in Nosara, Costa Rica: A Break-by-Break Guide
And if you haven’t already, grab the full Costa Rica Surf HQ planning guide — 40+ pages of offline maps, break profiles, and travel intel for every surf town in the country.
