Schools and Kids' Activities in Nosara

Nosara has more schooling options than most people expect from a surf town on the Nicoya Peninsula, and most of them sit within a short drive of The Sanctuary Estate. You’ll find bilingual education from pre-k through 12th grade, a few different philosophies to choose from, and enough after-school activities to fill a week. Here’s what’s actually here, and how close it is to the estate’s 16.3 acres.

What schools are in Nosara?

There are several, and they run the gamut from mainstream to jungle-based. The best-known is Del Mar Academy, and from there the choices narrow by approach — Montessori, Waldorf, theater-based, or off-the-grid.

Del Mar Academy — about 7 minutes away. The largest school in the area, offering Montessori and International Baccalaureate programs from pre-k through 12th grade. The campus is open-air and green, with a seasonal stream running through it, two soccer fields, a playground with a zipline, and a half-Olympic pool. For families who want a full pre-k-to-graduation path in one place, this is the anchor.

Casa de las Estrellas — about 20 minutes away. A Waldorf school covering pre-k through 6th grade, on a campus with access to a secluded beach. The approach is hands-on: creativity, outdoor exploration, and an organic garden that supplies produce for school meals.

Nosara Playhouse — about 9 minutes away. A theater-based Montessori program for grades 1 through 8. Theater arts run through the whole curriculum, and the campus is small and intimate. A good fit if your child does well with personal attention and creative work.

Panchamama — about 20 minutes away. A Waldorf-based jungle school set deep in nature, built around simplicity and sustainability. It’s the furthest of the group, but the setting is the point — children learn largely from the forest around them.

Wild Child Play Garden — a 2-minute walk (there’s also a second location about 9 minutes away). A daycare and play garden for toddlers and young children. The nearby one is close enough to walk to from the estate, which is rare.

What activities are there for kids in Nosara?

Plenty, and most sit within about ten minutes of the estate. The town has a free skate park, gymnastics and aerial silks, movie nights, and indoor play gyms.

The skate park opened in 2022 and is free for the community. It’s become a regular hangout for local families and hosts skate camps for all skill levels — about 10 minutes from the estate.

For movement, Nalu runs gymnastics classes for all ages, and Nosara Performing Arts teaches aerial silks and other performance skills. Both are within about a 10-minute drive.

On the quieter end, Campo and the Gilded Iguana screen family films on movie nights, and Tiger Brenda’s Play Gym gives kids ages 3 to 12 a place to run and climb indoors.

At a glance

• Del Mar Academy — Montessori + IB, pre-k to 12th, ~7 min
• Casa de las Estrellas — Waldorf, pre-k to 6th, ~20 min
• Nosara Playhouse — theater-based Montessori, grades 1–8, ~9 min
• Panchamama — Waldorf jungle school, ~20 min
• Wild Child Play Garden — daycare, 2-min walk
• Skate park, Nalu gymnastics, Nosara Performing Arts — all ~10 min
• Campo, Gilded Iguana, Tiger Brenda’s Play Gym — movie nights and indoor play

The short version: Families raising kids in Nosara have real choices — a full-path academy, two Waldorf schools, a theater program, and a play garden you can walk to — plus a free skate park and enough activities to keep any age busy. Nearly all of it is within about ten minutes of The Sanctuary Estate.