Nosara

For almost twenty years we have been consulting travelers on their options for the perfect Costa Rica vacation. We have been fortunate to have a group of partners that live in Europe (France), the U.S. (Florida, Montana and New York) as well as throughout Costa Rica, so we have a unique appreciation for the latest trends in all of these countries and developed a network of experts throughout Costa Rica that we can contact for the latest fishing, diving, surfing and even the level of volcanic activity.

One of the most common questions we get is which town is the best to use as a base of exploration? Caribbean or Pacific? Guanacaste? Alajuela? Puntarenas?
My answer is the same you hear from your lawyer or accountant when ever you pose them even the most simple of questions. “It depends.”

It really does depend on the size and make up of those that will be traveling as well as their interests, vacation time and budget.

For the purposes of this article we will discuss the towns that offer the widest variety excursion options for any group as well as a good choice of accommodations, restaurants and transportation. We have sat down as a group and  come up with our “Costa Rica travel experts poll” in order to help any potential traveler decide where they may wish consider as their base for an upcoming trip. We also plan on having our group of experts meet on a continuing basis to help answer the most confusing questions travelers to Costa Rica may have. If you or your group has a suggestion for a topic we invite you to submit on our Facebook, Google+ or Twitter feed.  If you have any specific questions or your trip is coming up soon it would be best to just call our office or email one of our expert travel consultants today.

Below you will find a short description of one of our choices for best Costa Rica beach towns

Located on the southern part of the Guanacaste Peninsula the beach town of Nosara has been a popular destination with savvy travelers and well-heeled retirees looking low key but elegant part of Costa Rica to call home. (Map of Nosara)

It is also important to note that Nosara is the principle town in a community of beach villages and that in referring Nosara we are also including the beaches of Guiones, Pelada and Ostional.There are no enormous resort hotels or large restaurant district (other than Costa Rica dance halls) and the local population of both Ticos and Ex-pats have a long established respect for low profile tourism and wildlife preservation.

Nosara, and the beach communities that comprise the area, are blessed with beautiful beaches that capture a steady but pleasant breeze due to their geographic location. Being far enough down the Guanacaste Peninsula to escape the fierce Papagayo winds but yet far enough north to avoid the sustained days of rain or overcast skies found in the deep part of the rainy season found to the south.

Those looking to experience on of the last habitats of dry tropical forest left anywhere in the world can find solace and enjoyment in the local reserves, watching howler monkeys play and feed at sunset or witness endless numbers of egg laden sea turtles crawl up the beach in the place where they were once born.

In and near Nosara are some of not only Costa Rica’s but the world finest surfing. Waves for surfer of all lveles are a short ride away and offer idyllic backdrops for the perfect session.

Divers and anglers can find a major continental shelf that drops off hundreds of feet deep, just three miles offshore, offering one the ability to have a an encounter with all means of sea life. Birds and porpoise in the tens of thousands, whales, sailfish, marlin and of course, sea turtles.
While sea turtles are visible while at sea, the town of Ostional is home to one of the world’s most impressive and awe inspiring demonstrations of nature’s mysteries on a massive scale that can be found on the planet.

On the this small beach, at certain times of the year, sea turtles will arrive in the tens of thousands to lay their eggs on the same spot where themselves were hatched many years before.  How they are able to return to this very beach after traveling up to thousands of miles at sea is not known. Since the overwhelming amount of turtles converging on the same spot means that there are more turtles looking to lay their eggs then there is room on the beach the local community has developed a conservation program that allows them to move some nests and also share this experience with visitors.  Check with one of our travel consultants for the best chance you would have to be able to witness one of these unforgettable nights.

Despite its small size the town has been able to maintain regular air service with a frequency better than much larger towns, a testament to the demographic of those that travel there and the small beach “suburbs” it services.  In fact both of Costa Rica’s domestic carriers service Nosara on a daily basis but since the number of seats available and their schedule means that if you are looking to fly than making plane reservations should be done before or at the same time you book your accommodations. Since these carriers prevent or discourage strongly via their terms and conditions from you “holding” a seat without purchasing your ticket, you need to take this into consideration when planning for your group as well. This is one of those situations where an experienced and well-connected travel consultant is worth their weight in gold. Please remember that no matter which air carrier you may use, both have severe restrictions on the amount of luggage you can carry due to weight considerations.

Nosara is also accessible by road, but the condition and distance from San Jose and Liberia has always made Nosara a place you “wanted” to get to as opposed to those located in ore strategic locals. Nonetheless, if you have the time to relax and take in the beautiful scenery on your trip, having a 4x4 vehicle at your disposal allows you not only to carry more luggage, but also the chance explore the many named and unnamed beaches found nearby, and at your own pace.
While the costs of a domestic ticket is a relatively luxurious purchase in Costa Rica the cost of accommodations and their quality are much moderate.

Also you need to remember no matter whoever you decide to rent your car with,  be sure to get them to include mandatory insurance in the quote.At Tico Travel we always try to let tour clients know what they will need to pay for insurance BEFORE they arrive in Costa Rica so that there is no surprises as the cost of the mandatory car insurance in Costa Rica is not cheap.

If you plan on using your credit card's rental car coverage for supplemental insurance bring a copy of that from your cc company, along with a print out of all email correspondence between you and the company you go with.  This may sound like a pain, but it'll go a long way in smoothing out the whole rental experience once you arrive in Costa Rica..

For more information on this topic as well as the current car rental rates for low season. Visit our Costa Rica Car Rental Section 

You also want to visit our Ask the Costa Rica Expert section to see what fellow travelers have asked about this subject and many others.

International passengers will arrive to the main terminal building of the Juan Santamaría International Airport. They will need to go through immigration (passport control), then proceed to the baggage carrousels and go through customs. Upon exiting the customs area passengers can take the free service orange cabs or walk to the SANSA Regional domestic terminal that is only 5 minutes away from the international terminal.

In addition this here is some additional information on baggage allowance, what you can take etc:

Baggage Allowance (Applicable to flights operated on Cessna Grand Caravans)  

• Checked baggage permitted: 1 piece with maximum weight of 30 lbs./14 kgs and up to 45 linear inches / 114 cm. (length + height + width)

Carry-On Baggage: 
In addition you are permitted to carry with you in the cabin the following items (restrictions apply):
 

• A lady’s handbag or purse
• An umbrella or walking stick
• A reasonable amount of reading material for the flight
• Infant’s food for consumption in flight
• An overcoat, wrap or blanket
• A small camera and/or a pair of binoculars
• A Laptop computer
• You may be required to check-in your carry-on bag in case of limited space in the passenger cabin. If this happens it is your responsibility to remove all items not suitable for transportation as checked baggage

Additional Fees  
Excess baggage will be charged at $1.00 per pound and will be considered standby bags.
 
Sports Equipment  

• Surfboards are not part of your free baggage allowance and they are considered standby bags. The charge is $30 per surfboard each way.

Here are a few tips to pack your surfboards that you may find useful:

• Fins must be removed.
• Neither clothing nor any other articles are permitted inside the surfboard bags.
• Damaged packaging and/or packaging not resistant to normal handling are not accepted.

Other sports equipment
 
One of the following sports equipment is permitted per passenger with a charge of $30 each way.

• Fishing: 2 fishing rods, 1 pair of boots, 1 net
• Golf: 1 golf club bag (up to 62 inches) with up to 14 clubs, 12 golf balls and 1 pair of golf shoes packed in the bag
• Diving: 1 air regulator, 1 pair of rubber fins, 1 conventional harpoon, 1 diving mask, 1 wet suit, 1 weight belt
• Ski: 2 poles, 1pair each of skis, boots, and shoes
• Archery: 1 bow plus arrows
• Bikes: We do accept 1 bike in a proper protective bag; all bikes are subject to space and weight availability, wheels must be de-inflated for transportation.

You may not transport as part of your baggage:
 

• Windsurfing boards
• Kayaks
• Surfboards exceeding 6.7ft/2.0mts in length
• Diving tanks

Tips for Packing  

• Pack any and all valuable articles in your carry-on baggage.
• Identify your baggage with the free baggage tags available at SANSA REGIONAL check-in counters. Be sure to include your name, address and a telephone number where you can be located if necessary.
• Avoid excess baggage charges by complying with weight and size requirements.
• Present any damaged baggage claims before leaving the airport. Please note that SANSA REGIONAL is not responsible for minor damages, such as scratches, dents, lost wheels, etc., caused by normal handling or overstuffed bags.

 The event is being organized by the International Surfing Association (ISA) with the support of Intur who paid half a million dollars. Vice President of ISA, the Peruvian Karin Sierralta, said in a news conference that Nicaragua was chosen because it has the right conditions for waves, climate and security. The event will be broadcast in some 115 countries. If you are thinking of going you should try to book early and don't forget to check airfare rates at http://nicaraguaairfare.com/ or call us at 1 800 493 8426

The proposal has been rejected by business owners in the area, who fear for the ecotourism model used in the region, and by environmentalists, who claim that the area would lose its identity, because the airport "would require mass tourism, hotel chains and the entry of international franchising, " as indicated by Alejandra Monge of the Corcovado Foundation. In response to criticism, Costa Rica’s Civil Aviation Authority has reduced the project from an international airport to one servicing only chartered and corporate flights. This change has not altered the position of opponents, who propose other solutions. Juan Carlos Ramos, president of the National Chamber of Tourism, said they see improving the existing road network and expanding existing airports, such as Quepos, as a more feasible option.

Here are just a couple of recent specials:

Tango Mar hotel has a low season special of stay 4 nights for the price of 3 from Apr 9 - Dec 19 2012

Best Western Irazu is now allowing free internationsl phone calls!

La Sirena hotel.. A highly recommended hotel on trip advisor has 20% off for reservations from  April 15 – June 30.. Need to book at least 2 days in advance..

Car Rentals in Costa Rica are getting much cheaper for low season as most prices are dropping after Apr 15

Airfare to Costa Rica  as well as to all of Central America has also started to fall for travel after May 1..

We will keep you updated on the latest specials as they continue to come in...

 
We often get questions from our clients regarding how to get the best price and with the best schedule when purchasing airfare to Central or South Ameriuca. Since Tico Travel has wholesale airfare with many major airlines  for almost 20 years, we have learned a number of proven ways to save you money on your next flight. Whether you book your own air, or if we do it for you, here are some tips that will help when arranging your adventure with Tico Travel.

1. Know When to Buy

The hardest part of booking a flight is knowing when to stop tracking fares and make that final purchase. When buying airline tickets, timing is everything.  With the right knowledge you can save big on your next flight.   With Tico Travel's depth of experience planning trips to Central or South America we have developed wholesale and  basesline pricing for each one of our countries.  As we research flights we can tell you if the price you are being quoted is in line with  what you should be paying or if you should hold off and keep looking for a better price. Also be alert to the fact that the cheapest flight is not always the most favorable.  Dates, departures times and layovers need to be factored into the decision process.  

2. Buy Early

Especially during peak travel periods, making reservations late in the game can cost you a lot of money. Airline ticket prices typically go up 21 days, 14 days, 7 days and 3 days before flying, so if you're planning ahead, we try to make the call before these deadlines.  According to a new travel study by Airlines Reporting Corp. passengers  traveling internationally are encouraged to to book from three to six months in advance for the best deals.  However, sometimes you can get lucky if you wait, which brings us to:

3. Buy Late

Don't despair if you are a last minute traveler.  We at Tico Travel find that often you can buy tickets from us at the very last minute for a great price, If the airlines have failed to fill their planes. Many airlines offer weekly newsletters that feature their best last-minute deals. You can also find many of them at specialized sites like at www.ticotravel.com (of course!)

4.  Timing is everything

Finally, keep in mind that most airlines update there fare sales into our system on Tuesdays and Wednesdays -- so if you decide to buy on a Monday, you may be regretting your purchase on Tuesday when your airfare to Central or South America goes on sale.