Lagarta Lodge is a 36-room boutique hotel on the Cerro Lagarta ridge in Nosara, looking down on the meeting of the Nosara and Montaña rivers, their mangroves and the Pacific. Its strongest argument is the land below it: the Reserva Biológica Nosara, a protected stretch of dry forest and estuary that guests can walk for free. It also holds CST Elite, the top level of Costa Rica’s official sustainability certification.
At a glance
| Location | Cerro Lagarta ridge, Nosara, Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste |
|---|---|
| Style | Boutique hotel, 26 junior suites and 10 suites |
| Setting | Bluff above two river mouths, mangroves and tropical dry forest |
| Best for | Couples and families who want comfort plus self-guided nature walks |
| Getting there | Domestic flight to Nosara, or a drive of a little under five hours from San José |
| CST status | Elite, certified 2024 |
Where it sits
The hotel occupies the top of a ridge named for a kind of iguana (lagarta), a short distance inland from the Nosara coast. From the terraces you look across the mouths of the Río Nosara and Río Montaña, the mangrove fringe along them and the open ocean beyond. Playa Nosara and Playa Guiones are the closest beaches, and the lodge lists Pelada, Ostional, San Juanillo and Garza as other options along this coast.
Getting here is easier than in many Nicoya villages. According to the lodge’s travel information, Sansa flies from San José and from Liberia to the Nosara airstrip in about half an hour, and the hotel runs a free shuttle from that airstrip. By road the trip from San José takes a little under five hours, Liberia’s international airport is roughly two and a half hours away, and the lodge recommends four-wheel drive in the rainy season. Private transfers can be arranged through its concierge.
The reserve below the hotel
The main reason a nature-minded traveler would pick Lagarta over the many surf hotels around Guiones is the Reserva Biológica Nosara. It protects subtropical dry forest, river edges and mangroves running down from the ridge to the estuary. A Teletica report dates the reserve to 1993, says it was created to protect Nosara’s natural resources and puts the number of animal species living there above 200. In its CST listing the hotel describes the administration, maintenance and conservation of this reserve as one of its largest sustainability actions. Earlier descriptions, including our own previous page, put its size at around 90 acres; the lodge itself does not publish a figure.
Hotel guests walk the marked paths at no charge, either on their own or with an optional guide. A typical morning loop takes about two hours. The lodge names howler monkeys, anteaters, coatis, raccoons, iguanas and plenty of butterflies as residents, and says a crocodile sometimes shows up on the river trips. Birdlife along the estuary is a big part of the appeal, though the hotel does not publish a species list. Sightings are never guaranteed, and early morning is when the forest is most active.
On the water, the lodge offers tours by electric boat on the two rivers, a quieter way into the mangroves than a motorboat. There is also a lookout called the Tower Mirador on the grounds, giving a wider view over the forest, rivers and sea.
Rooms and the hotel itself
Lagarta’s rooms are split into four groups. Jungle rooms face the forest; Panorama rooms look toward the ocean and partly over the river; Flor Blanca rooms sit among gardens with sea views; and the Motmot suites, at the highest point of the property, measure about 117 square meters and add a separate room with two single beds, which is why the hotel suggests them for families. The smaller categories run from roughly 42 to 81 square meters.
Every room has a veranda, air conditioning plus fans, Wi-Fi, a small fridge and a safe. There are no televisions, which suits the setting. Interiors use teak furniture and a palette taken from the surrounding forest. All rooms are non-smoking, and pets are not accepted.
Shared spaces include two infinity pools, a Jacuzzi, a pool with a wet bar and a children’s pool, according to the hotel overview. There is also an events hall called Salón la Arribada and a shop selling local and national crafts. The property reopened in 2017 after a renovation, and it has since appeared in Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice lists for Central America.
Food and drink
The restaurant is called Chirriboca, and it shares an ocean outlook with the Sunset Bar; the partly open Gecko Lounge looks over the lit gardens and pools in the evening. The kitchen mixes regional and international cooking, often reworking traditional Costa Rican dishes. The hotel says it buys mostly organic produce from regional farms and serves freshly caught fish. There is a wine cellar, and a private cellar room can be booked for a dinner for two. The website does not spell out how it handles vegetarian, vegan or allergy needs, so ask when booking.
Things to do beyond the reserve
The big seasonal draw nearby is Ostional National Wildlife Refuge, north of Nosara, where olive ridley turtles come ashore in mass nesting events known as arribadas. SINAC requires visitors to enter with a licensed local guide during an arribada, and the lodge sells an Ostional turtle tour. Back in Nosara, Playa Guiones is the main surf beach.
On site there are spa treatments at Spa Vista Manglares, plus regular yoga, aerial yoga and vinyasa or restorative classes. Partner companies handle horseback riding, water sports and canopy tours, and guests can also book Spanish lessons at a school in town, go biking or hike.
Sustainability in practice
Lagarta’s CST listing shows Nivel Élite, the highest level of the Certificación para la Sostenibilidad Turística, certified in September 2024 and valid until September 2027. On its values page the hotel lists solar panels and its own water recycling system, and says a share of room revenue goes to education and conservation projects, including links to Edunamica and Ecovida. Ownership is described as Swiss and Costa Rican, with a Costa Rican management team. The specific figures (how much power the panels supply, what share of revenue is donated) are not published.
Who it suits
Lagarta works well for travelers who want a polished hotel with a real piece of forest attached: birders who like to be on a trail at dawn without driving, couples, and families who can use a Motmot suite.
It is less suited to anyone who wants to roll out of bed onto the sand, since the beaches are below the ridge rather than at the door, and to travelers looking for a rustic cabin experience. Surfers who plan to be in the water several times a day may prefer a base closer to Guiones. For a different style of Nosara stay, compare The Harmony Hotel Nosara, or look south to Hotel Punta Islita. More options are on our Guanacaste eco-lodges page, and our guide to Costa Rica’s private nature reserves explains how places like the Nosara reserve fit into the wider protected-area network.
Frequently asked questions
Can Lagarta guests use the Nosara Biological Reserve trails without a guide?
Yes. The lodge says hotel guests have free access to the marked paths and can walk them on their own. A guided walk is optional, and the usual morning circuit takes around two hours.
How do you get from the hotel to the reserve and the rivers?
The reserve begins on the slopes below the hotel and runs down toward the Nosara and Montaña rivers. River trips are made on electric boats, which the hotel books for you.
Is Lagarta a good base for seeing the Ostional turtle arribadas?
It is one of the closer comfortable hotels to Ostional, and it sells a turtle tour there. Arribadas are natural events that cannot be scheduled precisely, and SINAC rules require a licensed local guide during them.
Does Lagarta Lodge have CST certification?
Yes. The official CST directory lists Hotel Lagarta Lodge at Nivel Élite, certified on 3 September 2024 with an expiry date of 3 September 2027, and with 36 rooms.
