Quiet value hotel with a laid-back atmosphere
Clean, simply decorated rooms with outdoor hammocks
Located a five-minute walk to the beach and local restaurants
Health cafe serves raw, vegan, and gluten free options
Yoga loft with free daily classes
Small pool with lounge chairs
Locked surfboard storage available
Free Wi-Fi and beach bikes
Massage services on request
Nightly rates can be a bit pricey for what’s offered
Rooms are tiny
Cafe hours aren’t consistent
With an open-air yoga studio and a health cafe, the two-and-a-half-pearl Living Hotel resembles many of its competitors in Nosara. Its nine rooms are simply decorated spaces equipped with air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and electronic safes, although their best feature could be their private outdoor porches with hammocks. A small pool, free Wi-Fi, loaner beach bikes, and daily yoga classes add to the property's appeal. Its location is a five-minute walk from Playa Guiones and a handful of local restaurants, too. Despite all it offers, nightly rates are a bit high for the pearl level. Travelers should comparison shop a bit before booking; another hotel in the area that also offers yoga classes and healthful, primarily vegetarian food is the Costa Rica Yoga Spa.
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Scene
A tiny hotel with a quiet atmosphere that appeals to young 20- and 30-somethings
Like most hotels in Nosara, Living Hotel has a quiet, laid-back atmosphere with a health and wellness focus. There’s an on-site cafe that serves green smoothies and vegan breakfast bowls, and an open-air yoga loft with free daily classes. Guests can lounge by the pool or take an afternoon siesta in a hammock, but otherwise there isn’t much to do on the premises. The majority of guests spend their days at Playa Guiones, Nosara’s famed surf beach. When they return to Living Hotel, they can store their surf equipment in a locked “boardroom.” Many of Living Hotel’s guests are young 20 and 30-somethings from North America and Europe.
Location
In Nosara's touristy G-section, within walking distance of the beach, bars, and restaurants
Living Hotel is located in Nosara, and for many travelers, this area offers the perfect blend of rustic Costa Rica and modern convenience. 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. Travelers come to Nosara to take part in its unique culture; therefore most hotels offer surf lessons, yoga classes, and health-focused restaurants. 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. Living Hotel is located on the north side of the G-section, about a five-minute walk from the beach and local restaurants. Nosara is a safe, family-friendly destination, but travelers should be careful when walking or driving at night, since there aren’t any street lights.
Rooms
Tiny and simply decorated, with outdoor patios and hammocks
Guest rooms at Living Hotel are pretty tiny. Each has enough room for a double bed, two end tables, and a closet -- but that’s about it. While rooms are simple, they're tastefully decorated with terra-cotta tile floors and local wood furniture. White walls are accented by silver stenciled murals, and beds are topped with white sheets and blue quilts. Vaulted ceilings add character, and make rooms feel a little more spacious. In-room amenities include air-conditioning, mini fridges, and electronic safes. There aren’t any TVs, but Wi-Fi works in all rooms. The simple bathrooms have shower stalls and ample vanities with magnifying mirrors and hairdryers. Outside, rooms have front porches with hammocks and bean-bag loveseats; they also have adjustable white curtains for a bit of privacy.
Features
A small pool, health bar, and daily yoga classes
Most of Living Hotel’s amenities are centered around the rancho, an open-air thatched roof building with a communal living space and a yoga loft. The hotel offers daily yoga classes in the loft that are free for all guests. Classes are held with all practice levels in mind. When the loft isn’t being used as a yoga studio, staff members transform the space into a small spa. Guests can book massages and other spa treatments in advance, though additional charges apply. Living Hotel’s tiny pool is located in front of the rancho. The pool is surrounded by a few lounge chairs and isn’t usually crowded. Jasmine’s, the hotel’s on-site health cafe, serves breakfast, a light lunch, and snacks from morning until mid-afternoon, though we found its hours to be inconsistent. Jasmine’s offers vegan, gluten-free, and raw dishes including green smoothies, breakfast bowls, veggies burgers, and salads. Besides the daily yoga classes, hotel freebies include Wi-Fi, beach bikes, and secure surfboard storage in a locked “boardroom.”
