Maps and Directions

San Jose to Nosara

If you are driving from San Jose to Nosara, you will take the main Interamerican Highway (Carretera Interamericana) north out of San Jose (past the large international Juan Santamaria airport). This highway travels north and west toward Guanacaste Province. Make sure you have a couple hundred dollars changed into colones in San Jose. You will need colones for your road-trip money - such as gas stations, sodas and  restaurants. Once you get to Nosara (or other tourist/beach areas) dollars are accepted most everywhere.

 

On the main Inter-American highway, you will wind through the mountains, rising out of the Central Valley, then down the other side of the mountains, for several hours. Eventually the highway will flatten out and straighten into a more northerly course.

 

You will be on this flat stretch of highway for a couple of hours. You will keep driving straight until shortly after you notice highway signs for Puntarenas, then you need to keep a look out for the signs pointing to the Puente de Amistad (the new bridge over the Tempisque River). This will be a left turn, but the signs are on the right side out on the main Interamerican Highway.

 

After you cross the new bridge at the river Tempisque, you will be on the Nicoya Peninsula. Keep following the paved highway to the City of Nicoya (large town). When you are almost to Nicoya, you will come to an intersection with a 4-way red flashing light - there will be signs there that indicate a left turn into the town of Nicoya.

 

Drive straight through the town of Nicoya on the "main road", no turns. Drive slowly, as there are a lot of pedestrians in this bustling town. You will eventually be out of town on the other side.

 

You will continue southward on pavement approximately 30km, some twists and turns, but just stay on the obviously main paved highway.

 

Eventually you will see a large Gas Station on your left. There is also a hardware store and little "soda" cafe for snacks and drinks. Stop here and get gas - last chance on the way to Nosara.

 

Right after you leave the gas station, the concrete highway makes a sharp curve to the left. At the apex of that curve, you will notice a small dirt road turning off to the right, downhill. That is the road to Nosara.

 

This dirt road is about 25KM, but over 1 1/2 hours driving. There are, once again, some turns and twists, but stay on the "main" road. There are also occasional signs that tell you how many kilometers you still have to go.... You will pass through many small towns and villages. There is a T-intersection at a small village called Barco Quebrada, turn right (there should be signs there, and the main road should be obvious).

 

The people along the way are very friendly, so if you aren't positive that you are still on the main road, just stop and ask someone "Donde es Nosara". Most people will at least be able to point in the right direction. When you get to the beach area of Nosara, it will be very obvious that you have found it. Signs, surf shops, restaurants, hotels...

 

Continue on through some twists and turns, about another 5 km, and you wil come to Nosara Centro, the business district, where you will find grocery stores, medical care, city services and shopping.

 

Allow AT LEAST 6 hours for your drive from Juan Santamaria airport in San Jose to Nosara,Costa Rica.

 

 

Liberia to Nosara

Out of Daniel Oduber’s International Airport, take a right and follow the signs to Nicoya on this road for about 50 km.

 

Take a right turn at the intersection with a 4-way red flashing light, which will take you into Nicoya. Go straight through town without turning, and continue southward on the main paved road for approximately 30 Km (following the signs to Samara and Nosara).

 

Almost before you get to the entrance that takes you to Nosara there is a gas station on the left side (note: this gas station is the last chance for gas!).

 

Just past the gas station, the highway curves sharply left. At the apex of the curve, turn right, heading downhill, onto a small dirt road which leads to Nosara. Continue to follow the signs to Nosara now. It will take you about 45 min. to an hour to get there.

 

The road twists and turns going through several small towns and villages. Stay always on the “main” road.

 

Turn right at the T-intersection in Barco Quebrado in order to stay on the main road - it should be marked.

 

When you arrive in Nosara you will see Cocunut Harry’s Surf shop and our Coldwell Banker office.

 

 

 

Flights to Nosara

Regarding the flight to and from Nosara there are two options: Sansa or Nature Air. Based on our sustainable concepts we can perfectly recommend both of them since all domestic flights in Costa Rica are certified as being Carbon Neutral and will compensate all carbon emissions emitted by your flight. For more information please visit www.fonafifo.com.

 

Important note: All in-country flights have a 27-30 lbs. baggage limit per person.

Additional luggage can usually be accommodated for an extra charge.

 

Sansa

San Jose - Nosara: 11:30am

Nosara - San Jose: 12:25pm

 

$82 per person one-way

 

Sansa is based in the national terminal International Airport Juan Santamaria (SJO),

about 10 minutes walking distance to the international terminal.

 

Sansa flies the Sesna Caravan and it seats 12 passengers. The Caravans are single engine planes.

 

Nature Air

San Jose - Nosara: 10:00am

Nosara - San Jose: 2:50pm

Liberia - Nosara: 2:00 p.m.

Nosara - Liberia: 10:45 a.m.

 

$94 per person one-way

 

Nature Air flies out the Tobias Bolaños Airport in Pavas, located about a 40 minute taxi drive away from the International Airport of Juan Santamaría (SJO) or out the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia.

 

Nature Air flies the Twin Otter, a climate controlled plane with 19 seats. The Twin Otter has two engines.

 

General Flight Info
Check-in is 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure for domestic flights. Domestic flights are closed 20 minutes prior to departure.