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The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel

4.0 star property
Ocean-side relaxation awaits with daily yoga classes and rejuvenating spa treatments, while continental breakfast starts each morning on the right note

Choose dates to view prices

The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel offers beachfront relaxation and amenities. Enjoy the sun-kissed beach, poolside bar, daily yoga, spa treatments like massages and body wraps. Includes continental breakfast and free WiFi. Staff consistently earns positive reviews.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant

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Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 7 of 7 rooms

View all photos for Standard Double Room

Standard Double Room | Minibar, in-room safe, desk, blackout curtains

Standard Double Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Blackout curtains
Ceiling fan
Separate bedroom
Rainfall showerhead
  • 35 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for PREMIUM 1 KING BED

PREMIUM 1 KING BED | Minibar, in-room safe, desk, blackout curtains

PREMIUM 1 KING BED

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(4 reviews)

Highlights

Patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Free rollaway/extra beds
Free cots/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Blackout curtains
  • 52 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for PREMIUM 2 QUEEN BEDS

PREMIUM 2 QUEEN BEDS | Minibar, in-room safe, desk, blackout curtains

PREMIUM 2 QUEEN BEDS

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(6 reviews)

Highlights

Patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Free cots/infant beds
Blackout curtains
Ceiling fan
Rainfall showerhead
  • 52 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for PREMIUM PLUS 2 QUEEN BEDS

PREMIUM PLUS 2 QUEEN BEDS | Minibar, in-room safe, desk, blackout curtains

PREMIUM PLUS 2 QUEEN BEDS

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(5 reviews)

Highlights

Balcony
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Free rollaway/extra beds
Free cots/infant beds
Blackout curtains
Ceiling fan
  • 56 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Standard Room

Standard Room | Minibar, in-room safe, desk, blackout curtains

Standard Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Blackout curtains
Ceiling fan
Separate bedroom
Rainfall showerhead
  • 35 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for PREMIUM PLUS 1 KING BED

PREMIUM PLUS 1 KING BED | Minibar, in-room safe, desk, blackout curtains

PREMIUM PLUS 1 KING BED

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Balcony
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Free rollaway/extra beds
Free cots/infant beds
Separate bedroom
Blackout curtains
  • 56 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Surf Suite

Surf Suite | Minibar, in-room safe, desk, blackout curtains

Surf Suite

Highlights

Patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Free rollaway/extra beds
Free cots/infant beds
Blackout curtains
Ceiling fan
  • 87 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 Queen Bed and 4 Single Beds
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About the area

Located in Nosara, The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel is near the airport and near the beach. Shoppers can visit Frog Pad, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Playa Pelada and Nosara Beach. Nosara Spanish Institute and Garza Beach are two other places to visit that come recommended. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby fishing, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking, hiking/biking trails and horse riding. Visit our Nosara travel guide
Map
Playa Guiones, Nosara

What's nearby

  • The red eyed tree frog looking
    Frog Pad
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Sea Horses #Adventure
    Guiones Beach
    3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Menschenleere Strand, Playa Pelada, Costa Rica
    Playa Pelada
    9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Safari Surf School
    13 min walk - 1.1 km
  • Nosara Spanish Institute
    3 min drive - 2.2 km

Getting around

  • Liberia (LIR-Daniel Oduber Intl.)
    161 min drive

Restaurants

  • Sunrise Coffee
    19 min walk
  • La Luna
    11 min walk
  • Howler’s Beach Lounge
    1 min walk
  • Rolling Waves
    1 min walk
  • Blue Zone Brewery
    2 min walk

About this property

The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel

Upscale family-friendly hotel near Playa Pelada
Located close to Frog Pad and Nosara Spanish Institute, The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel provides a free breakfast buffet, a poolside bar and a terrace. Active travellers can enjoy amenities, such as surfing/body boarding and ecotours, at this hotel. Treat yourself to spa services, such as a deep-tissue massage, a body wrap or aromatherapy. Yoga classes are offered at the gym; the property also has a garden, dry cleaning/laundry services and a bar. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi, and guests can find other amenities, such as a conference centre and a restaurant.
You'll also enjoy the following perks during your stay:
  • An outdoor pool and a children's pool, along with sunloungers and pool umbrellas
  • Free self-parking
  • Free bike hire, a round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge) and supervised childcare (surcharge)
  • A reception hall, tour/ticket information and wedding services
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff
Room features
All guest rooms at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel include comforts, such as free international calls and air conditioning, as well as amenities, such as late-night room service and free WiFi.
Extra amenities include:
  • Bathrooms with rainfall showers and free toiletries
  • Electric kettles, ceiling fans and daily housekeeping

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi and wired internet
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi and wired internet

Parking and transport

  • 24-hour return airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 10 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A poolside bar
  • A restaurant
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Children's pool
  • Ecotours
  • Free bicycle rentals
  • Gym
  • Outdoor pool
  • Surfing/bodyboarding
  • TV in common areas
  • Yoga classes

Family friendly

  • Babysitting (surcharge)
  • Children's pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snack bar/deli
  • Soundproofed rooms
  • Supervised activities for children (surcharge)

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • Conference centre (915 square foot of space)
  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Beach towels
  • Garden
  • Pool loungers
  • Pool umbrellas
  • Terrace

Spa

  • 2 treatment rooms
  • Aromatherapy
  • Body scrubs
  • Body wraps
  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Deep-tissue massages
  • Facials
  • Prenatal massages
  • Reflexology
  • Swedish massages

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Accessible airport shuttle
  • No lift
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible pool
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

More

  • 2 floors
  • Built in 2018
  • Mosquito nets
  • Reception hall
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Rainfall showerhead
  • Slippers
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Late-night room service
  • Minibar

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Ceiling fan
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Desk
  • Free international calls
  • Free local calls
  • Iron/ironing board on request
  • Phone
  • Safe
  • Soundproofed rooms

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: midnight
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply); to arrange pick-up, guests must contact the property 72 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Payment types at the property

Important information

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 180.00 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 4)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
This property reserves the right to pre-authorise the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a security system and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property

Property is also known as

Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel Nosara
Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel
Gilded Iguana Surf Nosara
Gilded Iguana Surf
The Gilded Iguana Surf
The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel Hotel
The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel Nosara
The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel Hotel Nosara

Frequently asked questions

Does The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool and a children's pool.

Is The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel?

Self-parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; check-in end time: midnight.

What time is check-out at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel?

Checkout is at noon.

Does The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle. A fee of USD 180.00 per vehicle applies.

Where is The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel located?

This family-friendly Nosara hotel is located near the airport, within 1 mi (2 km) of Frog Pad and Playa Pelada. Nosara Spanish Institute and Nosara Beach are also within 3 mi (5 km).

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Reviews

The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

10

Cleanliness

9.6

Location

9.8

Staff & service

10

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 356 out of 390 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 23 out of 390 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 390 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 6 out of 390 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 390 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Myah

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful pools and grounds, the staff had excellent customer service. In particular Francisco and Donovan really made the experience stellar. The rooms were clean and comfortable, a really well thought out space.
Stayed 6 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Kerstin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Great place with greta ambiance. Nice staff and clean rooms. Close to fantastic surf beach!
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kerstin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Close to the best surf beach! We love surfing. Clean and nice hotel.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gordon

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly attentive staff, comfortable nicely air conditioned room, lovely pool area and gardens.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sunil

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic location! Staff was courteous and helpful. Very clean and welcoming. Would go back in a heartbeat.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was so comfortable. Just what you want for a beach stay. An incredible shower and big spa like bathroom. A private poolside patio area for reading,eating and gear drying. The common areas are stunning and immaculately kept. The staff is friendly and helpful and the food was fresh and fantastic! My favorite part was the 3 minute walk to the breathtaking beach! The hotel was also only a 15 minute walk to downtown Guiones. I looked at hotels that were more expensive and higher rated and I would stay here again for sure!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great hotel nice staff
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Clifford

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff. Great amenities. Love the garden room with little patio and outdoor shower!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Elein

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff were amazing! Very friendly and accommodating. Aerial yoga class was lot of fun and the instructor was knowledgeable. Hotel amenities were beautiful and had everything you need. Highly recommended!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Debra

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everyone was super friendly and helpful would definitely go back
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

katie

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved the SPA
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stenio Caliari

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had a wonderful time during our stay. The property has excellent facilities, everything was very well organized, spotless, and of great quality. Every staff member we interacted with was extremely helpful, kind, and welcoming, which made us feel truly at home. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and we felt well cared for in every moment. We would definitely recommend this place and look forward to coming back!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Danielle Celine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very kind staff and amazing food!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

samuel

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
awesome safe property hot tub was cold
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful location

10/10 Excellent

meridith

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful stay in nosara. Hotel is lovely and very conveniently located.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sarina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property and staff are amazing kind and beautiful. Fairly remote location, had a beautiful stay!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Neal

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Staff was very friendly.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Natalie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Perfect location! Walkable to beach, shopping, and restaurants. Wonderful staff and breakfast was incredible.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eliana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
This was a perfect place to get away- beautiful grounds, a short romantic walk to the beach. The staff is extremely helpful and satisfied all our needs.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

terry

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Gilded Iguana was a wonderful resort. Staff were friendly and very helpful connecting us with amazing restaurants and experiences in the area. Specifically Coyol Restaurant and Huacas Restaurant provided amazing world class food AND beautiful vistas of both sunsets and the Costa Rican Mountains. A great, relaxing stay
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lorine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
5 Star property and service. Beautiful and peaceful. Walkable to beach, shops and restaurants Highly recommend
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Duncan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Wonderful stay

We had a wonderful stay at the Gilded Iguana - the service was wonderful, the room was very comfortable and the overall vibe was great. We particularly loved the outdoor shower in the jungle rooms. Breakfast was good.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nilay

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Love this hotel. Perfect place in Nosara.

Absolutely amazing hotel, nicest people there, beautiful and clean rooms, and super close to the beach. Restaurant and food is incredible as well!! It's a 11/10....just amazing. We'll go there for sure when we're back in Nosara.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rhonda Marie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was beautiful. Wonderful bathroom. Great housekeeping and concierge’s service. 5 stars to Francisco and yoga instructor Juliana.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024