Nosara, Costa Rica. Photo by Alyssa Crouse.

“The monkeys wake me up every morning. There are parrots outside my window,” says Julie Sarver, an expat who moved from Portland to Nosara, Costa Rica. “that is so magical and wonderful.”

When you think of Costa Rica, do you usually think of a tropical rainforest with a cute toucan flying around? While you’ll definitely get the wildlife, Nosara’s vibe is more expat beach community.

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the cultural differences between the U.S. and Costa Rica;
what Julia loves about her new home, and how you can make a life in Costa Rica happen for you;
all of Julia’s best advice on what to see, do, and eat when you’re visiting Nosara, Costa Rica.

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Conde Nast Traveler magazine has called Nosara “Costa Rica’s chic surf town” and its oldest expat town, which which has enjoyed “a mini-Renaissance thanks to fresh restaurants, hotels, and shops.” Photo by Jai79.

Experiences you must have in Nosara, Costa Rica

Surf. Ready to take your water activities to the next level? Take a surf lesson from the team at Agua Tibia Surf Shop.

Turtles. Head to the Ostional Wildlife Reserve to watch olive ridley sea turtles lay their eggs in the volcanic sand the week before the new moon. “Hundreds of thousands of turtles come and lay their eggs. It's such an incredible spectacle of nature to witness.”

Sunsets. “Catching a sunset at Playa Pelada is an experience you won't forget. The sky turns all these brilliant colors of red and orange, yellow, purple. Families all go down together: expats, tourists, locals, alike, and we all share the sunset together.”

Yoga. “The Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort has tons of yoga classes. And if you want to eat a healthy meal, they have an incredible restaurant.”

Julia Sarver is founder of Health Coach Uprising, an online company she started to help other health coaches get started in the profession. This online career is what made her move to Costa Rica possible. Photo courtesy of Julia.

Where to eat in Nosara, Costa Rica

Here are a few of Julia’s favs:

Supper Club (you have to listen to the show to find out what that is)

Where to stay in Nosara, Costa Rica

Stay near the beach! Julia recommends Playa Pelada and Playa Guiones.

How to get around in Nosara, Costa Rica

Need to rent a car? Julia recommends Limo Dan.

Driving around this area of Costa Rica is an adventure sport, however. If you want to hire a local driver, Julia recommends Guiones Transports.

When to visit Nosara, Costa Rica

“If you're looking for a very typical “Costa Rican sunshine, no-rain experience,” then you'll want to come from mid-November through April,” Julia says. “That’s when it is most reliably dry in this region.” Also note, that if you go in the rainy season, a lot of places will be closed.

If you found this article useful, please share it, and subscribe to the Postcard Academy podcast. Each week, expats and adventurers share their insider travel tips on the best food, nightlife, and cultural experiences in the most interesting places around the globe. I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel, an American who's spent the last 8 years living in, and traveling around, Europe.

Nosara: Costa Rica’s Expat Surfer Paradise