Ostional shows up in two completely different searches: one from surfers scanning Guanacaste forecasts, and one from travelers chasing the Olive Ridley turtle arribadas that put this stretch of beach on the map in the first place. Both searches land in the same village, and both are worth the trip.
Why Ostional?
Ostional sits inside its own wildlife refuge, a 468 hectare stretch of land and roughly 8,000 hectares of ocean covering sixteen kilometers of coastline that also includes Nosara, Pelada and Guiones, which is the reason the beach feels wilder and less developed than its surf famous neighbors.
→ The surf itself is a beach and reef break that is honestly rated inconsistent, but July stands out as a reliably clean month, and the emptier lineup is part of the draw for anyone who already surfed Guiones down the road.
↪ The bigger arribadas, when up to 100,000 or more Olive Ridley turtles come ashore in a single night, run September through November, with smaller dry season arribadas from January through July timed to the last quarter moon.
Getting There and Getting Around
- Fly into Liberia (LIR), then drive toward Nosara and continue north along the coast road to Ostional.
- → The road in is unpaved for stretches, so a 4x4 is the sensible choice, especially in rainy season.
- ↪ Nosara, about 15 to 20 minutes south, is the nearest town for a bigger range of restaurants, surf schools and services.
- Hotel Luna Azul sits in San Juanillo, the next beach south, about a five minute drive or 1.7 kilometer walk from Ostional itself.
When to Surf (and When to See Turtles)
Surf season: July is the standout month for clean conditions here, though the wave is rated inconsistent overall, so check a live forecast before planning a dedicated surf trip.
Swell and wind: Best swell direction is southwest, best wind is offshore from the northeast.
Turtle season: The largest arribadas land September through November, sometimes exceeding 100,000 turtles over several nights. Smaller arribadas, usually under 20,000 turtles over three to four nights, happen in the dry season from January through July, timed to the last quarter moon.
Safety notes: Rip currents and rocks are the main surf hazards, and this stretch of coast is remote with limited rescue infrastructure, so know your own limits before paddling out on a bigger day. During an active arribada, the beach closes to visitors without a certified local guide once around 1,000 turtles are ashore, groups are capped at nine people, flash photography and white flashlights are banned, and egg harvesting is limited to the first days and tightly regulated. Respect every posted rule here, since this refuge is also a working conservation program, not a photo opportunity first.
Surf Breaks
- Ostional beach and reef break:
Wave: An exposed beach and reef setup, inconsistent overall but reliably clean in July, with rips and rocks to watch for.
Level: Intermediate on small days, with real caution advised once it gets bigger given the remoteness.
Photographing Ostional (Surf Snaps)
A turtle crossing the sand at dawn with a surfer paddling out behind it is the kind of frame you cannot plan for anywhere else on this coast, and it is worth having a camera ready for both halves of an Ostional morning. If you shoot this beach, whether it is turtles, surf or both, upload your gallery to Surf Snaps, where there is no subscription, no listing fee and no storage bill, just a 10% revenue share paid monthly whenever a photo sells, and you keep copyright the whole time. If you were out at Ostional recently, search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date, with photos starting at $8.
Where to Stay
→ Ostional itself is a small village with thin commercial options, so lodging tiers here lean rustic to mid range rather than full luxury.
Budget ($)
No genuine named property under $50 a night could be confirmed directly at or very near Ostional after repeated search, so this tier is best treated as a gap rather than a guess. The closest real budget options sit well south in Nosara or further afield, outside a fair definition of "near" for this guide.
Mid-Range ($$)
Cabinas Surf Arribadas, Playa Ostional
A simple property about 100 meters from the beach, with a private bath and air conditioning. Approx. $80/night for a quadruple room, excluding taxes and fees, seen October 2026, per The Beach Estates.
Beachfront/Luxury ($$$)
Hotel Luna Azul, San Juanillo
The nearest real upscale option, about five minutes from Ostional, with a pool and ocean view restaurant. Approx. $182/night for a king room including fees, seen October 2026, per Hotels.com.
Food and Drink
→ Soda Martha, in the center of Ostional village near the beach, is the local go to for a post surf breakfast and coffee, open from 6am to 7:30pm, though no specific price could be confirmed despite several searches. Beyond Soda Martha, Ostional's own food options are thin, so plan to bring snacks or make the short trip to Nosara for a bigger choice of restaurants.
FAQ: Surfing at Ostional
Can you surf at Ostional?
Yes, there is a real beach and reef break here, rated inconsistent overall but reliably clean in July, with rips and rocks as the main hazards.
When is the best time to see the turtle arribadas at Ostional?
The largest arribadas run September through November, sometimes with over 100,000 turtles in a single event. Smaller dry season arribadas happen January through July around the last quarter moon.
Can you watch the turtles without a guide?
Not once a significant arribada is underway. The beach closes to unguided visitors once roughly 1,000 turtles are ashore, and certified local guides are required from that point on.
How do you get to Ostional?
Fly into Liberia, then drive north past Nosara on a partly unpaved coast road, ideally in a 4x4.
Where can I find photos of my Ostional session?
Search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date on the explore page to find galleries from your session.
