getting here
car rental
We’ve been using National Rent-A-Car in Costa Rica for a number of years – they have a wide variety of vehicle types to choose from and are conveniently located near the airports and tourist destinations.
To receive a quote or reserve a vehicle, please click on the National link above and make your selections – it’s easy.
Get a 15% discount if you enter the code COCONUTHARRYS into the promotion code box.
Tip: In Costa Rica, the LDW insurance is mandatory, so be sure to check the LDW box for an accurate price quote.
Note: Yes, I do receive a commission for a rental when you book using my COCONUTHARRYS promo code (and you get a discount!), so allow me to THANK YOU in advance for your business. Have a good trip to Costa Rica – see you soon!
directions
LIBERIA (2-3 hours)
Out of the airport, take a right.
Follow this road about 50 kilometers to the town of Nicoya.
• Take a right at the Nicoya intersection going through the town.
• Continue straight through the town of Nicoya. There will be a forced right turn due to a one way at the corner of a tire repair place. After you make the right make your first quick left. Follow that past the park and when you go down the hill make another left and then your first right. Then stay on that road follow signs to Nosara, when you come to intersections you will be turning right.
• You will drive for about 30-40 minutes on this paved road until you see a large gas station on the left of this highway. We have a gas station in Nosara but stop if you need to.
• 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. You'll see Coco Harry sign and others on the corner where you turn.
• It’s 24 km to Nosara on this road but the drive takes about 45 minutes.hours, The road twists and turns going through several small towns and villages. Stay on the “main” road and you’re fine. For example in Barco Quebrada, turn right at the T-intersection in order to stay on the main road—it should be marked. Occasionally signs marking km to Nosara will appear. Take your time, the roads are bumpy.
• Arrival at the beach area Nosara will be made obvious by signs. When you see a sign for Playa Guiones then you have arrived.
• Coconut Harry’s surf shop is located on the main road on the right side when you enter Playa Guiones which is the first beach in the Playa Nosara area. It looks like a big tiki hut with surfboards out front. You can’t miss it
San Jose (4-5 hours)
• Take the main Interamerican Highway (Carretera Interamericana) North (heading past the Juan Santamaria airport, northwest towards Guanacaste Province). Follow sign to San Ramon but you are not going to San Ramon..
• For several hours, the highway winds up and down the mountains of the Central Valley. Eventually the highway flattens and straightens into a more direct northerly course.
• After a couple of hours on the flat part of the highway, signs for Puntarenas appear. Stay on the highway and watch and follow the signs for the new Puente de Amistad bridge over the Tempisque River. Follow the bridge signs that are positioned on the right side of the highway for a left turn (note: there is a Shell station on the corner here).
• Now that you’ve crossed the bridge, you are on the Nicoya Peninsula.
• Follow the signs and the paved road towards City of Nicoya.
• Take a left 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.
• Note: the large gas station on the left of this highway is the last chance for gas. Fill her up!
• 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.
• It’s 24 km to Nosara on this road but the drive takes 1 1/2hours, plus or minus. The road twists and turns going through several small towns and villages. Stay on the “main” road and you’re fine. For example in Barco Quebrada, turn right at the T-intersection in order to stay on the main road—it should be marked. Occasionally signs marking km to Nosara will appear.
• Arrival at the beach area Nosara/ Playa Guiones will be made obvious by signs for. Hotels, restaurants, hotels, and so forth.
• Coconut Harrys surf shop is located on the main road on the right side when you enter Playa Guiones which is the first beach in the Playa Nosara area. It looks like a big tiki hut with surfboards out front. You can’t miss it.
• The Harmony Hotel is located on Playa Guiones. From the Hotel Cafe de Paris, which will be located eventually on the left, turn left and go another 200 meters towards the beach.
general road trip notes
• Do not leave your car unattended with all your valuables. If you need to stop make sure someone stays with the car.
• Costa Ricans (Ticos) are very friendly. However ask “Donde esta Nosara?” for reliable directions only from drivers, particularly truck and 4×4 drivers. People who work at gas stations are not necessarily good sources of road information.
• The actual town of Nosara (Nosara Centro) with groceries, medical care, city services, and shopping is another 5 kilometers away and further inland from the Beaches of Nosara.
Wear your seat belts and beware of the speed limits. The speed limit can be 80km, 60km, or 40km. There are police speed traps so be careful. If you do get stopped just show them your passport and rental vehicle papers. They will give you a ticket that you can pay through the rental agency. You should learn a little Spanish for your trip like Donde esta Playa Nosara? would be very helpful. Don’t be afraid to ask locals for directions. They love to help but beware they don’t give the best directions. You may have to ask more than one person on your way. Lastly, on the dirt roads you should drive slow and with caution. There are narrow parts to the road and blind curves that can be hazardous if you are not familiar.