Guiones

Surf Guide

Nosara has Guiones -- the main beach -- and Playa Pelada. Pelada is not as developed, and a little more old-school Tico. The waves are easy and safe like the town. Even at double overhead, there really aren't any beatdowns to worry about: the thickest lips just give you a short spin-cycle, stuff some of that famous Guanacaste black sand into your crevices, and pop you out the back. Like many of the black sand Costa Rican beachbreaks, Nosara can look a bit intimidating when it's overcast, bigger, and way outside -- but paddling out, you realize how easy it is to duck-dive these waves. Once on the wave, you'll realize that this place is like a skate park; enough speed and juice at good size to get you going, with minimal consequences. When it's smaller, the place erupts into a happy chaotic mess of surf schools, funboards, longboards, beginners, and all the various characters that such an easy wave attracts. Enjoy gentle takeoffs, long walls with the occasional critical lip, plenty roundhouses, and close-out rebounds. Anyone and everyone could surf this wave and thankfully it is a big beach to spread everyone out. If you're looking for something a bit more challenging -- and for an intermediate or better surfer, a few days of Guiones will get monotonous -- head north. There are a few beachbreaks lurking down dirt roads north of town that are much more hollow. Nothing death-defying (it is Costa Rica) but north-end Playa Hermosa-style barrels can be had. Click here to download Surfline's North Costa Rica Surf Guide pdf.