The Gilded Iguana Hotel in Playa Guiones Offers the Authentic Costa Rica Beach Vacation
The Surf Club, the Mountain Bike Center, Spa, Fitness
NEW Flights from Liberia or San Jose to Nosara
For a selection of photos, click here
Nosara, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica (March 2024) – Located in the heart of Playa Guiones on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific Coast, the Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel, a family-owned and locally run business, invites guests to discover the magic of this iconic destination with a stylish and innovative hospitality experience. Nosara’s original surf hotel, The Gilded Iguana is located at the edge of the jungle with access from the hotel’s Surf Club through the nature reserve forest to the seven-kilometer-long crescent-shaped Playa Guiones. Whether by surfboard, mountain bike, yoga or walking, The Gilded Iguana is a place that allows guests to explore Guiones with high quality equipment and opportunities for learning brought to life by the hotel’s skilled and passionate team.
Rates at The Gilded Iguana start at US$350/room per night including breakfast. For reservations, call +1-888-844-8262, email reservations@thegildediguana.com or visit www.thegildediguana.com.
New Flights to Nosara
New flights from San Jose Airport (SJO) and Liberia Airport (LIR) into Nosara Airport, make getting to The Gilded Iguana easier than ever. The Gilded Iguana valets pick guests up at the airport for the easy 10 minute drive to the hotel. Flights are on Sansa and Aerobell airlines with several flights daily to connect with flights from the U.S. to Costa Rica. The Gilded Iguana reservations teams can arrange the intra-Costa Rica flights for guests.
Hotel offerings
The original Gilded Iguana hotel was completely renovated in 2019 by internationally acclaimed Costa Rican architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe.
- The 29 guest rooms designed for different types of guests from couples to families to surfer friend groups, all with chic, surf-inspired decor.
- The Gilded Iguana comprehensive facilities include an on-site restaurant, outdoor pool, jacuzzi and kid’s pool, The Surf Club, Mountain Bike Center, The Fitness Center, The Spa, Stores, and activity center. The Gilded Iguana is a destination for surfers of all levels, as well as mountain bikers, but also for yogis, families, and those looking for wellness and relaxation.
- The Kids Club – For families, The Kids Club allows kids to experience Playa Guiones and have time both indoors and outdoors, so their parents can surf, mountainbike, or have a spa treatment.
The legendary surf hub of Nosara is nestled just 200 meters from the renowned Playa Guiones. For more than 40 years, this has been the go-to gathering place for locals and tourists, a place to pump up excitement before hitting the waves, then share stories of epic rides after each session. Guests both staying at the hotel or in Nosara can purchase a Surf Club daily or weekly membership and enjoy full access to more than 150 surfboards from longboards to performance boards, beginner boards, boogie boards, and skimboards. The Surf Club immersive surf experience includes the locker room, showers, surf lounge, and juice bar. The Surf Club is also the location of The Gilded Iguana’s surf school, offering lessons for novice to expert surfers.
Nosara MTB at The Gilded Iguana
Nosara MTB, located in the Athletic Center, is under the direction of Justin Holle, a USA Cycling 2022 National Mountain Bike Champ. Nosara MTB is the only place in Nosara where travelers can rent or repair equipment. Nosara MTB offers bike tours from gentle beach rides, to gravel tours, to advanced mountain biking in the mountains of Costa Rica’s tropical coastline.
Incorporating both a studio for classes, the Gym, the athletic center complements the other activities at The Gilded, and includes classes, private training, and sports rehabilitation.
The Spa offers a complete line of massages, facials and waxing, including the Iguana Surf Signature massage. In addition to services at The Spa, The Athletic Center offers Holistic Health Services including cold plunges for recuperation and Thai massage.
Experiences at The Gilded Iguana
As well as surfing and mountain biking, The Gilded Iguana team can arrange a variety of experiences to enhance visitors’ vacation from fishing to snorkeling to hiking to sea turtle experiences. New this year, The Gilded Iguana can arrange visits upon request to some of the Blue Zone Villages located about an hour from the hotel.
The Gilded Iguana team can also arrange transportation from the airport or within Costa Rica and flights from San Jose or Liberia to Nosara airport, with complimentary transfers from Nosara airport to The Gilded Iguana.
The Gilded Stores
The Iguana Shop is a haven for travelers seeking unique souvenirs and a curated selection of fashion items catering to discerning tastes. The shop’s best-selling brands, including Mikoh, Rhythm, 9seed, and Velvet, epitomize elegance and sophistication. Visitors can enhance their vacation wardrobe with chic beach town fashion and discover the perfect memory to take home.
The Iguana Outfitters has everything for the surf lifestyle to enhance the Gilded vibe. The Outfitters can also assist guests with custom fitted surfboards from Channel Islands, the ultimate takeaway from a Guiones vacation.
The Mercadito is a monthly offering at The Gilded Iguana during high season with local artisans and brands along with live music for a festive atmosphere.
The Gilded Iguana Hotel has always been about giving back to their team, the Guiones/Nosara community, and to the environment. Details are on their website, but they continue to find ways to support the community where they are based. The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel has been recognized as Costa Rica’s Leading Hotel in the 2019 World Travel Awards and received the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award in 2023. For information and reservations, visit www.thegildediguana.com; email reservations@thegildediguana.com, or call (506) 2215-6950.
