NOSARA
Natural State.
Legend has it, that a Princess named Nosara, who was the daughter of the High Chief, Nicoa, was in love with the son of a high governor of Nicoya named, Curime. The Princess had many suitors, one of them being a warrior named Naocome, Nosara’s heart, however, belonged only to her one true love, Curime. On the day of their wedding, Naocome, whose hubris once rejected by Nosara led him to destruction, arrived on the beach during the ceremony with an army and attacked the village killing many villagers. There are different endings to the story, some say the lovers were killed on the beach in each other’s arms swearing their eternal love and thus the beauty of the beach thrives by that immortal love. Other versions depict Curime defending their land against Naocome and commanding the Princess to hide the royal treasures in the beach and the mountains, once she hid the treasure up on the mountain Naocome climbed up the cliffs to meet her only to be killed by the army, upon seeing her love gone, Nosara fell to her death off the mountains edge.
Like many stories, sometimes the complex details are lost and changed, like the days of our lives, which we cannot always recount. The things we do not forget, are our love for each other and sometimes our conflicts. Life does not come without the good and the bad, let’s make that very clear. The legends of life can be as simple or as complex as we make them. Nosara, is a place where life exists in as simple or as complex as we can make it. Nosara is a place where every morning there is a perfect beach break, endless yoga, tennis, fishing rice and beans and poke bowls gallore, it is also place with dirt roads which are impossible to navigate and expell dust, it is a place which fears developing too quickly from tourism, water supply issues, and a recycling center which needs funding and support!
Everyone has their own story, from the Guanacaste locals, whose ancestors are the Chorotega indians, to the San Jose city kids who made it down to the beach, to the New York ex-pats like myself, or the Canadian’s and the Europeans. Everyone is here, in this place, if not their native home, at first for vacation and then to decided to live.
At once, enamored and in love like Curime was, with Nosara. At once, enamored and heartbroken like Naocome was, with Nosara.
When you come to Nosara, it is like taking a love potion, and if you are not afraid to get your heart broken, take a big sip. If it suits you, you will most likely find the love of your life, if not you’ll at least have a great vacation, and all the moments in between, good and bad, will become your story, and it will be legendary.
DO. STAY SALTY
SURFING:
Private Instruction
Catalina Castro: +506 8844 6608, patient and awesome Cata knows these waves all too well, she has taken me out when I was too scared and showed me specific techniques to help me glide on the waves, or at least it felt like it! $80 private - $65pp semi private (2pax) - $55pp 1 to 4 pax with boards
Andres Eloy: +506 8583 0935, he is a local and speaks perfect english and knows the beaches and the breaks perfectly. $50 an hour with boards
Fanny Lu Surf: +506 863 98611 a mega-babe and an awesome surf instructor, can’t help but have a major girl crush on her, she knows all the exercises to build your body up and has a great energy to improve your confidence as an instructor. Single lessons; $75 private, $65 semi, $60 group (pp) and discount for packages of 5 or 10 lessons with boards
Surf Pacifico: +506 2682-1433 or info@surfpacifico.com Andrea Miranda and her sister have been in Nosara for years and have a wonderful energy and are amazing teachers
The Surf Club
The Gilded Iguana has a built a surf club with a juice bar, you can take daily, monthly or yearly memberships get discounts on instruction, you can also store your board. I joined because it has the best private walk to the beach! surfclub@thegildediguana.com Ask for Nico or Omar to help you
YOGA:
Private Instruction
Yali Yoga: +506 6117 6008 arguably the most advanced yoga teacher in town, only the true hardcore yogies make it through her class of inversions, I certainly cannot YET. She can come to your house for a private yoga session, help you work on your headstand or do a pranamassage ( which she does for me twice a month to open up my body, it is emotional and AMAZING). $100 per hour
Mark:
Angela for Kundalini:
Classes:
The Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort is the mecca of Yoga, you will find Yali, Mark and Angela all with weekly classes. I got to Mark’s at 10:30 5 times a week.
The Harmony Hotel:
PILATES:
Madeleine Karlsson: maddy@fitbodyfreshmind.com Maddy is a Pilates instructor with over 10 years experience working with private clients in Monaco and with an online program followed people from all over the World. She is a qualified Nutrition & Health Coach and a Yoga Teacher who tailors holistic programs to suit your needs.
TENNIS:
Harry Hamilton +1(854) 999-8134 What’s App is your man! An incredible teacher who works out of the 506 Courts, he is my instructor and a great friend also a meditation guru.
MASSAGE:
Carla: +506 8376 1164 1.5 hours for $95 bucks Carla is the best massage and brings her own massage table, Spanish language is preferred! Use google translate :)
BEACHES:
Guiones
Pelada
Ostional
San Juannillo
FISHING:
Vilbert + 506 8616 1196
STAY.
Harmony Hotel
The Nomadic
The Gilded Iguana
Casa Gloria
EAT.
Rancho Tico
La Luna
Cafe Fiore
Soda Vanessa
The Harmony Hotel
Coyol
El Chivo
La Peruana
Olivia’s
Al Chile
Pacifico Azul
Pepperoni
10 Pies
El Jardin
The Gilded Iguana
Organico
Super Nosara
Super Paloma
Private Chef Experiences:
SHOP
The Apothecary
Mantaray
Olo Alaia
Nosara Design
Yes Nosara