Nosara Hotel The Gilded Iguana

Guiones makes up much of what most people refer to as “Nosara,” even though the actual town of Nosara is up the road a little hike and not on the ocean.  Guiones sports three loops that each pass down to the waterfront and have their own flavor and history.  The first loop is yoga-oriented and more residential, much quieter and almost entirely natural.  The second loop is downtown and busy – it’s where Surfing Nosara offices welcome you to stop and visit us anytime to talk about, well, just about anything.  The third loop is also called the G and H section (not G for gangster, but G for where it sits on the grid) and sports the most history.  The heart of this third loop community has to be The Gilded Iguana, a restaurant and hotel that is the most historic and venerated landmark in our neck of paradise.

The Gilded Iguana has been around so long, it’s been up and down more times than a roller coaster.  Right now is definitely an upswing at the Iguana, as the restaurant likely serves the best food in all of Nosara. The hotel at the Iguana is humble and classic, but due to recent renovations more new rooms have been added to the list of accommodations that will satisfy almost any traveler. You walk to surf from your room, the pool is really nice and of course getting a meal at the restaurant can’t be beat for price and quality.

Surfing Nosara gives The Gilded Iguana a Chest High (CH) rating for the way it stands as a testament to reasonable budgets.  Prices aren’t too steep, and the classic surf compound atmosphere will make anyone feel at ease from families to lone surfers.  Some of the longtime Nosara visitors remember when the Iguana had the only telephone line and fax machine in the whole area, but those days are long gone.  The heart of Guiones, however, still beats strong at The Gilded Iguana.