The Harmony Hotel

Spread across acres of lush terrain, The Harmony Hotel feels offers a hip oasis in the middle of the rain forest. Open-air corridors are swathed with greenery and the sounds of howler monkeys provide an ambient soundtrack. But upon arrival, it’s immediately apparent that The Harmony Hotel isn’t your average Costa Rican beach shack. The lobby’s Midcentury decor gives the hotel an unexpected aesthetic that feels intriguingly chic. Retro furniture and groovy patterned fabrics don’t exactly scream tropical beach hotel, but the palm fronds poking through open plantation shutters hint at the property’s locality. 

During the day The Harmony Hotel is serene retreat. Guests and locals participate in yoga classes at the on-site Health Centre and chat over green smoothies at the juice bar. Families lounge by the pool and young couples book spa appointments. At night, the scene changes when the restaurant, bar, and sushi lounge become one of Nosara’s top hangout spots. Locals and visitors stop by for cocktails and stay for dinner at the hotel’s well-liked restaurant. The majority of guests at The Harmony are Americans and Canadians. During our visit we encountered all kinds of travelers, from families with young children, to bachelorette parties, to retired couples.

The Harmony Hotel is located in Nosara, and for many travelers, this area offers the ideal blend of rustic Costa Rican and modern conveniences. Its gravel roads have local coconut vendors next to chic boutiques; Tico sodas neighbor vegan smoothie joints and yoga classes are as widely available as surf lessons. Nosara is known throughout Costa Rica for having some of the best and most consistent wave breaks in the country, which compels surf enthusiasts from around the world to relocate here. The large expat population brings global cuisine and a health-conscious lifestyle to Nosara, evidenced by the town’s numerous trendy restaurants, health cafes, and yoga studios. Nosara’s one glaring flaw is the condition of its roads. The gravel side streets around town add to Nosara’s charm, but its punishing potholed “highway” is a nightmare. All of the major roads that lead to Nosara are horrific, and travelers will likely encounter river crossings without bridges. Four wheel drive is necessary -- so is a healthy dose of patience. Part of Nosara’s allure is its hard-to-reach location, but some travelers may not find the trek worthwhile. The closest international airports in Liberia and San Jose are a whopping three and four hours away.  

The touristy part of Nosara centers around Playa Guiones, one of the country’s best surfing beaches. This area of Nosara is often referred to as the G-section. The Harmony Hotel is located in the center of the G-section, directly across the street from the beach and within walking distance of local bars and restaurants. Though Nosara is one of the safest destinations in Costa Rica, the hotel employs 24/7 security. There are no street lights, so travelers should be careful when walking or driving at night. 

The Harmony Hotel has 24 rooms divided between two room types: Coco Rooms and Bungalows. Coco Rooms are located off two open-air corridors that flank the pool. They’re the hotel’s smallest category, and are closest to the pool, lobby, bar, and restaurant, which means they can be a little noisy at night. Bungalows are scattered across the lush property, further from the lobby and the pool. Bungalows are larger than Coco Rooms but have comparable outdoor space. Some Bungalows are freestanding, while others are interconnected. Families can request interconnected bungalows if they require more space. There's also a two-bedroom suite.

Midcentury furniture and Costa Rican design come together beautifully in all of the units. Terra-cotta tile floors and vaulted wood ceilings evoke the tropics, while retro beds, desks, and sofas allude to the ‘50s and ‘60s. Beds are dressed simply, with crisp white sheets and pale mint-colored quilts. Blue and white seersucker curtains feel appropriately beachuy. There aren’t any TVs, but rooms are stocked with nice amenities, including coffeemakers, fully loaded minibars, and a snack tray -- though guests have to pay for the minibar and the provided reusable water bottles. Wi-Fi is free. Open closets have a few hangers, pool towels, umbrellas, and laptop-size electronic safes. Bathrooms feature forest green tile, simple shower stalls, and polished concrete vanities. The hotel provides locally made biodegradable shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. 

Rooms’ piece-de-resistance are their private outdoor patios. Wood plank decks are enclosed by eight foot privacy walls and are surrounded by lush tropical foliage. Billowy white hammocks are strung between two walls, while outdoor showers occupy the opposite corners. Some patios include outdoor daybeds; others feature Acapulco rockers.  

Harmony’s grounds are lushly landscaped with native plants and trees, which are home to native fauna, including local howler monkeys. While spotting monkeys in the trees is fun, the animals are loud and their “barking” may affect light sleepers. While Nosara visitors will likely encounter monkeys everywhere, we found their presence at The Harmony to be particularly annoying. Since all of the hotel’s rooms are surrounded by vegetation, the monkeys live closer to guests than at other hotels. The monkeys “bark” incessantly in the evenings and early mornings, and constantly drop things from the trees, which make loud thumping sounds on the rooftops. 

The hotel’s kidney shape pool is located in its central open courtyard, and is surrounded by towering palms and tropical foliage. Chocolate cushioned lounge chairs and fringed umbrellas hint at the hotel’s pervading Midcentury decor, and howler monkey occasionally swing by for a visit. The pool isn’t huge, but isn’t typically crowded, since the majority of guests spend their days participating in yoga classes or learning to surf at the beach. Playa Guiones, Nosara’s famed surf beach, is a five-minute walk from the property via private jungle path. Guests can rent surf boards at the hotel and inquire about lessons. 

Harmony has a small store, La Tiendita, which sells books, sundries, and souvenirs. The hotel also offers excellent freebies, including Wi-Fi, daily breakfast and yoga classes, beach bikes, and loaner iPads. 

Harmony’s on-site Health Centre is its standout feature. The Health Centre is a combined spa and yoga facility that’s open to guests and locals. The Health Centre is located in a quiet, secluded part of the property far from the sounds of the pool, lobby, and restaurant. It has several spa treatment rooms, an open-air yoga studio, and a screened-in shala. Harmony guests are entitled to one free yoga class per day and can choose from a variety of beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. Though offerings change regularly, guests can expect a mix of Hatha and Vinyasa practices, as well as alignment and conditioning classes, and even aerial yoga. The Health Centre also offers early morning meditation and community classes with local Costa Rican instructors. All classes are 90 minutes, unless otherwise noted. Spa treatments, like massages, facials, and body scrubs can be booked at the Health Centre’s front desk. All spa treatments incur extra fees.  

The hotel’s restaurant, bar, and sushi lounge are adjacent to the lobby. The restaurant serves a la carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is open to the public. Breakfast is included in guests’ nightly room rates, and the breakfast menu is substantial and varied. Guests can choose from options like avocado toast, breakfast wraps, traditional Costa Rican gallo pinto, and sweet treats like banana pancakes and passion fruit french toast. For hotel guests, breakfast is served with tea, coffee, freshly squeezed juice, and a fruit plate. The lunch menu features an assortment of salads and sandwiches, while the dinner menu offers varied global cuisine. Diners can expect options like herb risotto and shrimp scampi alongside Costa Rican casado and Thai green curry. Freshly made maki and speciality rolls are available at lunch and dinner, both in the restaurant and at the sushi lounge. Harmony’s food is excellent, though it’s pricey for the area and menu offerings are definitely geared towards American tastebuds. Travelers looking for truly authentic casado or gallo pinto should stop by a local soda. 

Harmony’s 15-seat bar serves creative cocktails, domestic and international beers, and wine from an extensive bottle and by-the-glass menu. The bar is a happening spot from happy hour until late-night, with lively music and an upbeat atmosphere. Guests looking for more health-conscious drinks can stop by the hotel’s juice bar, located midway between the restaurant and the Health Centre. The thatched roof juice bar has its own private garden, and menu of cold pressed juices and smoothies.