Pro surfers come to top Costa Rica surfing beach Playa Guiones

Long-favored as a site for Costa Rica national surfing competitions, the white sandy beach of Playa Guiones at Nosara will host the sixth tournament of the Costa Rica National Surfing Circuit kölbi 2015 in June.

Presented by Adrenaline Rush, the Beach Club Tournament will be held June 13-14 at Playa Guiones. The important competition is the last of the 2015 Costa Rica pro surfing season before the Costa Rica National Surfing Championship finals on July 17-19, 2015 at Playa Hermosa by Jacó.



On the north Pacific Coast of the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Playa Guiones is known as one of the best surfing beaches in Costa Rica. Home to the annual Triple Crown Surf Tournament held every February, March and April by the Nosara Surf Association, Playa Guiones is reputed to have the most consistent surf on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.

“Quality and consistency makes this beach the spot for surfing in Costa Rica,” reports the informational website Nosara.com. “Great beach break conditions, with multiple peaks both left and right. The place has become popular among traveling ‘Longboarders’. Great surf can occur at any time during the year; however November through May will offer you the best chance of finding excellent conditions. As in California, the best time for surfing is early morning.”



The beautiful crescent-shape white sand beach stretches approximately 4 miles (7 km), lined with low vegetation and a few palm frond huts built here and there to provide shade. Because Playa Guiones is so close to the continental shelf, the sandy-bottom beach picks up both North and South facing swells for great waves more than 300 days a year.

“Offshore winds blow most every morning during dry season, from mid-November until the end of April, making for great surf conditions. In the rainy season, the waves are often bigger, but expect less consistent wind and slightly choppier and disorganized conditions,” according to VisitNosara.com.

The Guanacaste beaches of Playa Guiones, Playa Nosara, Playa Pelada, Playa Garza and Playa Ostional all recently received the Costa Rica Ecological Blue Flag Award by the Costa Rican Tourism Board for continuing to be some of Costa Rica’s cleanest beaches. The Nosara, Costa Rica area was named one of the 11 Places to Go Worldwide in 2014 by CNN.



Where to stay in Playa Guiones, Nosara, Costa Rica:

Whether you are coming for the Costa Rica Surfing competition in June, to surf Playa Guiones, or simply enjoy the beauty of Nosara, Costa Rica, your place to stay is L'acqua Viva Resort & Spa.

The Bali-style Costa Rica luxury hotel is located between the beautiful beach of Guiones and forested foothills, full of an amazing variety of wildlife – especially howler monkeys. All hotels and businesses at Playa Guiones are set back from the beach to preserve the coastline. L'acqua Viva Resort & Spa is an Enchanting Costa Rica Hotel; accommodations include spacious Deluxe Rooms, luxury Suites and magnificent Villas.



How to get to Nosara, Costa Rica:

• 55-minute flight to Nosara from San Jose; 10-minute drive to Playa Guiones.
• 2.5-hour drive from the Liberia International Airport.
• 5-hour drive from San Jose’s Juan Santamaria International Airport

Article by Shannon Farley

5 travel tips you need for your stay in Nosara Costa Rica

Like all travelers, when you plan a vacation to an unfamiliar location, you want to have an idea of what to expect. TripAdvisor is a great resource for getting insider information about a place from guests who have been there.

Here are 5 great travel tips for your stay in Nosara Costa Rica. from guests who stayed at L’acqua Viva Resort & Spa by Playa Guiones.

1. What’s the best way to get to Nosara, Costa Rica? Fly.

The area of Nosara includes the town of Nosara and the beaches of Playa Guiones, Playa Pelada and Playa Nosara, remotely located on the Nicoya Peninsula in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. Guests frequently comment about the long drive from the capital city of San Jose – about 4.5 to 5 hours. The best way to get to Nosara is a 50-minute flight on the domestic airline Nature Air from the San Jose International Airport.

2. What’s the best way to get around Nosara and its beaches?

Guests recommend renting a car. There are lots of fun beaches and plenty of funky restaurants, juice bars, boutique shops, art galleries, yoga places, and surf and adventure tours that you’ll want to visit. All hotels and facilities are set back from the beaches according to the community’s conservation regulations. Having a rental car means you can go where you want, when you want. You can easily arrange a rental car in Playa Guiones with Toyota Rent-a-Car, Alamo Rent-a-Car, National Car Rental or Economy Car Rental. Be sure to get a 4x4.



3. You have to try surfing.

Playa Guiones is renowned for some of the best surfing in Costa Rica and was recommended as a best place to go in 2014. Guests recommend it. “Surfing here is the BEST ever! Perfect for everyone … the waves work for every level of surfer. It is never too crowded because the beach is so long,” wrote guests who stayed at L’acqua Viva Resort earlier this month for Spring Break.



4. Stay at L'acqua Viva Resort & Spa for its “super professional and attentive” staff.

Guests rave about the staff at the Costa Rica luxury hotel. “The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and seem to really want to make your stay enjoyable … There were always staff around, cleaning the pools, sweeping the walkway, trimming the landscaping,” wrote one guest. “The personnel of the hotel were fantastic: would go out of their way to assist you at any time, extremely helpful and would always make you feel most welcome,” wrote another visitor.

5. What are the best rooms at L'acqua Viva Resort & Spa?

Guests recommend the exotic Bali-style Master Suites and Villas by the pool area for the most relaxing stay in peace and quiet.

  Article by Shannon Farley