Nosara sits on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. It is remote on purpose. There is no big highway in, no chain hotel on the beach, and the last stretch of road still kicks up dust. That setup is exactly what protects the place. It also means arriving here takes a little planning.
This is how we route every Avela guest, and what we would tell a friend booking their first trip.
The short version
- Both airports work. Liberia (LIR) is a shorter drive; San José (SJO) often has better international fares and a quick flight in. Book whichever fits your flights.
- From either airport you can drive or fly. A private ground transfer, or a short flight straight into the Nosara airstrip on Sansa or Green Airways: about 30 minutes from Liberia, 45 from San José.
- You do not need a rental car to enjoy Nosara, but if you want to roam Pelada, Garza, and the jungle roads, a 4x4 SUV or a golf cart helps.
- Book transfers ahead. We use vetted local drivers who know the road and the villas, and we match your arrival to your flight either way.
Liberia (LIR) vs San José (SJO)
Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia is the closer of Costa Rica's two international airports and the one purpose-built for Guanacaste. The drive from Liberia to Nosara is roughly 2.5 hours and is paved the entire way until you turn off the main highway near Nicoya. If you are driving in, Liberia is the easy pick.
San José (Juan Santamaría, SJO) is Costa Rica's bigger hub, so the fares and schedules from US cities are often better, and it is a fine way to come if the flights line up. The catch is only the road: the drive from San José runs 5 to 5.5 hours. You do not have to drive it, though. Sansa and Green Airways both fly from San José into the Nosara airstrip in about 45 minutes, and private charters usually price better out of San José than out of Liberia.
Flying straight into Nosara
Two domestic carriers serve the Nosara airstrip: Sansa and Green Airways. Sansa runs small Cessna Caravans from both international airports, roughly 30 minutes from Liberia and about 45 minutes from San José. Green Airways flies the same routes. Either way you skip the drive and land minutes from your villa, and the Pacific coastline on the way in is part of the trip.
The thing to plan for is luggage. The standard allowance is light, around 30 lbs (14 kg) checked plus a 10 lb carry-on. But you are not stuck: you can add a second bag, and Sansa will take a surfboard up to about 6 feet 7 inches, both as extra items for a per-piece fee and subject to space. Longboards, golf clubs, and oversize cases can ride out on a ground transfer and meet you at the villa instead. Tell us what you are bringing and we book the route that fits it.
The Nosara airstrip is a single runway with a small open-air terminal on the edge of town. Your villa is rarely more than a 10-minute drive from arrival.
Ground transfers from Liberia
Driving from Liberia is the simplest option for most guests. The route runs south on Route 21 to Nicoya, then west toward the coast. Expect roughly 2.5 hours door to door. The last 15 to 20 minutes is on unpaved road as you approach Nosara.
We book ground transfers through vetted local drivers we have worked with for years. They know which villas have tight driveways, which routes are passable in green season, and where to make the standard halfway stop for coffee or bathrooms. For families with kids, they bring proper car seats on request.
Standard family-size SUVs seat up to six with luggage. Larger groups get a Sprinter-style van. We typically arrange one return transfer with a relaxed lunch stop on the way back to LIR so no one is hungry and rushing to clear customs.
Renting a car (or not)
Whether you need a rental car depends entirely on what you want to do once you arrive.
If you are mostly going to be in Guiones, walking to surf, eating at restaurants within 5 to 10 minutes of your villa, you do not need a rental car. A golf cart is faster, easier, and more fun.
If you want range, sunset dinners up the hill at Coyol, dawn drives to Ostional, an ATV day in the back hills, a proper SUV makes the week easier. We arrange car and golf-cart rentals delivered directly to your villa, plus ATVs and side-by-sides through our local partners.
A 4x4 is strongly recommended even in dry season. Some of the most interesting drives in this area, the road up to Coyol, the back route to the waterfalls, the Ostional turtle road, get rough fast.
Road conditions, season by season
Dry season (December to April)
Roads are dusty but consistently passable. Even the unpaved stretches are manageable in a standard SUV. Driving at sunset is when the dust is heaviest, so leave a buffer for visibility.
Green season (May to November)
Afternoon rains can briefly flood low river crossings. A 4x4 makes the difference. Most days the rain hits in the late afternoon and clears overnight, so morning drives are usually fine. October is the wettest month of the year on this coast, and a few side roads become impassable. Your driver or villa host will know which.
Arrival day, the way we run it
- Land at Liberia (LIR), clear immigration and customs.
- Meet your driver at the airport exit. They will be holding an Avela sign.
- Drive 2.5 hours toward Nosara. Most drivers offer a halfway stop for coffee, a bathroom, or to stretch.
- Arrive at the villa. Your house manager is there to walk you through the property, hand off keys, and answer questions.
- If you have requested a chef-prepared welcome meal, that is plated and ready.
On departure day, we reverse the order, with a relaxed lunch stop built into the drive so no one is rushed at the airport.
What about visas and entry?
Visitors from the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Australia, and most of Latin America do not need a visa for tourist stays in Costa Rica up to 180 days. You need a passport valid for at least one day after your planned departure, and proof of onward travel (your return ticket). Always check official sources for current requirements before flying, since rules change.
Frequently asked questions
Should I fly into Liberia (LIR) or San José (SJO)?
Both work, so book whichever gives you the better international flight. Liberia (LIR) is closer, about a 2.5-hour drive to Nosara on mostly paved road. San José (SJO) is the larger hub and often has better fares and schedules from US cities. The drive from San José is 5 to 5.5 hours, but you do not have to drive it: Sansa and Green Airways both fly from San José into the Nosara airstrip in about 45 minutes, and private charters tend to price better out of San José as well.
How long is the flight from Liberia or San José to Nosara?
Sansa flies into the Nosara airstrip from both airports, roughly 30 minutes from Liberia and about 45 minutes from San José. Green Airways also serves Nosara from both. The standard luggage allowance is light (about 30 lbs checked plus a 10 lb carry-on), but you can add a second bag or a surfboard for a per-piece fee, so flying is realistic even with gear.
Can I bring a surfboard or extra luggage on the small planes?
Yes. Sansa will take a surfboard up to about 6 feet 7 inches and a second bag as extra items for a per-piece fee, subject to space on the aircraft. Longer boards or bulky gear can ride out on a ground transfer and meet you at the villa instead. Green Airways is another option from either airport. If you are traveling with boards, tell us your dates early and we will book the route that fits your gear.
Is a 4x4 required to get to Nosara?
A 4x4 SUV is strongly recommended. The last stretch into Nosara is unpaved, and rainy-season conditions can be rough. For visitors staying inside the villa for most of the trip and only moving between Guiones, Pelada, and Garza, a transferred arrival plus a golf cart often beats renting a full SUV.
Can I rent a car at the Nosara airstrip?
Not really. Nosara has local rental partners that meet you in town, not at the airstrip. The setup we book most often is a Sansa flight in, a transfer to the villa, and a golf-cart or SUV rental delivered to the property.
Are there direct flights from the US?
Yes, to both airports. Liberia (LIR) is served year-round by direct flights from US hubs including Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Miami, New York, Atlanta, and Charlotte. San José (SJO) has even broader direct service from across the US and Canada, which is part of why it is often the cheaper or more convenient international leg. Schedules and carriers shift season to season, so check at booking.
Booking with us? We coordinate every step of arrival: flight timing, transfer scheduling, rental delivery to the villa, and a welcome contact who meets you at the door. Nothing to figure out on landing.