Thank goodness the house we rented in Nosara was infested with bugs! If it hadn’t been, we never would have had to scramble & find new lodgings and we never would have stumbled upon an idyllic oasis... the newly renovated Gilded Iguana.
The original Gilded Iguana was the very first hotel in Nosara. We met the new local owner, Jeff Grosshandler. Jeff brought together an amazing team to lovingly restoring TGI into one of the chicest, most laid back surf hotels. There’s literally nothing like it. It’s spectacular!
The Gilded Iguana is casual surf luxury at its finest. No detail is overlooked & each element is authentic Costa Rican from the furnishings and the textiles to the delicious menu & the unparalleled design.
From the moment we checked in we felt like we were being welcomed by friends and the Nosara community. Our family of 6 (2 adults, 3 teens & 1 ten year old) had a blast.
We surfed with Aqua Tibia (the best!), did yoga at Bohdi Tree Yoga (try to take a class with Marck), walked the beach for hours, enjoyed delicious & healthy food at Beach Dog, La Luna, 10 Pies, Gabi’s Play, Al Chile, Rosie’s, Go Juice, Seekret Ice Cream... and generally had a wonderful time meeting the locals & just hanging out.
Each morning we would start off with a yummy breakfast at TGI’s breezy, open air restaurant. Afternoons would find us lounging by TGI’s gorgeous pool after yoga & surfing. And we always looked forward to a hot shower in the killer bathroom (hand-painted Costa Rican tile) & crawling into the unbelievably cozy beds. Heaven!
Note... in a few months The Gilded Iguana will also add a spa, a surf school & a yoga studio to its offerings. Sweet.
Yes, we already booked two weeks next spring. We are counting down the days to return to Nosara and The Gilded Iguana.
Nosara is a magical surf community & The Gilded Iguana is a relaxing, beautiful & welcoming home base.
Congrats Jeff & V. on restoring a Nosara landmark and taking it to new heights. It was a real joy to meet you and to stay in your beautiful hotel. Kudos, you knocked it out of the park.
The Murphys.
Ps. Best. Pancakes. Ever.
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