good for you

Amidst the banana trees and coconut palms lies the beautifully simple Harmony Hotel, a casual resort that is a mix of 70s surf culture and Brazilian modernism.

Here your morning alarm clock is the call of howler monkeys, signalling you to wake up and slip away for a refreshing early morning surf outside your back door.

Afterwards meander along the pathway through the tropical garden overflowing with native vegetation for a breakfast of freshly squeezed fruit juice and organic Costa Rican coffee.

It won't be long before a deep sense of relaxation and satisfaction will overcome you, brought about by knowing that the pleasures you savor at the Harmony are geared to be in tune with the surrounding land, sea, animals, and rural community.

As you lie in your hammock overlooking the surf while the sunset erupts in mind expanding colours, or walk in the garden and watch the lotus flowers open in the moonlight, the environment cannot help but inspire a natural rhythm and sacred connection to the earth.

Through its efforts to coexist with the surroundings, the Harmony strikes a chord

that is beautiful in its natural imperfections and satisfyingly real.

good for costa rica

The Harmony works with the local school to improve facilities and learning aids; while teaching sustainable practices and environmental awareness. A plastic recycling program also generates funds for the school.

The hotel also supports local farmers by buying local products and more than 90% of the staff comes from the surrounding area, creating a valuable source of employment.

On the environmental front, the hotel works with Costa Rica's Ministry of Environment and Energy on conservation projects such as improving sea turtle habitats; beach cleaning days and tree-planting programs; and encourages guests to participate in these volunteer programs where possible.

The Harmony is also working with The Refugio de Animales, local businesses and the electric company to raise funds for re-wiring Nosara and rehabilitating orphaned howler monkeys who are sometimes electrocuted when they try to use power lines to reach their habitat that has been isolated by roads or cleared land.

Rooms

Food

The open air restaurant at the Harmony seats 40 guests in a stylish but casual atmosphere reflecting 70's surf culture, Brazilian modernism, and ‘old-style' tropical resorts.

Taking its cue from a harmonious way of living, the kitchen cooks up local organic seafood, fruits, and vegetables. The mostly vegetarian menu is flavored by the exotic likes of wild ginger, taro, banana, plantains, mango, and coconut.

In addition to the main restaurant, a cafeteria provides vegetarian tapas, fresh squeezed juices and herbal teas. Like the restaurant, they use organic ingredients whenever possible. The rancho-style pitched thatch roof and open-air structure is an ancient form of native architecture that is still popular today. It's said that people from Bali landed here hundreds of years ago and brought this style of architecture with them.

In keeping with the healthy, natural concept of the hotel, the bar does not offer any kind of sodas, but promotes the use of fresh, natural fruits from the local area in its drinks.

The Harmony Juice Bar is an environmentally conscious, casual eatery that serves up fresh juice and tasty, health foods. The menu is filled with rejuvenating foods such as fruit smoothies, vegetable juice elixirs, organic salads, sandwiches, raw food creations, and healthy desserts.

There is also a wide variety of restaurants for all budgets to be found in Nosara. A favourite is La Luna located on the beach just past the northern cliffs that flank Playa Guiones or for more casual dining there are a couple of pizzerias in town.

Features & Facilities

• 24 accommodations
• Pool
• Bar and open-air restaurant
• Tours and activities desk
• Health centre offering massage, yoga and meditation.
• Gift shop
• Free WiFi internet connection
• Board games and ping-pong tables available for guests use
• Separate sole-use house available for rent.
• Complimentary use of laptops, stereo and bicycles although small donations for these facilities are donated to a social or conservation program of your choice.

Local Info & Activities

Guanacaste: The Guanacaste area has several amazing protected areas and national parks to explore where you will experience sights and sounds you may have never known before. By visiting these attractions, you will also be contributing to the conservation of the Costa Rican National Parks system and the country's natural resources.

Nosara Beaches: Nosara is world-renowned for its white sandy beaches that have become a surfer's Mecca. Most beaches are surf beaches and not suitable for swimming although the hotel can advise safer beaches where you can swim. A short distance from Nosara is Playa Garza, which is a popular sport fishing spot.

Local tours: A range of tours of the local highlights can be organised from the hotel, including a Sea Turtles Nesting Tour which donates 50% of profits to the local national park; a Coffee Plantation Tour where you can experience authentic Costa Rican farmer's traditions and customs and contribute to the economic development of the local community; or the La Esperanza School Tour, visiting the hotel's education program for local children. Horse riding, forest canopy tours, and boat tours can also be arranged.

Plant a Tree: Participate in the hotel's Plant a Tree Program and contribute to the conservation and reforestation of the environment.

Learn Spanish: What better way to learn the local language than being taught by fun and friendly ‘ticos'. Individual or small group lessons are held on Harmony Hotel at flexible hours.

Go Surfing: The Harmony is a stone's throw from the best break on Playa Guiones, home to the best surf in Nosara and for that matter, some of the most consistent year-round waves in the world. There are several surf schools in Nosara for beginners or seasoned surfers.

insider tip/s

There are many unpredictable factors when travelling in a developing country like Costa Rica. Flight schedules can change and all flights are limited to daytime. A passport, valid for at least 6 months from the time of entry, is required for entering Costa Rica from another country.

If you are planning to drive from San Jose to Nosara make sure you have at least US $200 changed into the local currency (colones) before your drive as this will be required for your road-trip. Not all of the restaurants and businesses in the area accept credit cards, but many accept US dollars. Plan to bring small US bills because few places accept $50 or $100 bills.

Harmony is very isolated, so make sure you bring everything you need as the local town is a long way away and may not have the luxury items you need.

Malaria is known in the Guanacaste area and precautions should be taken. Travellers should consult their doctor for any other vaccinations that may be required.

Sustainability

An awareness of its interconnectedness with nature is demonstrated in all Harmony's practices which include permaculture, worm farming, recycling programs, use of biodegradable products, and a grey water irrigation system.

Recycling is relatively new in Nosara; however Harmony has been working with other hotels and businesses to develop a system to reduce the load on the local waste dump and to reuse these resources where possible.

Harmony's philosophy is to constantly strive to be in tune with the local ecology. The landscape has been designed with both human guests and animal neighbours in mind. Plants are cultivated not only on aesthetics but also on their adaptation to the local climate and their contribution to biodiversity.

The property uses organic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers such as compost from restaurant waste. Guests are provided with pure drinking water from a local spring rather than from environmentally-damaging plastic bottles.

In an effort to promote environmental sustainability and community development, Harmony purchases as much organically grown and locally produced food as possible.

The Harmony is currently undergoing eco-certification through a program that categorises and certifies each tourism company according to the degree its operations comply with a model of sustainability. Four main aspects are evaluated: the interaction with the surrounding natural habitat; management policies and operational systems; the degree to which guests are encouraged to be active in sustainability policies; and the level of interaction with the local community and population.

Getting There

by air and car

Harmony Hotel is located in Playa Guiones, Nosara in the province of Guanacaste,

Costa Rica. Most visitors to Costa Rica arrive in San José which is approximately six hours by car or a 45 minute flight from Nosara. The easiest and fastest way to get to the hotel is via a domestic flight to Nosara. Two domestic airlines Sansa and Nature Air offer flights between San Jose and Nosara and the hotel will arrange transfers from the local airport.

International air access is also available via Liberia's Daniel Oduber Airport, approximately three hours drive from Nosara on winding roads. Private charter flights can also be arranged from any destination in Costa Rica to Nosara.

by public transport

The majority of Costa Ricans do not own cars, so public transportation is quite good and you can get buses to almost any part of the country. Remote or small towns may be served by only one bus a day. Keep in mind that even though these buses may seem to run on a relaxed schedule they do leave on time to the minute and they will leave you behind even if you bought a ticket in advance.

Car rental is popular because a car can get you places you can't get to by public transportation. It also gives you the freedom to travel when you want and to stop wherever you like. Because buses to remote areas are not very frequent, you can cover more ground in a shorter time with a car. However driving at night especially on mountain roads is quite hazardous and is not recommended. During the ‘green season' (late April - early November), a 4x4 vehicle may be needed due to heavy rains making the roads very muddy.

Almost all of the international car rental franchises have representation in Costa Rica and you can drive with your regular license for three months.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

Low Season (1 May – 31 Oct '08)

Price the same for Single or Double Occupancy

Cocos room US$135

1 bed bungalow US$195

2 bed bungalow US$295

Harmony House US$385

High Season (1 Nov – 14 Dec 08) (6 Jan – 30 Apr 08)

Price the same for Single or Double Occupancy

1 bed bungalow US$225

2 bed bungalow US$345

Harmony House US$420

Low Season (1 May – 31 Oct '08)

Single / double

Cocos room US$135

1 bed bungalow US$195

2 bed bungalow US$295

Harmony House US$385

Holiday Season (15 Dec 08 – 5 Jan 09)