Description
Nestled near the sleepy town of Nosara on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, Harmony Hotel carefully combines sustainable living with all the creature comforts of a home. The owners have given a lot of thought to protecting the environment and actively supports the local community.
Just off Guiones Beach, Harmony Hotel’s 24 rooms and bungalows have been designed with simplicity in mind, mirroring the beautiful surrounding landscape. There is a lovely pool surrounded by lush tropical gardens and a laid back restaurant serving cuisine inspired by local flavours in a wonderfully rustic setting.
A stone's throw from the hotel is some of the best surf in Costa Rica and the hotel can assist with organising surf rental and lessons. Other activities on offer at the hotel and in the surrounding area include yoga, nature hikes, bird watching, kayaking and horse riding on the beach and through the Nosara Nature Reserve, home to a huge variety of flora and fauna.
Accommodation
There are 24 rooms and bungalows at Harmony Hotel, furnished in a simple yet comfortable rustic style. The Cocos rooms have a private back patio with heated shower and hammock and the bungalows have a spacious room with seating area and a wraparound deck with hammocks and rocking chairs. There is also a 2 bedroom suite just steps from the ocean, sleeping up to 6 guests, with two king size beds and additional sofa bed plus an ample wraparound deck with deck furniture.
Childcare
Children are welcomed at the Harmony Hotel. There are no formal children's facilities although babysitting can be arranged on request. There is one double bungalow with adjoining rooms and a two bedroom suite with 2 king size beds and additional sofa beds, which are ideal accommodation for families. Children (recommended 7yrs and upwards) can join in many of the activities on offer although when swimming it is important to check which are the safest beaches.
Facilities
Harmony Hotel has a lovely chlorine-free pool surrounded by lush tropical gardens, a rustic-style restaurant specializing in local and Asian cuisine, with an emphasis on seafood and tropical fruits and spices, a natural juice bar serving delicious juices and healthy snacks and a palapa bar with great cocktails. There is also a small store/bookshop.
Activities
There are a whole host of activities which guests at Harmony Hotel can choose from. The hotel's healing centre offers massage services, yoga and meditation classes. There are many beaches in the area and the hotel can assist with arranging surf and boogie board rental and classes. The nearby Nosara Nature Reserve is home to a huge variety of wildlife and is great for river kayaking, guided nature hikes, bird watching and horse riding.
When to travel
With a warm climate most of the year, the Nicoya Peninsula is known for its great weather. However, during the rainy season from April to November most of the roads can get quite impassable due to rivers washing them out. Mid November trade winds from the north-east arrive, marking the end of the rainy season. The following months these offshore winds, called Papagayo, relief the heat and provide perfect surf conditions. Sunshine is guaranteed during the high-season months of January - April. During this long and pronounced dry season many trees and shrub drop their leaves which makes it easier to spot animals.
In May a mellow rainy season follows which the tourism industry has dubbed the Green Season.
It's the time of the year preferred by eco-tourists as nature is verdant green, sunsets multi-hued, and many hotels offer low season rates.
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Best time to visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
Nosara, Costa Rica
The Harmony Hotel is in the small town of Nosara, on the Nicoya Peninsular in the north west of Costa Rica.
How to get there
15 hour international flight (via Miami) to San Jose Juan Santamaria International, followed by a 40 minute domestic flight to Nosara Airstrip.
