In April, the surf crowd at Playa Guiones drifts back from the water around noon, boards under their arms, looking for shade and a cold coco frío. The ground is dusty between short afternoon showers, the howler monkeys sound off at dawn from the trees behind the beach, and the whole town seems to move a little slower in the heat. This is the tail end of the season in Nosara, a month of beach days, yoga mornings and sunsets over the Pacific, with rain arriving as short afternoon showers and the occasional wetter spell.
What is the weather like in Nosara in April?
April in Nosara is hot and sunny, with rain arriving as short showers and the first hints that the green season is on its way. Mornings start bright and already warm, and by the time the rainy months arrive in May the air has turned noticeably heavier.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 92.5 | 76.9 | 2.7 | 86.6 |
| April | 90.8 | 77.8 | 11.7 | 86.8 |
| May | 86.6 | 77.3 | 25.0 | 87.7 |
The rain days in April may surprise you. Most of them are light, the kind of brief shower that passes through and leaves the road steaming, and a soaking downpour is rare. When rain does come, it tends to arrive late in the afternoon or evening, often with a build of dark clouds over the hills inland first. Mornings are your most dependable hours for the beach, a hike or a surf lesson.
Midday is the hard stretch. The sun is strong, the sand is hot underfoot, and the shade of an almond tree or a beach bar looks very good. You can still eat dinner outdoors in a T-shirt since evenings remain warm, while nights feel so muggy and heavy that air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep more comfortably.
Dress light: breathable cotton, a wide-brimmed hat and plenty of sunscreen. The light is clear and golden in the early morning and again in the last hour before sunset, which is when photographers and surfers both like to be out. Water temperatures are bathtub warm, so no wetsuit is needed.
Can you swim in Nosara in April?
The water is warm enough for a good long swim, but the waves and currents have the final say on where and how you get in. Guiones is a surf beach first, with steady swell that rolls in across a wide, flat stretch of sand, and it is better for wading and playing in the whitewater than for lap swimming.
Several U.S. tourists drown every year on this coast because rip currents pose a serious hazard. Because most beaches have no lifeguards or warning signs, check with your hotel or a surf shop about that day’s conditions, obey the flags wherever they exist, and always swim with someone else. Nervous swimmers and families with small children are often happiest at the gentler stretches and in the shallows, never far from the beach.
Surfers have the best of it. Beginners can take lessons on the forgiving waves at Guiones, and the warm water means a rash guard and sunscreen are all you need. Bring a hat and shade for between sessions.
What to do in Nosara in April
When Holy Week falls in April, it is the big event of the month. Holy Thursday and Good Friday are national holidays, most businesses close, and Costa Rican families fill the beaches with coolers, hammocks and music.
In Nosara that means a livelier shoreline, full rental houses and restaurants that may be shut for a day or two. Another national holiday, Juan Santamaria Day, falls on April 11 and brings a long weekend feel in some years.
Outside those days, April is made for early starts. Beach time, yoga classes and surf sessions fit the cooler morning hours, then the middle of the day goes to a long lunch, a smoothie bowl or a nap in a hammock. Afternoons turn to the shade, a swim or a walk along the sand as the heat eases.
Playa Guiones and the surf
Guiones is the beach that put Nosara on the map. It is long and broad, backed by forest, and the sand is firm enough to walk for a good while at low tide. Surf schools and board rentals line the access roads, and there are waves for beginners and for people who have been riding for years.
Go in the morning for the best light and the least heat, or in the last hour of the day when the sky turns orange and pink. Since yoga studios sit close by, plenty of travelers combine a class with time on a board. Bring water, a hat and a rash guard, and follow whatever the local surfers and instructors tell you about conditions.
Ostional and the sea turtles
At nearby Ostional, olive ridley sea turtles come ashore in large numbers to lay their eggs, chiefly during the green season. April sits at the edge of that season, so it is a chance rather than a promise. Some visitors see turtles, others find a quiet beach and a fishing village with black sand and pelicans.
The road can be rough, and the beach has little shade, so go with water, a hat and patience. This outing suits patient travelers who like wildlife and do not mind uncertainty.
Wildlife, trails and food
The forest behind the beaches is home to howler monkeys, iguanas, and many birds, and they are most active in the cool of early morning. A guided walk is the way most visitors see animals, and mornings are the best time before the heat settles in.
For food, expect casado, the plate of rice, beans, plantain, salad and fish or chicken that anchors every soda, the small local eatery. Ceviche and fresh fish suit the heat, and cold fruit drinks such as batidos and fresh coconut water are everywhere. Gallo pinto, the rice and beans mixed with spices, is the breakfast to order.
A two-day itinerary for Nosara in April
Day 1 is for the beach and the town. Start at Guiones as soon as it is light, when the air is warm but not harsh and the sand is cool, and take a surf lesson or a long walk. Return for a big breakfast of gallo pinto and fruit, then spend the hottest hours in the shade with a book, a yoga class or a nap.
In the late afternoon, walk back to the beach for the light and the sunset, which falls on the Pacific around the early evening hour. For dinner, you could have fresh fish at a relaxed spot by the beach, or eat at a soda in town. If clouds build and a shower comes through, move to a café or a cooking class and wait it out.
Day 2 heads north to Ostional. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen, because shade is scarce.
Come back for a long lunch, then spend the afternoon on a forest walk with a guide. If the weather turns, a spa treatment, a smoothie stop or an early dinner indoors makes a good rain plan.
Is Nosara busy in April?
It is moderately busy, with Holy Week the part of the month that fills up. Costa Rican families come to the coast in large numbers around Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and the beaches, rental houses and restaurants feel it.
Outside that week, Nosara stays pleasantly calm, as the high season winds down and the green season has not yet begun. Rooms and rental cars are easier to find, restaurants have tables, and surf lessons are less crowded. Many visitors arrive for yoga and wellness retreats, which keeps the town steady but not packed.
As a habit, book early for the holiday week and later for the quiet weeks around it. Rental cars and rooms go first when families travel, so lock those in before anything else. For dinner, a table is rarely a problem except on holiday nights, and some places close for the holidays themselves.
What to pack for Nosara in April
Pack for heat, sun and the odd late shower, with clothes that dry quickly and protect you in the sun.
- Lightweight, breathable clothes for the heat of midday
- A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses against the strong sun
- Sunscreen and a rash guard for surf and beach hours
- A small rain jacket for the late-afternoon showers
- Bring both open sandals and closed shoes, since you will need them on the beach and on trails through the woods.
- A refillable water bottle, since mornings and midday get hot
- Insect repellent for the evenings near the forest
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, ‘Exercise increased caution,’ due to crime; it says petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica and that violent crime also affects tourists, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault.
April brings hot days and dusty roads as the season winds down, with rain arriving as short showers that grow more frequent as the month goes on. Holy Thursday and Good Friday close most businesses, so shop and eat ahead of those days.
Rip currents are a real risk on many Pacific beaches and lifeguards are not on every one.
Nosara in April vs March and May
Moving the trip to March gets you a drier, hotter and sunnier stretch, with very few rain days and more of the classic dry-season feel. The sea is about the same, the evenings are clear, and the beaches are busy with high-season visitors. It suits anyone who wants near-certain sun.
May brings the green season in earnest. Most days bring rain, often in the afternoon or evening, and the hills grow a deep green. The air is cooler by day but heavier, the sea is a little warmer, and the town is quieter, with rooms easier to find. Turtle nesting at Ostional is more likely as the season advances.
Choose March for guaranteed beach days, May for green hills, fewer crowds and a better chance at the turtles, and April if you want something in between, with short showers and the first hint of the rains.
Is April a good time to visit Nosara?
Yes, it is a good month for surfers, yoga travelers and beach lovers who like heat and do not mind the odd afternoon shower. Mornings are reliably bright, the sea is warm, and the town is calm outside Holy Week.
Travelers who dislike heat, or who want a guarantee of rain-free afternoons, may prefer an earlier month. Families hoping for empty beaches should avoid the holiday week, when Costa Rican visitors fill the sand.
On arrival, settle in and head to Guiones for a first walk and a look at the surf, and ask locals which stretch looks best that day. April in Nosara brings short showers, the first hint of green, howler monkeys at dawn and fiery Pacific sunsets.
Sources
- Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 9.9792N 85.6531W, checked October 8, 2026
- Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 8, 2026
- sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 8, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Information, Safety and security (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html), checked October 8, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Advisory, issued April 1, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/costa-rica-travel-advisory.html), read via the State Department open data API on October 8, 2026