Nosara is a small town on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, and it has a way of changing people’s plans. Visitors come for a week of surf or training and start looking at how to come back before they’ve even left. Here’s what makes it special, and why it’s such a natural fit for a martial arts trip.
A Blue Zone, and you can feel it
The Nicoya Peninsula is one of the world’s five Blue Zones, regions where people live measurably longer, healthier lives. Researchers credit daily movement, fresh local food, strong community and a sense of purpose. Spend a few days in Nosara and you’ll notice the same ingredients in everyday life: people walk and ride bikes, eat simply and well, and nobody seems to be in a hurry. For a training trip, that environment matters. Recovery comes easier when your surroundings are built around it.
Playa Guiones and the beaches
Nosara is, at its core, a surf town. Playa Guiones is a long, sandy beach break with consistent waves that work for everyone from first-timers to experienced surfers, and surf schools and board rentals line the roads leading to the sand. Nearby Playa Pelada is quieter, with rocky points and tide pools to explore at low tide and a classic Nosara sunset spot.
Wildlife on your doorstep
Nosara still feels wild. White-faced monkeys move through the trees, iguanas sun themselves on the paths, and just up the coast the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge is one of the few places in the world where olive ridley sea turtles come ashore to nest in huge numbers. Ask locally about timing if you want to see it.
Wellness everywhere
Alongside surf, Nosara has one of Costa Rica’s strongest wellness scenes: yoga studios offering everything from power vinyasa to restorative classes, healthy cafés and retreat centers. For martial artists that means mobility, recovery and good food are never far away.
When to go
- Dry season (December to April): sunny days, dry roads and the busiest months, peaking January through March.
- Green season (May to November): afternoon rain, lush jungle, fewer crowds and often bigger surf.
Warm weather and warm water make Nosara worth visiting year-round.
Getting there
Most travelers fly into Liberia International Airport (LIR), about two and a half hours away by private shuttle or car. San José (SJO) has more international flights but adds a much longer drive, around five hours. Many roads around Nosara are unpaved, which is part of its charm, so airport transfers are the easiest way in. You can add one when you build your Train-cation.
Where the jungle meets the Pacific: train, surf, eat fresh and slow down.
Train in Nosara
MATCO’s resort partner in Nosara is Jungle’s Edge, an all-inclusive martial arts resort minutes from Playa Guiones with open-air mats, BJJ, Muay Thai, boxing and yoga. Explore Jungle’s Edge or browse upcoming retreats.
