Two nights, one dream – that's probably the best way to sum up our stay at  The Gilded Iguana in Nosara. After a rather disappointing start in Tamarindo (more on that in our big Costa Rica travelogue), we spontaneously decided to move on to Nosara two nights earlier and rewarded ourselves with an upgrade to The Gilded Iguana. In retrospect, it was one of the best spontaneous decisions of our entire trip.

At a glance

• Location: Nosara, Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste Province, Pacific coast of Costa Rica
• Property: Upscale boutique hotel with several pools, including a separate children's pool
• Rooms: Modern and high-quality furnished double rooms, calm colors, natural materials
• Amenities: Hotel restaurant with children's menu, toys at the pool and in the restaurant, no classic kids' club
• Highlight: Excellent breakfast and restaurant, some of the best food of our entire Costa Rica trip
• Distances: Approx. 100–200 m or a 5-minute walk to Playa Guiones surf beach (direct construction on the sea is not permitted due to the nature reserve)

Family-friendliness: no kids' club, but still thoughtfully designed

There is no classic kids' club program at The Gilded Iguana – if that's what you're looking for, you won't find it here. However, the hotel is child-friendly on all levels, without losing the character of a boutique hotel. There is a separate children's pool distinct from the main pool, toys are available both at the pool and in the restaurant, and a dedicated children's menu can be found on the menu. 

The rooms: design meets relaxation

From design to service, The Gilded Iguana completely won us over. The rooms are modern and high-quality furnished: calm colors, natural materials, great attention to detail. The exact opposite of the somewhat worn rooms we had previously in Tamarindo. An important point for anyone traveling to Nosara with children: practically no hotel is directly on the sea here, as construction directly on the coast is not permitted due to the adjacent nature reserve. Therefore, The Gilded Iguana is also not directly on the beach. However, the path to Playa Guiones is only about 100 to 200 meters long, and you can be at the water in about five minutes.

Restaurant & breakfast: the secret star

The food at The Gilded Iguana was some of the best we ate during our entire Costa Rica trip. Breakfast is fresh, varied, and lovingly prepared – a little highlight for us every morning before heading to the beach. Thanks to the children's menu and toys at the table, dining out with a child was also relaxed.

Value for money

At around 350 euros per night, The Gilded Iguana is clearly in the upper price segment for Nosara. For comparison: our main accommodation for the remaining eight nights, the Sunset Shack, was about half the price. But for two special nights to arrive and relax, it was worth every euro, and it was hard to leave.

What to do around Nosara with children

Nosara is part of the so-called Blue Zone, one of only ten regions worldwide where people are proven to live exceptionally long lives. This might also explain the relaxed, health-conscious lifestyle there. There's plenty to do around The Gilded Iguana:

• Playa Guiones – Nosara's main beach and one of the world's most famous surf spots. Untouched, without bars or sunbeds, but with a great evening atmosphere when the whole town gathers for sunset. Tip: Be sure to bring a sun umbrella or beach tent, as there's hardly any shade here.
• Playa Pelada – just a short walk away, with one of the most beautiful sunsets we saw in Costa Rica.
• Playa Garza – a small fishing village with the rustic Pilos Bar, known for ceviche and shrimp pasta with ocean views.
• Playa Barrigona – a bit further out, best reached by taxi or rental car. At the end of the beach, shady spots under palm trees await, perfect for playing with children. And thousands of hermit crabs!
• Day trip to Rio Celeste in Tenorio National Park – a real highlight, but also an effort: the drive takes about 3–4 hours, plus 250 steps down (and back up) to the turquoise waterfall. Definitely doable with a baby or toddler in a carrier, but not to be underestimated.
• Finca Verde Lodge – a small, sustainably managed piece of rainforest without cages, where we actually discovered a sloth family with a baby. For us, a much better alternative to petting-zoo style sloth tourism.

Our conclusion on The Gilded Iguana

If you want to treat yourself to something special for a night or two in Nosara, The Gilded Iguana is just right: stylish, child-friendly, and excellent culinary-wise. For a longer stay, we recommend our actual main accommodation, the relaxed Sunset Shack – also in Nosara, but significantly cheaper and with a real jungle feeling.

You can find more about our entire Costa Rica trip with a child – including arrival, budget, and restaurant tips for Nosara – in our detailed travelogue.

To The Gilded Iguana