Nosara, Costa Rica is what many digital nomads dream of.
When people dream of working remotely, many imagine posting up by the beach with their laptop, sipping a healthy smoothie or locally-sourced coffee. Maybe going for a surf or yoga class when the work day is over. Enjoying a vibrant international community with plenty of cultural events and restaurants. Well, Nosara checks all these boxes on the digital nomad dream list, and more.
Location & Lifestyle
Nosara encompasses the coastal area in Nicoya of Playa Nosara, Playa Pelada, Playa Guiones and Playa Garza. The culture is centered around healthy living, with yoga and surf two of the main activities you’ll find. People are friendly and sunset at the beach is a spiritual experience for the entire community. Though development is increasing in the area, the roads are still dirt and enough trees remain for howler monkeys to hang out. There are all kinds of amazing restaurants, with more vegetarian and vegan options than anywhere else in the country. People get around on bikes, quads, tuk tuks, or on foot. Mostly barefoot.
Internet, Repairs and Co-Working
It’s common to see people working from cafes and restaurants around town, and the internet connections are good despite being fairly remote. Selina has a co-working center here as well. Most rentals will provide info about internet speeds in their posts, since owners know how important it is these days for remote workers to have fast, reliable internet. There’s even an Apple Certified Repair center in town, next door to the organic grocery store. The town of Nicoya, a short drive inland, will also have more options for repair and electronics stores.
Rentals
Because Nosara is such a paradise for digital nomads, expats and tourists alike, rentals can get expensive and hard to find. But it’s definitely worth at least a short stay, to experience this unique, magical place in Costa Rica. Airbnb is always a great option to start your search, and joining the local Facebook groups is also a good strategy for finding mid to longer term rentals. There are also many places nearby Nosara you can stay at and make trips into Nosara, like Sámara, Ostional, or San Juanillo.
RENTAL REVIEW:
Recently, I visited Nosara and stayed in the Wonderbus, which was an amazing experience that really embodied all of the values and style of Nosara. The owners’ vision was to upcycle this 25 year old bus and create a cleverly designed, eco-friendly beach rental with a story. I love tiny homes and repurposed materials, so when I saw this bus I knew immediately this is where I wanted to stay. The Wonderbus was equipped with high-speed internet, and it was pet-friendly. It had a great garden space to hang out outside, an outdoor shower to give you the experience of showering in the jungle, and a rooftop deck. The bed was comfortable and the kitchen had everything we needed. It was walking distance to “downtown” Guiones and the beach. It made for the perfect weekend getaway in Nosara.
Keeping Nosara Cool
It can be a serious challenge for these small beach communities to grow in a balanced and sustainable way when they gain popularity so quickly. Over-development, waste disposal, energy consumption, and rising costs of living are just some of the challenges Nosara and other popular beach towns in Costa Rica face. We hope that the digital nomad community respects the natural environment and local culture wherever they travel to. But specifically in Costa Rica, please remember to live with as little impact on the natural environment as possible. Don’t waste water or electricity, pick up trash from the beach whether it’s yours or not, respect the local culture, and adjust your expectations for comfort when you’re visiting a place with an extreme environment and limited resources.