Guiones Nosara, Costa Rica
Renovated
2018
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Wellness SocialOutside the door
Modernist surf clubhouse
Outdoor walkways link palm-thatched gables around an active courtyard where surfers trade stories between dawn patrol sessions and evening live sets.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
Palm-thatch palapa gables, local teak, jute textiles, and geometric bathroom tilework framing airy modern rooms.
Notable
An open-air yoga shala hosting daily classes alongside targeted surfer recovery treatments at the garden spa.
Notable
An open-air restaurant and lively bar serving craft cocktails alongside weekly live music and surf swap-sessions.
What they say
Also in Wallpaper*.
The interiors are a pleasingly tropical blend of jute, palm, teak, and concrete tiles, each room featuring a spacious, sun-drenched outdoor terrace…
In a lively part of town
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
A dirt path leads two minutes to the consistent Pacific swells of Playa Guiones, bordered by coastal jungle and beachside cafés.
The rooms
Airy bedrooms feature high ceilings, outdoor showers, vibrant jungle-green accents, and dedicated surfboard racks alongside private balconies.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Teak loungers and tropical foliage surround the central saltwater pool, which sits beside a shallow kids' pool.
The athletic center
The athletic center includes a dedicated martial arts studio with climbing ropes, punch bags, and open-air yoga.
The spa
Garden treatment rooms host surfer recovery bodywork and botanical facials using organic Costa Rican ingredients.
The Gilded Iguana Restaurant & Bar
Under exposed timber beams, the open-air restaurant serves Costa Rican seafood, local organic produce, and craft cocktails.
At the table
A tiled outdoor counter serves fresh cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and specialty coffee beside the pool.
How it began
The hotel originated in 1988 around a historic beach house, which architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe restored during the property's 2018 expansion.
Good to know
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The Gilded Iguana
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Nosara
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.