First Stop

Our mini-guide to Nosara, some industry headlines and what's on our radar for the next vacay.

Sep 14, 2024

Welcome to Next Vacay and its inaugural issue! Grab a matcha latte and settle in to get your Sunday started with some travel inspo to plan that next vacay…

Perfect for: Couples, families with older kids, and solo travelers looking to spend a few days off the grid with adventure - this is not your lie-on-the-beach-and-be-served-pina-coladas vacation. It’s for an active recharge; surfing is a way of life here, plus yoga, ATV off-roading, chasing waterfalls, zip-lining, you get the idea. And the waves are great for beginners.

Best Time to Visit: Dry season is December to April ; wet season is May to November. You’ll find better rates during wet season, just expect afternoon rain storms (and mosquitos) because after all, you are in a rain forest / tropical climate.

Budget Meter: $$ = very affordable but trending towards becoming more expensive due to its increase in popularity. Getting there tends to be more expensive than the actual amount spent while there, as the flights have gotten more expensive due to increased popularity and limited direct routes.

Sustainability Meter: Very green. Costa Rica is known for being an eco-tourism destination. The hotels have A/C in the rooms, but many of the restaurants and stores do not and have open-air layouts to minimize the footprint on the environment. Most toilets can’t flush toilet paper.

Getting Around: Nosara is definitely a hidden gem destination. Getting there involves a 2.5 hour drive from LIR airport on some unpaved roads the closer you get to the town (via rental car or arranged van transport, we’ve done both). A more costly option is to take a very small connecting flight to the Nosara Airport (read: landing strip), but we have yet to do this. Once there, the town is small and very easy to walk around, bike, or take a tuk-tuk (local open-air cart). And almost all the vendors in town take ApplePay now.

If this sounds like your next vacay, read our guide for where to stay, what to eat and do…

Full Guide: Nosara, Costa Rica

Making Headlines:

8 Austin Hotels Get Michelin Keys Awards (Eater): Michelin aggressively covering secondary markets with their brand-new Hotel Keys program.
The 20 Best New Restaurants of 2024 (Bon Appétit): Congrats to Miami-based TÂM TÂM (one of our favorites)!
Hyatt Acquires Standard Hotels (Forbes): Major move from the formerly indie lifestyle hotel brand; let’s see if they can still maintain their cool factor.
Was This the Summer European Tourism Reached a Breaking Point? (NYTimes): Social media is both a blessing and a curse for a lot of these cities and its establishments. Time to find more off the beaten path places (cue Next Vacay).