“The monkeys wake me up every morning. There are parrots outside my window,” says Julie Sarver, an expat who moved from Portland to Nosara, Costa Rica. “that is so magical and wonderful.”

When you think of Costa Rica, do you usually think of a tropical rainforest with a cute toucan flying around? While you’ll definitely get the wildlife, Nosara’s vibe is more expat beach community.

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• the cultural differences between the U.S. and Costa Rica;

• what Julia loves about her new home, and how you can make a life in Costa Rica happen for you;

• all of Julia’s best advice on what to see, do, and eat when you’re visiting Nosara, Costa Rica.

Conde Nast Traveler magazine has called Nosara “Costa Rica’s chic surf town” and its oldest expat town, which which has enjoyed “a mini-Renaissance thanks to fresh restaurants, hotels, and shops.” Photo by Jai79.

Experiences you must have in Nosara, Costa Rica

Surf. Ready to take your water activities to the next level? Take a surf lesson from the team at Agua Tibia Surf Shop.

Turtles. Head to the Ostional Wildlife Reserve to watch olive ridley sea turtles lay their eggs in the volcanic sand the week before the new moon. “Hundreds of thousands of turtles come and lay their eggs. It’s such an incredible spectacle of nature to witness.”

Sunsets. “Catching a sunset at Playa Pelada is an experience you won’t forget. The sky turns all these brilliant colors of red and orange, yellow, purple. Families all go down together: expats, tourists, locals, alike, and we all share the sunset together.”

Yoga. “The Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort has tons of yoga classes. And if you want to eat a healthy meal, they have an incredible restaurant.”