If you’re thinking about emigrating to the Latin tropics in order to get closer to nature, you’ll want to choose a destination where preservation is key. Though most of Latin America boasts gorgeous landscapes, some areas offer just that little bit extra. One of those areas is Nosara in Costa Rica.

Nosara is situated on the Pacific Coast in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica. It is one of the oldest expat communities in the country, and due to the hard work of the city’s civic association, it offers a wonderful quality of life to newcomers.

The History of Nosara

Historically, Nosara is best known for its beautiful rural surroundings. The area was predominantly used for fishing and agricultural purposes, and was not very highly populated.

In the twentieth century the pastures in the area were used for cattle pastures, and the deforestation that happened as a result of this began to threaten the area’s natural beauty.

Luckily, in the 1970s, help arrived in the form of a group of expats. This group moved to the area and founded the Nosara Civic Association. Together, they worked to make reforestation a priority for the area, and they began to instigate other regulations to make sure the area would stay beautiful for a long time to come.

The Role of the Nosara Civic Association

From their creation in the 1970s, the Nosara Civic Association have worked hard not only to make Nosara a wonderful place to live, but also to preserve the natural beauty of the area and its wildlife. They introduced ‘green zones’ that are not able to be built on by law. The land within these zones covers around 170 acres, and is all under the guardianship of the association.

In addition to the green zone initiative and reforestation, the Nosara Civic Association have also worked to prevent pollution. Because of their hard work, Nosara has the cleanest water table in the whole of Costa Rica and pristine beaches with no dumping. The association has also been instrumental in preserving the habitats of wildlife native to the area. They have been a huge support to the Ostional Turtle Refuge that covers a large area beside Nosara.

The association have also initiated policies to improve quality of life for the people living in the area. Thanks to them there is regular trash collection in the area, as well as excellent water, health, and education facilities.

The work the Nosara Civic Association have done in the area over the past five decades hasn’t always been easy. The positive changes they’ve made in the area have sometimes been an uphill struggle, and the success they’ve had is testament to just how passionate they are about the welfare of their community.

What Is Life Like in Nosara Today?

Today, Nosara is a haven for expats. It’s well accepted as one of the most beautiful natural areas in the whole of Costa Rica, and there are large areas of forest around the town development.

In the time since the 1970s, the Nosara Civic Association have done brilliant work planning and developing the city in a thoroughly responsible way. There are a large number of homes and facilities in the area, but it still feels like a well-preserved, natural environment.

The health, education and general facilities in the city have also been well developed over the years. There are a large number of local businesses and services in the area, and it has the only free lending library in the whole of  the peninsula. For those who like their technological comforts, Sky TV, internet connections and smartphone 3G are all available!

Nature lovers will fall in love with the Ostional Turtle Refuge just beside the city. The refuge covers 21 kilometers of coastline, and ensures that the turtles native to the area are well looked after and protected. Because of the refuge, up to a hundred thousand turtles lay eggs in the area on any one night. The preservation of this refuge means that there are almost no developments on Nosara’s beaches. This is rare for a developed area, and is something Nosara Civic Association can be very proud of.

If you are thinking about emigrating to Costa Rica, Nosara is a city that is well worth considering. Not only is this a place where nature is cherished and appreciated, you can also be sure that you are choosing a city with a strong community and a bright future.