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The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel

4.0 star property
Beach hotel with outdoor pool, near Frog Pad

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Photo gallery for The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel

Poolside bar
PREMIUM PLUS 1 KING BED | Bathroom | Rainfall showerhead, free toiletries, hair dryer, bathrobes
Property grounds
Restaurant
Reception
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

  • Bar
  • Gym
  • Pool
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Room service

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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 drapes

Standard Double Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Ceiling fan
Blackout drapes/curtains
Rainfall showerhead
Private bathroom
  • 35 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for Surf Suite

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

Surf Suite

Highlights

Patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Free rollaway/extra beds
Free cribs/infant beds
Blackout drapes/curtains
Ceiling fan
  • 87 sq m
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 Queen Bed and 4 Twin Beds

View all photos for PREMIUM 1 KING BED

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

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 cribs/infant beds
Blackout drapes/curtains
Ceiling fan
  • 52 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for PREMIUM 2 QUEEN BEDS

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

PREMIUM 2 QUEEN BEDS

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(6 reviews)

Highlights

Patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Free rollaway/extra beds
Free cribs/infant beds
Blackout drapes/curtains
Ceiling fan
  • 52 sq m
  • 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 drapes

PREMIUM PLUS 2 QUEEN BEDS

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)

Highlights

Balcony
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Free rollaway/extra beds
Free cribs/infant beds
Blackout drapes/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 drapes

Standard Room

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Patio
Soundproofed
Air conditioning
Connecting rooms available
Ceiling fan
Blackout drapes/curtains
Rainfall showerhead
Private bathroom
  • 35 sq m
  • 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 drapes

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 cribs/infant beds
Blackout drapes/curtains
Ceiling fan
  • 56 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

About the neighborhood

Map
Playa Guiones, Nosara

What's nearby

  • Frog Pad - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • 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
  • International Animal Rescue Costa Rica - 7 min drive - 4.9 km

Getting around

  • Daniel Oduber Intl. Airport (LIR) - 177 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪La Luna - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Sunrise Coffee - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Howler’s Beach Lounge - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪Beach Break - ‬3 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. This hotel is a great place to bask in the sun with a white sand beach and surfing. Treat yourself to spa services, such as aromatherapy, a Swedish massage, or a body wrap. Yoga classes are offered at the gym; other things to do include ecotours. Stay connected with free in-room WiFi, and guests can find other amenities such as a garden and dry cleaning/laundry services.
You'll also enjoy the following perks during your stay:
  • An outdoor pool and a children's pool, along with sun loungers and pool umbrellas
  • Free self parking
  • Free bicycle rentals, a roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge), and supervised childcare (surcharge)
  • Beach towels, a TV in the lobby, and smoke-free premises
  • Guest reviews speak highly of the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms at The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel have perks such as free international calls and air conditioning, as well as amenities like 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 transportation

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

Food and drink

  • Free buffet breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 10:00 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 center (915 square feet 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 elevator
  • 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
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • 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 available

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

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Property payment types

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-authorize 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, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
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?

Check-out 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 a 15-minute walk of Frog Pad and Playa Pelada. Nosara Spanish Institute and Nosara Beach are also within 3 mi (5 km).

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The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel Reviews

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 338 out of 369 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 21 out of 369 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 369 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 6 out of 369 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 369 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Staff & service

9.6/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Albert

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Repeat guest, we love it.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 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

Christian

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very good hotel
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 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

samuel

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

10/10 Excellent

Sally

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

john m

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Drinks barely contained alcohol and were mostly ice and @ $21 each that’s ridiculous. Tips were included but when asked the waiter lied and said no they were not. Hotel attempted to charge me for services I did not receive. Some staff could have been friendlier. The housekeeper was excellent. The food was good. The pool was nice
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Natalya

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great, please!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 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

Tracy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing all around!! Loved every minute I was there.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 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

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

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

10/10 Excellent

Donna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly staff and a beautiful hotel. The restaurant and the pool were my favorite spots!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

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

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

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

Rhydian

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

Highly recommended

Outstanding location and setup….the team were all very helpful and organised..faultless and couldn’t recommend highly enough
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Janice

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
It truly was exceptional! We loved our time here!!
Stayed 6 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Andres Guillermo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Lindisima
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jeff

Only place I’d stay in Nosara.

I’ve spent over 100 nights in Nosara over the years and the past few vacations at Gilded Iguana are going to ensure me coming back. This place just keeps Getting better every year. All the women at the front desk are super helpful and make sure your stay is amazing.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susanne Claire

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful property, friendly and helpful staff, incredible food with many gluten free accommodations, and wonderfully working AC in the room (a must for me in warm climates). The concierges were super helpful in arranging dinner reservations, excursions, and transportation.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024