Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The landmark at the beaches of Nosara, Costa Rica. The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel & Restaurant is a historic town icon; over the last 40 years it has served as a gathering point where travelers and locals come together to share awesome stories, music, drinks, waves, and good times. The Iguana is located right in front of the main acces to Playa Guiones, one of the most consistent surf breaks in the world. The Hotel and all of the new rooms and facilities have been designed with surfers and outdoor lovers in mind. One of the most famous and well loved vacation destination hotels in Nosara the hotel for surfers, families, expats, and experiential travellers. **NEWS** - Gilded Iguana has been totally renovated and relaunch open March 15th, 2018 .
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Centrally Located
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish
Location
Playa Guiones From the Las Delicias del Mundo supermarket 100 meters South, Nosara 50206 Costa Rica
The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel
323 reviews
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
I can’t express the level of joy and pureness I felt on this surf trip. As a hardworking student chasing waves in between semesters, I found a place that renewed my spirit. The incredible waves, family-oriented staff, post-surf açaí, yoga, and gym, I now breathe lighter and feel restored. JP and Yelle at the Surf Club are brothers to me, cheering me on every sesh, adding more stoke to the excitement, and embodying the pureness of what it means to possess good souls. Pura Vida Mai. Back at the hotel, Fransisco ensured my father and I had the best time possible. He offered constant communication throughout the day checking in on all ways to elevate the experience, while also being a great friend to talk to. I can’t say enough about how great he was for my experience. I also want to express how wonderful Dylan was. Not only did he make the best açaí I’ve ever had, but he embodied the good spirit and heart seen in many of the staff at this hotel. What an unbelievable experience that I’ll soon be returning to. 🤙🏼
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Reservations Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel
Responded Dec 26, 2024
Dear A2589KNbradleyp Thank you for your amazing review! We are so happy to hear that your surf trip with your father was such a rejuvenating experience. It’s wonderful that JP, Yelle, Francisco, and Dylan made such a positive impact on your stay. We're thrilled you enjoyed the waves, the acaí, and all the little touches that helped restore your spirit. Your kind words truly mean a lot to us, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience. Pura Vida
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Awesome boutique hotel with beautiful grounds! The rooms are beautiful and perfect for the Sandy Surfer with outdoor showers and indoor concrete floors and large indoor showers as well. Just a short walk to Guiones Beach. The pool is a fun gathering spot for post Surfing Craft Cocktails. They also have a gorgeous yoga studio and business center anyone would be honored to call their office
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Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Traveled on business
Room Tip:If traveling with kids as many Baby Boomers and Millennial Surfers are this is the spot! Also a...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Donovan Garcia, General Manager at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel
Responded Apr 9, 2023
It is nice to read your review. Thank you for your comments. We are happy to know you liked our office space and the facilities we offer in the iguana universe. Come back soon!
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Absolutely beautiful boutique hotel. Room was minimalist but had a large bathroom and shower plus a direct walk out to an outdoor shower and the pool.
We appreciated the kids club, restaurants, gym/yoga, and surf club. Great location - short walk to beach and many stores/restaurants nearby. The pool is a cool design, pleasing both kids and adults.
Concierge could’ve been better - they seemed hesitant to recommend other restaurants or transport options beyond the preferred ones. Would’ve like more local tips and unbiased suggestions.
Hotel and services are fully priced. Definitely “luxury”.
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Date of stay: January 2025
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We spent a wonderful few days at the hotel. Our room was wonderful, bright and roomy. The bed very comfortable. The staff always friendly and helpful starting with Yanani who greeted us with a smile everyday, Francisco who was extra helpful with any plans we wanted to make and the rest of the staff from the cleaning people, the bartenders/servers and the parking attendants. All in all, a very pleasant stay. We definitely will be back.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gilded Iguana has a perfect five star rating for a reason. This hotel is perfect in every way - they’ve truly thought of every last detail, from surfboard lockers outside each room, to delicious healthy breakfast included each morning.
My friend and I are both scared of bugs and were worried about staying in a boutique hotel in the jungle, but somehow the staff manages to keep each room absolutely spotless every single day. We slept like babies and never saw more than a fly inside.
Mariana at the front desk was especially amazing in welcoming us, arranging multiple rounds of transportation, and booking an amazing ATV tour.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Book a three day private surf lesson - we improved so much every day and week down to 9’ boards...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Iveth Badilla, Sales at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel
Responded Jun 5, 2022
Thank you for sharing your comments. We will make sure our staff knows about it and we will continue offering the best service and lodging in Nosara. Regards!
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These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
I'm not staying at the hotel, but I used the Iguana Surf Club. Nosala is quiet and is a great place to surf. With so many surf shops, this is a new and clean place, with so many different types of boards, it's sure to be fun for both beginners and experts. It is easily accessible from the shop to the sea and is only a minute's walk away. In particular, I was fortunate to have an instructor named Yelle, who was kind and good at teaching. He also teaches dance at several other accommodations, so we recommend you try it out!
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is an excellent hotel. We went for a weeklong stay with a huge family group of 15 with a wide variety of ages (5 to 75) and interests, and everyone loved the Gilded Iguana. Francisco the manager was incredibly helpful from day 1, and very attentive throughout the entire stay, including off hours. The location is good - close to town, restaurants, and beach. Recommend renting golf carts for mobility. The hotel property is great, zero complaints on room, pool, etc. Really good bar bartenders. Kids enjoyed the kids club, but definitely better for younger kids (4-7 ish). Food at hotel pretty good but lots of great options everywhere off property. Recommend a surf club membership (separate) for surfers and/or families with kids for easy access to boards. Tons of off property activities (fishing, boating, ATV, horseback, zipline, etc etc) that can be easily booked through hotel.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Reservations Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel
Responded Jan 2, 2025
Dear wmswayne Thank you for sharing such a detailed and glowing review of your family’s weeklong stay with us! It’s wonderful to hear that The Gilded Iguana was a hit with your group, spanning such a wide range of ages and interests. We’re delighted to know that Francisco provided exceptional support throughout your stay—your kind words will surely make his day! It’s great to hear you enjoyed our location, amenities, and the thoughtful touches like the kids’ club and bar service. We also appreciate your recommendations about golf carts and the surf club membership, which are fantastic insights for future guests. It’s always a pleasure to help arrange activities that create unforgettable memories, and we’re glad you took advantage of the many options available in the area. We hope to welcome you and your family back soon for another memorable getaway! Warm regards,
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Located down a dirt road (all the local roads are dirt) the Gilded Iguana is located in the North Guiones Beach area of Nosara. No accomidations are "on the beach" as there is a developement set back. The beach is 5 min walk from main hotel area. There are 3 seperate parts to Iguanas - 1. Main hotel/rooms/pool(s)/Bar/Resturant/Spa 2. Gym/exercise rooms/bikeshop 3. Surf Club /Juice Bar Everywhere on Iguana's property is very clean & they spray to keep bugs away. We visited during wet season and roads were very muddy. Iguanas was a very nice oasis, especially on rainy days. Food was very fresh, healthy and delicious. Staff were friendly & helpful. Front desk will help with any need (activites, special requests, etc. This is a very comfortable place to stay especially with children.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Board & Pool rooms are close to pool and the way to go during rainy season
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Donovan Garcia, General Manager at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel
Responded Nov 13, 2022
Thank you very much for your review and nice comments regarding our facilities. We are happy to know that you enjoyed as well as your family. Come back soon!
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We have had an incredible trip; the Gilded is a great location for a work retreat. Francisco, our concierge, has made the trip incredibly smooth and helped with all logistics. Couldn't recommend this place more. The new menu is also incredible; from ceviches to steak that comes out on slabs of volcanic rock. It's costa rican cuisine with a twist and the matching of food and cocktails are great too.
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Reservations Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel
Responded Dec 26, 2024
Dear niad737 Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear your work retreat was a success and that Francisco helped make your trip seamless. We're also happy you enjoyed the new menu and the unique Costa Rican cuisine with a twist. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back soon! Best regards,
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We stayed here in the middle of the pandemic, but the hotel was still sold out, it is very popular! The pool was packed with American children, which we don’t mind, just something to note. Out room was very cool and comfortable, and we loved the open layout of the large tile shower with the window looking out in to the jungle. I would recommend staying on an upper floor if possible, for this elevated jungle view. The restaurant was my favorite at any location in all of Nosara (and we stayed at 3 locations and explores many restaurants)—cocktails delicious, breakfast expansive and the dinner menu exceptional. They also offer surf lessons and have surf camp down the road, which we also participated in for one afternoon. If you are looking for a safe, chic, and quality boutique hotel the Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel is for you!
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Iveth Badilla, Sales at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel
Responded Jun 5, 2022
We really appreciate your comments. We hope we can welcome you again in Nosara and The Gilded Iguana surf hotel. Thank you for staying with us and best regards.
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Hello, the hotel offers the PCR and antigen tests. results for antigen are ready in 24 hours. the test are made in the hotel and there is an additional cost. PCR = $182 per person ANTIGEN $100usd
There are more places to choose from in the Nosara area.
PRICE RANGE
$388 - $707 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of GuanacasteNosara
NUMBER OF ROOMS
29
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Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.