Below is pasted content from the site which I think are very helpful if you are interested in visiting Nosara, Costa Rica or Costa Rica in general. The content was edited from this page to only provide general information and not the Surf Simply resort specific questions and answers.

What should I pack?
The great thing about surfing in the warm tropical waters of Playa Guiones, Costa Rica is that all you need is your surfboard and either your Boardshorts or a Bikini. However, you may find that you get a little sore from the friction caused by various body parts making contact with the board when you are lying down and paddling, namely your ribs, hips and knees. For this reason, a lot of surfers like to buy shorts that cover up your knees (make sure they are not too tight though, you will need good range of movement in your hips). Don’t forget that we’ll provide you with zinc and a lycra rashguard to protect you from the sun while you’re in the surf so you can stay young and beautiful. We recommend that you pop along to your local pharmacy and buy a bottle of rubbing alcohol. If you rub it on your knees, ribs and hips for a couple of days before you come, it stops you getting too sore (walkers do this to stop them getting blisters on their feet). It’s also great to bring along with you on your vacation – put a few drops in your ears after surfing and it will it dry them out. Nosara Costa Rica is a very laid back jungle beach village. It’s hot so you won’t need any warm clothes, however it is worth bringing some long clothing to wear in the evenings to keep off the mosquitoes. During the day, the uniform in Nosara is usually boardshorts, a T-Shirt and flip fops for guys and a bikini and beach dress/cover up for girls. We would not recommend bringing any whites or delicate clothing, the roads are unpaved so you will find that in the dry season you’ll get quite dusty and in the green and wet seasons you will get a little muddy. It’s not a bad idea to bring a good waterproof flashlight, as there are no street lights in the jungle. We have WiFi at the resort both in the pool side lounge and in all the bedroom, so if you have your laptop you can stay connected.

Will we have the chance to do stand up paddle boarding too?
Mid week you will have (and need) a day off from surfing. You have the choice of several tours, one of which is to go stand up paddle boarding with Hawaiian waterman and good friend of Surf Simply, Spencer Klein. If you’re a beginner he’ll take you out on flat water for a mellow scenic tour of the near by coast line. If you’re a level 3 or 4 surfer he’ll teach you how to paddling into waves standing up and ride them using your paddle on the massive 12ft boards.

What selection of boards are available for rent?
We have 50 light weight, epoxy boards ranging form 5’6” to 9’6”. We generally use Global Surf Industries boards, however, we also use Surf Tech and Channel Island boards for higher level surfers. We have something for everyone with thrusters, fishes, mals & longboards.

Besides Playa Guinones, are there other surf spots nearby in Nosara?
Playa Guiones Nosara is a few hundred yards from our front door and one of the most consistent surf spots on the planet. We tend to surf there 99% of the time but there are other spots near by if you are a more experienced (level 4) surfer. Playa Ostional 20 minutes drive north is a heavier barreling beach break and Garza Reef offers fun mechanical rights and lefts. Let us know if you interested in surfing some more inaccessible and challenging waves when you book.

Wildlife

Are there sharks?
We have never had seen any sharks at Playa Guiones Nosara Costa Rica and there has never been a reported shark attack here. There is some pretty cool sea life about though. Breaching whales, stingrays, sword fish and turtles are common (and all friendly).

What about bugs in Nosara Costa Rica?
This area of Costa Rica is not too bad with bugs. We see an increase in bugs in the transitions of seasons: from the wet to the dry season (November) or the dry to the wet season (April/May). There will be insect repellent available which you may like to use at dinner time. It’s not a bad idea to bring a long sleeved tops and long pants to wear in the evenings, if you are especially prone to getting bitten.

Is there any wildlife, I need to watch out for in Nosara?
In the jungle, we quite regularly see howler monkeys, pizotes, racoons and armadillos. You may even see a jaguar. None of these animals are dangerous. They will be more scared of you than you are of them. The only thing in Costa Rica you have to be careful of are snakes but don’t panic! They’re very scarce, timid and easy to avoid. The rule with snakes is to bash the grass in front of you with a stick if you have occasion to be walking through the jungle (you won’t find them on the paths which we walk along on a daily basis). The scorpions here only give a small sting like a bee and are not a problem (just check your shoes).

Is it easy to spot Costa Rican monkeys in the trees?
Yes, pretty much year round. We have a family of howler monkeys that lives in the trees between the surf coaching resort and Playa Guiones. They move from tree to tree eating the fruit and hanging out in the shade. The males are loud… you’ll probably hear them before you see them. They sound like lions.

What about Costa Rican turtles?
Olive Ridley Turtle are regular visitors to Nosara and we sometimes have mothers laying eggs or baby hatching during a surf lesson. 10 days past a full moon is the ‘Arrivadas.’ Thousands of turtles gather at Playa Ostional (20 minutes away) to lay their eggs. Then approximately 50 days later, if you can get to the beach at about 3am you will see 1000’s of baby turtles hatching & making a run for the sea. If you’re interested in seeing this and your trip coincides with it, let us know and we can arrange it for you.

Laptops, iPods and Cash

What do people do in Nosara Costa Rica? Do I need to bring my own entertainment?
Although La Banana, Nosara’s liveliest bar, is only a 15 minutes walk away through the trees. Nosara is definitely an early to bed early to rise kind of town and you’ll see why after you’ve been surfing all day. We have WiFi in all parts of the resort as well as playing cards, books and board games. Most people surf, swim, lounge, read, chat, and enjoy the outdoors and activities available here. You will have at your fingertips over 100 surf movies to watch in our poolside lounge. There are also a few restaurants in town which have live music, karaoke, pool tables and ping pong. In Costa Rican town Nosara (20 minutes taxi ride away from Surf Simply) there is a disco / salsa club that get’s hopping on the weekends called the Tropicana and La Banana has a reggae night every Thursday night.

Are cell phone signals available in Playa Guiones or Nosara?
Yes. But because of the thick jungle canopy, the only place you can consistently get cell phone signal is at the beach.

Is there WiFi internet at Playa Guiones or in Nosara?
Yes. It depends where you are grabbing the signal from, some require passwords to login to the router. Other WiFi internet signals are not encrypted so you can jump on those networks easily.

Do I need to bring any type of electrical adapter for the plug outlets in Costa Rica?
The outlets in Costa Rica are the same as the US and do not require an adapter. From other places in the World, an American adapter will do. Travelling with a surge protector is always a good idea if you have anything with a microprocessor in it (i.e. a laptop or ipod touch) as power surges from electrical storms or an unstable AC supply can quickly ruin your brand new toy. (Handy hint: if your traveling from Europe or the UK with several electrical items, why not save money and space by just bringing one adapter and a multi outlet surge protector.

Is there an ATM machines in Nosara Costa Rica?
Yes, there is a national bank which is open Mon to Fri , 9:30am – 3pm and Sat 9:30am – 12pm and a 24 hour ATM on the main beach road in Playa Guiones. The only card that will work for cash withdrawal either from the ATM or bank is a Visa. Mastercard is not accepted at the bank or ATM.

Do businesses accept credit cards or traveler’s checks?
Most businesses in Nosara will accept Visa. It is risky to bring MasterCard, American Express and Diner’s cards as they are rarely accepted. Traveler’s checks are difficult to cash and really aren’t worth the hassle. The golden rule when you’re going abroad anywhere in the World (especially Asia, if you’re planning on going there too) is always have 2 credit cards handy, preferably Visa.

Health & Safety

Do I need any vaccinations?
We think it is always sensible to have your Hep A and B up to date when traveling anywhere in the world but there has not been an incident here in Nosara, so it is not essential. The W.H.O recommends Malaria immunizations for all of Costa Rica. However, after extensive research we have found no records of any cases of Malaria here in Nosara and none of the residents here, to our knowledge, take any preventative measures. Many anti-malarial drugs, particularly Lariam, can sometimes have unpleasant side effects too.

Is traveling with children safe in Costa Rica?
Although petty crime can sometimes be a nuisance, Costa Rica, and particularly Nosara, is as safe as anywhere in the world. Because of this, and Nosara’s reputation for yoga instructor training, Nosara has become very popular with women traveling alone. So if you are a girl you will find Nosara welcoming and un-intimidating. Should you have any medical problems while you are in Nosara Costa Rica, there are English speaking doctors in town to assist.

What about crime in Costa Rica?
There is petty crime anywhere you choose to travel in the World. Costa Rica is no exception. We would recommend that you not wear flashy jewelry, do not flash large amounts of money, keep valuables locked up and don’t leave them unattended. If you do these things, your chances of having anything nicked will be slim. As for violent crime, the incidences are much lower here than in many developed countries.

Costa Rican Culture & Travel

What is the culture like in Costa Rica?
Costa Ricans are friendly, helpful and, can tolerate mucho bad Spanglish.
“Tico Time” is an expression you may hear whilst you are here. It basically means that no one will be in a rush to do anything. The Nicoya Peninsula has a great number of Centenarians (people 100 and over), and this “Tico time” might be why! Reduced stress and a healthy physical out door job will do the trick. Also, it is not uncommon to find 3 generations of the same family living under one roof, and it is this close support network and real sense of purpose in the community that keeps people going strong! One of our aims at the Surf Simply Resort is to make sure you can enjoy your own “Tico Time” by taking care of every detail of your stay for you.

Do people speak English or only Spanish?
Because of the recent boom in the tourist industry here, many Costa Ricans speak English. However, not all do and any attempts to speak Spanish, no matter how bad, will be greatly appreciated.

What is the better season for visiting Costa Rica: summer or winter?
Costa Rica basically has three seasons. Mid November to May is the dry season. Everyday is sunny and the offshore winds blow in the morning, like clockwork. This is Costa Rica’s summer time and sees the most visitors. May to mid September is a little less predictable so and you’ll often see an hour or two of rain in the afternoon. You’ll also see dramatic electrical storms dancing over the ocean at night. A lot of people prefer this time of year as it is a little cooler and less busy. The offshore winds are inconsistent but glassy surf is still common. Mid September to mid November is the wet season. Sometimes it can rain for days at a time and you won’t see many foreigners around. If you like solitude, stormy surf and speaking Spanish then this is the time for you. The Surf Simply Resort is closed during this 8 week period.

What is ‘Pura Vida!’ & what does it mean?
It means “pure life”; “good life”; “all is well”; “all should be well, life here is so good”; “of course life is good; “Good bye from Costa Rica”; “Hello/Hi!”…. basically it has lots of meanings. You’ll hear it as an answer to questions like: “How are you?”, “how’s life?”, “how’s work?” …. Costa Ricans are very proud of their country and the blend of being a developing country yet keeping much of the environment from urbanization or over development. Life here is considered to be a very good life.

What is the night life like in Nosara, Costa Rica?
In Playa Guiones, it is very easy to be early to bed and early to rise. Throughout the year the sun sets between 5:30pm and 6:30pm depending on the time of year and you can be on the cool soft sand at 5am when the first rays of light hit the ocean. There are many restaurants (a few of which we shall dine in), bars, clubs, dancing, live music, pool, karaoke, It is not a bustling city, but there is a night life here.

How long is the drive from San Jose or Liberia airport to Playa Guiones Nosara?
The drive from Liberia to Nosara is 2 1/2 -3 hours and is a very easy drive. The drive to/from San Jose to/from Nosara is about 5/6 hours, but as there is only one lane or Highway 1 in either direction when you get to the mountains, if you get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle, you could experience delays.

Nalu Surf Shop and Nalu Surf School is located on Playa Carmen Santa Teresa Costa Rica. It is located on the main street next to Ronny’s supermarket. Rental prices range from $10-$20 per day depending on board type. For inexperienced they offer half day rentals and for those staying longer, discounts are offered for weekly surf board rentals.

Nalu Surf Shop Telephone number is: 011-506-2640-0391

URL:www.nalusurfschool.com/flash/home.html

These are the local numbers for these surf shops. If you are going to call Costa Rica surf shop from outside the country our country code is 011 and the area code is 506 For example, we will use Chucks number +011-506-2643-3844

La Ponderosa is owned by operated by and designed for surfers. Pavones is one of the longest waves in the world. You also have the option of taking a boat across to Matopalo to surf one of the many right point breaks.

URL: http://www.laponderosapavones.com

The large commercial airlines have raised their fees to carry surfboards and very often either lose or damage them. Many visitors come to Nosara on one of the local aircarriers – Sansa, Travel Air or Adventure Air from San Jose or Liberia directly into the local landing strip. These carriers for the most part, do not carry boards over 7′, and in high season not at all. These days renting a board is more practical and less expensive.

We also have SOFTTOPS and SOFTBOARDS for beginners. Our rental inventory has everything for beginners and intermediate surfers as well as the very selective and advanced schreaders.

URL: http://www.nosarasurfshop.com

HI my name is Edwin ¨Carton¨ Villalobos, I was born in Puntarenas, Costa Rica in 1976 in front of the wave Boca Barranca, since this time I have felt in love with the movements of the ocean and the relationship between the ocean and the surfboard, the surfboard and man.
Thanks to god for giving me this beautiful life and the opportunity to share my natural talent and inspiration with the surfer community . CARTONshaper.

The profession started moving to the Costa Rican surf city Playa Jaco at the end of the 90s. We started making surfboards for the highest level of local surfing in the most consistent waves and biggest surfer community in the country. It was a surfer shaper dream; it was heaven on earth.

So family becomes to be the main thing, the main celebration of the good things, the biggest opportunity to thank God for the nature of his desires.Generating the birth of a new Costa Rican surfer legend with the nickname Carton shaper, named by the locals in Boca Barranca: he is an original, real surfer shaper man from the roots of national surfing, and one of the best examples in the country. Carton was given the title of ¨legendary Costa Rican shaper¨ by the Latin American surfing magazine SURFOS and by many other national and international newspapers like the Tico Times.

URL:http://www.cartonsurfboards.com

There’s a little shop with rentals right on the beach in front of Frank’s, and then a mile or so north, the Santa Teresa Surf Shop has a few boards and other supplies.

URL: http://www.malpaissurfcamp.com

Costa Rica Surf Website Description:

Fischer Bros is a brand of surfboards, located in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica.
The founders of this company are the three brothers Fischer, Ton, Nico and Facu.

They left their native Argentina and came to Costa Rica in 2000, with the idea and all the energy for the project they had planned for a long time.

Began repairing surfboards in a simple workshop built with bamboo and a few tools.
With great effort, hard work and dedication grew to become a company recognized nationally and internationally.

What motivated them and allowed the project made it possible to move forward with their goals and dreams was the strong bond and camaraderie that has always united.

Mission

Fischer Bros’s mission is to keep the highest standard of quality and design at the international level, using the best materials and supplies global market.
We are currently making inroads into markets in Europe, USA and Latin America in search of a steady expansion.

Our tables are made of high quality international materials and durability, we are always trying new materials and techniques to improve the final product.
The experience gained over the years and the idea and motivation to evolve and innovate, is a great advantage to refine the shapes and offer either a competitor or the sports fan the best performance in water.

URL: http://www.fbsurfboards.com/09/index_en.php

For my tables use only materials such as resins and fiberglass the highest quality, assembled in order to get the right elasticity or stiffness of the table. Particular attention is paid to the shape of tables that must be sewn around the surfer, in a workmanlike manner, as a dress tailoring. All this to adapt to the needs of each individual table and the characteristics of the surfer who wants to surf spots.

URL: http://www.dengasurf.com/

Costa Rica Surf Club Surf Shops based in Tamarindo Beach provide Surfing services such a Surfboard Rentals, Surf School, Surf Trips, Surf Camp packages and on site Ding Repair. We are committed to make your vacation or surf getaway in Costa Rica easy, fun and memorable, providing high end equipment, open Surf Lesson schedules and affordable Surf Tours to the Best Surf Spots in Costa Rica, Surfing is our life and we appreciate the fact of living our dream here. Pura Vida from CRSC!

URL: http://www.costaricasurfclub.com/