Nearby Restaurants
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![An aerial view of an outdoor dining area with tables, chairs, and umbrellas set among lush green trees on a sandy beach.]()
La Luna
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![A fried dish topped with shredded vegetables, sliced green onions, black and white sesame seeds, and a drizzle of sauce, served on a bed of creamy sauce on a black plate.]()
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![A small white building with a thatched roof, turquoise trim around the door and window, and a sign reading 'El Chivo' above the door. A vintage black off-road vehicle parked in front, and an A-frame chalkboard sign advertising the place is open for lunch and dinner.]()
El Chivo
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![An outdoor dining area illuminated with warm lights at dusk or evening. Several people are seated at tables, enjoying their meals, while the background features a rustic wooden structure with string lights and greenery.]()
Olga's Beach Bar
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![Three plates of grilled fish, rice, salad with cucumber and tomato, lemon wedges, and bread, with Rosy's Soda Tica logo in the top left corner.]()
Rosi's Playa Pelada and Pickleball
Playa Pelada
Playa Pelada is one of those low-key, quietly beautiful beaches that people fall a little bit in love with and then try not to talk about too loudly.
It sits just south of Playa Guiones in Nosara, Costa Rica, and while Pelada itself feels calm and uncrowded, it’s only a few minutes away from one of the most famous surf beaches in the country. The beach is long and wide, with soft gray-gold sand and scattered rocks that give it a more rugged, natural feel. At low tide, tide pools form along the shoreline, and you’ll often see locals wandering around them or surfers checking the breaks farther out.
What really defines Playa Pelada is how uncommercial it feels. There are no big resorts right on the sand—just a handful of small hotels, homes, and restaurants tucked back among palm trees and jungle. You’re more likely to hear waves, birds, and howler monkeys than traffic or music. Sunsets here are unreal: fiery oranges and pinks spilling across the sky, with silhouettes of surfers and pelicans gliding by.
The swimming can be good in calmer conditions, though the waves and currents mean it’s better suited to confident swimmers. It’s popular with surfers who want a less crowded lineup than Guiones, and with people who just want space to breathe, walk, or sit and watch the ocean do its thing.
That close proximity to Guiones is a huge part of Pelada’s appeal: you can stay somewhere peaceful and natural, enjoy quiet mornings and mellow sunsets, then head over to Guiones for truly world-class surfing whenever you want. Many surfers love Pelada for this balance—less noise, fewer crowds at home, but instant access to one of Costa Rica’s best surf lineups just down the road.
Add in the jungle setting, tide pools, and open space, and Playa Pelada becomes the perfect base for anyone who wants both serenity and serious surf within easy reach.