AMENITIES NEAR THE DOUBLE I VACATION RENTAL

 Lots of rentals are written up as "within walking distance of the beach", but we have noticed that some people seem to have a rather generous definition of what walking distance is. We had some friends stay at a hotel "within walking distance of the beach", and their return walk was approximately 30 minutes uphill. The Double I is really a 2 minute walk from Playa Pelada, the smaller of the 2 beaches in the area, and a 10 minute walk from Playa Guiones, the more popular surf beach. Pelada is known as the prettiest beach in the area; it's gently textured with reefs and coves, the shores are dotted with palm trees, and you sometimes find baby turtles in the sand making their way back to the ocean.

Pelada is the quieter of the two beach towns, and you can walk from the house to most restaurants and shops. Across the (unpaved) road from the house is Pancho's market and surf shop, which has all your grocery needs, as well as a small restaurant with great shrimp tacos. There are a couple other restaurants within a 200 meter walk- the fabulous Refugio del Sol, and La Luna, which is an enjoyable place to drink a glass of wine and watch the sunset.

You can also take a 10 minute walk to Playa Guiones, where you can access the more populated town of Guiones. It is the larger of the two beaches, and forms a large cove between 2 rocky points. Between the two points is 6km of soft sand, away from which rise the low foothills of the jungle. There you will find a variety of restaurants, surf shops, a grocery store, a medical clinic, an Internet cafe, and a book/DVD store. In Guiones you can rent a car, book a surf lesson, get a massage, or catch some live music. None of the roads in the Nosara area are paved, so the pace of life remains low key even in the larger town of Guiones.

If you have decided to rent a car, you can easily access the town of Nosara, which is a traditional Costa Rican town set away from the beach. There you will find the local airport, as well as a large grocery store, hardware stores, and a great traditional restaurant called Ranco Tico. Don't be surprised if you see horses hitched to the hitching post out front. Also in the town of Nosara is La Tropicana, a fun traditional dance club open on the weekends. Also nearby by car is the Boca (Mouth) of the Rio Nosara, which is a 15 minute walk away. There you can try your hand at fishing (or just watch the locals), surf, or enjoy sunset at the fabulous Lagarta Lodge (the best view you will ever have while drinking a margarita). 

 There are lots of other ways to fill ones day in the Nosara area.

NATURE/ADVENTURE TOURS
The Miss Sky Canopy tour was recently constructed towards the town of Nosara, which boasts the world longest zip line above the forest. They can accommodate people of all ages and capabilities, and are very safe and professional. There are kayaking tours up the Rio Nosara, horseback riding along the beach, turtle watching, bird watching, and ATVing. For those more geared toward relaxing, there are massages and spa treatments in Guiones. You can pack in as much or as little as you want.

SURF
Surf is one of the biggest draws for us in Nosara. Playa Guiones has miles of world class surf. Because the beach has so many peaks, you can find both rights and lefts, as well as steeper waves for shortboarding and slower waves for longboarding. The swell is consistent year round, though it gets larger and more effected by the weather during the summer. There are lots of surf schools and surf lessons in town, and it’s a nice place to get your feet wet (literally) if you are a beginner. There are many places in town to rent boards, although we store our collection at the house and are happy to rent out our boards to visitors.

Just a little north is Ostinal, best known for its popularity amongst turtles as a place to have their babies. However the surf break is solid and steep, definitely a notch up from the softer break of Guiones. You need to cross the Rio Nosara to get there which can be a little exciting during the wet season, so best to check the water depth first. Keep your eyes open for pink Roseate Spoonbills hanging out in the river.

YOGA
Lots of people come to Nosara explicitly for the yoga. The renowned Nosara Yoga Institute offers different types of classes multiple times a day, as well as more extensive teacher trainings. The instructors are top-notch, and the on-site courses take places in an indoor/outdoor studio in the forest. They often hold early morning classes on the beach as well. 

The Guanacate Region of Costa Rica is a great place to explore from the Nosara area. It is bordered by two mountain ranges, the Cordillera de Tilarán and the Cordillera de Guanacaste. The landscape is dotted with Guanacaste trees, and large family-owned cattle ranches stretch out through the valleys. From the cloud forests of Monteverde to Volcan Arenal, a 4-hour drive can get you to some of the most beautiful places in the country to balance your beach stay. 

 9°57'19.5"N 85°40'23.9"W