Avellanas → Liberia airport pickup → straight push to Nosara with a sunset break in Marbella → one slow day at Guiones → south to Santa Teresa for ten.
DAY 01 · SAT MAY 02
Pickup & push to Nosara. Avellanas → LIR → Marbella dinner → Sendero Hotel
Their flight (Alaska AS, conf. FCKAWH) leaves SFO at 8:43 AM PDT. SFO→LIR is ~5h30m, and Costa Rica is one hour ahead — wheels-down around 3:15 PM CST, curbside closer to 4:00–4:30 PM after bags + immigration.
Coastal route from LIR straight to Nosara is roughly 4 hours of drive time, with a Marbella sunset break in the middle to stretch legs and let the kid run before the final push.
10:30 AMSlow morning in Avellanas. Pack the car, breakfast at Lola's.
12:30 PMRoll out of Avellanas. Top off gas in Tamarindo.
2:15 PMArrive LIR — ~30 min before they're curbside.
4:30 PMFamily loaded. Head south on the coastal route (Tamarindo → Avellanas → Marbella).
7:00 PMMarbella dinner — sunset, healthy meal, real sit-down (~1h30m).
8:30 PMBack on the road for the final 1h15m to Nosara.
9:45 PMPull into Sendero Hotel. Hot shower, sleep.
Reality check: This is a long travel day for a 4-year-old. If they're wrecked when they land, the inland route (LIR → Santa Cruz → Nicoya → Nosara) is about 30 min faster and mostly paved — you'd skip Marbella and stretch in Santa Cruz instead. Coastal is prettier; inland is easier on a tired kid.
Dinner in Marbella · Top 5 healthy spots
Marbella is small — village proper plus a few must-try spots within a 10-minute drive. Hours shift seasonally and some of these are intimate operations, so call ahead or check Instagram before committing. Save the beach walk for after dinner — sunset's at ~5:50 PM, you'll already have caught the golden light on the drive in.
Surf Ranch RestaurantMarbella village · ★ top pick
The most reliable open-for-dinner spot in town. Family-friendly sit-down at the Surf Ranch hotel — whole grilled fish, big salads, fresh ceviche, grain bowls. Open to non-guests, ocean-adjacent, kid-welcoming. If you only want one answer, this is it.
Nido del Halcón (Falcon's Nest)San Juanillo · ~10 min south of Marbella
Worth the small detour south. Cliff-top restaurant overlooking the ocean — fresh-caught fish, big salads, simple healthy plates, and arguably the prettiest sunset table on this stretch of coast. Reservations recommended on weekends.
Casa Mauna Loa RestaurantMarbella · boutique villa hotel
The small dining room at Casa Mauna Loa runs a fresh, seasonal, design-forward menu — local fish, market vegetables, clean cooking. Sometimes open to non-guests, sometimes private; call ahead to confirm before driving over.
Frijoles Locos Café & EateryMarbella beachfront · easy & casual
Smoothie bowls, big salads, grain bowls, fresh fish tacos, smoothies. More daytime-leaning, but if they're serving when you arrive it's the most low-key healthy option — easy with a tired 4-year-old, fast in and out.
La BohèmeMarbella · small Mediterranean-ish
Tiny spot leaning Mediterranean — fresh pasta, salads, grilled fish, glass of wine. Limited hours, intimate vibe. Good for when you want something a touch more elevated. Confirm hours before driving over.
Game plan: Default to Surf Ranch Restaurant unless you call ahead and lock something else in. Easy, family-friendly, reliable, and you'll be in your seat by 7:00 PM with food in front of you fast.
Tonight's stay · Sendero Hotel ✓ BOOKED
★ BOOKED
Sendero Hotel
Playa Guiones, Nosara · arrival ~9:45 PM
Design-forward boutique tucked into the jungle a short walk from Playa Guiones. Modernist architecture, warm wood and stone, big pool, an on-site restaurant, and a quieter vibe than the busier corners of Guiones. Easy walk to the surf path and the cafés.
Address: Playa Guiones, Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Website: senderohotel.com
Maps pin: search "Sendero Hotel Nosara" — well-marked in Playa Guiones
Confirmation: check your booking email for exact address, phone, room + late-arrival instructions
DAY 02 · SUN MAY 03
Nosara, fully. Recover from travel. Surf, eat well, don't drive an inch.
One full day to slow down. After the airport-and-four-hours-of-driving day, this is the reset. Surf at Guiones, swim, eat your way through the village, pool nap in the afternoon. Pack tomorrow morning.
7:30 AMBreakfast at Sendero (on-site) or stroll to Café de Nosara.
9:00 AMSurf or beach walk at Playa Guiones (short walk from the hotel).
12:00 PMLunch at Beach Dog or Robin's — whichever the kid points at first.
2:00 PMPool nap at Sendero, ice cream, slow afternoon.
5:30 PMSunset dinner at Sentido Norte (hilltop) or stay walkable at The Gilded Iguana.
Eat & drink · Nosara
Sendero Restauranton-site · easy defaultYou're already there. Modernist on-site restaurant — fresh, seasonal, healthy plates. Confirm hours at check-in but it's the no-friction breakfast and dinner option.
Café de NosaraGuiones · best espresso in townBest independent espresso program in town. Avocado toast, granola bowls, easy with a kid. Walking distance from Sendero.
Beach Dog CaféPlaya Guiones · post-surf brunchSurfer breakfast institution. Massive smoothie bowls, breakfast burritos, cold-pressed juice. Kid-friendly and fast.
Robin's CaféGuiones · lunch + ice creamHouse-made ice cream, wraps, salads, lemonades. The 4-year-old's favorite stop, basically guaranteed.
The Gilded Iguana RestaurantGuiones · walkable dinnerEven though you're not staying there, the restaurant is one of the best in Nosara — fresh fish, big bowls, lively bar scene.
Sentido NorteHilltop · sunset dinnerWorth the drive up the hill — Mediterranean food, wood-fire grill, panoramic Pacific view. Best sunset table in Nosara.
DAY 03 · MON MAY 04
The home stretch. Nosara → Santa Teresa · ~2h30m drive
This is the longest and roughest leg — mostly inland through Nicoya, then back out to the coast at Cóbano. Plan to leave Nosara around 9–10 AM so you arrive in Santa Teresa with the afternoon ahead of you. Your May 4 check-in there will be ready.
8:00 AMLast breakfast in Nosara — Café de Nosara or The Gilded Iguana.
9:30 AMRoll out. Route: Nosara → Nicoya → Carmona → Cóbano → Santa Teresa.
12:00 PMLunch stop in Cóbano (Soda Tipica's are great for a quick casado).
1:30 PMRoll into Santa Teresa. Check in. Beach. You made it.
Heads up: The road from Nicoya south is paved and easy. The last 30 min from Cóbano into Santa Teresa is dirt and dusty but totally fine in a 4x4 / SUV. Fill up with gas in Nicoya — it's the cheapest stop and the last reliable station before Santa Teresa.