Gilded Iguana

A surf-centric boutique hotel in Nosara, Costa Rica, with 29 rooms, a surf club, pools, and a restaurant. Just a 2-minute walk to one of the country’s most famous surf breaks.

The Highs

Wave-chasing made suspiciously civilized
Good design
Nosara’s original surf hotel
Reasonably priced

Stuff You Should Know

The OG surf hotel got a glow-up from Costa Rica’s architectural darling, Benjamin Saxe, proving you can teach an old iguana new tricks. While the restaurant seems to have missed the renovation memo (scoring a wincing 4/10), salvation lies in the neighborhood’s robust dining scene.

The surf club’s 150-board quiver means you’re more likely to struggle with decision paralysis than wave-catching equipment. Bonus: They’ll even wash your board post-session, because apparently surfers can have nice things. Families welcome – there’s a dedicated kids’ pool for when the offspring need their own wave practice.

Swimming Pool

Gym

Spa

Bicycles Available

Wi-Fi

Family Friendly

Pet Friendly

Electric Car Charging

Beach Access

Hiking Trails

Accessible

Sustainable

Adults Only

Age Restriction 16+

Age Restriction

Rates At-A-Glance

$250.

Rewards/Points Programs

Swank Guide Extras

Fancy the VIP treatment? Book with us, and we’ll make it happen. Early check-in, late check-out? Sorted. Free breakfast? Of course. F+B voucher? We’ll work on it. Room upgrade? Probably.

It’s all about who you know, and with our FORA partnership, you’re always in the inner circle. We’ll confirm what perks we’ve arranged before you ever pay.

Planes, Trains + TukTuks

Two-minute walk to waves

Rate advice Approximate rates by room type and season

Low Season
High Season
Shoulder Season

Most basic room

Standard Surf Room

$250

$380

$315

Mid-priced room

Premium King Room

$315

$410

$365

Most expensive room

Surfer Suite

$400

$520

$450

Rates are approximate and for guidance only. To get prices for your trip dates, book with us.

Amenities In our room

Air Conditioning

Coffee Machine

Microwave

Mini-Bar

Room Service

Top-Scoring Pillows*

TV

*Top-scoring pillows are pillows we've rated 8 (or higher) out of 10 for comfort.

Food + Drink On-site surprises

Breakfast included, dinner best excluded

While the included breakfast keeps its end of the bargain, dinner seems determined to prove that not all renovations were created equal, earning the dubious honor of lowest culinary score of our 25 Costa Rican stays. The good news? You’re surrounded by restaurants that remember flavor is not optional. The pool bar keeps the liquid momentum flowing all day, and the Mediterranean-meets-Costa Rica menu concept sounds better than it tastes. Consider the restaurant’s struggles an excuse to explore Nosara’s surprisingly robust dining scene – your taste buds will thank you for the field trip.

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