THE BEST OF GUANACASTE

It's all happening on this golden stretch of Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Dobrina Zhekova gives her guide to the newest places to eat, stay, and surf.

- Dobrina Zhekova

OCCUPYING THE northwestern corner of Costa Rica, the province of Guanacaste is blessed with more than 400 miles of Pacific shoreline. The region's expansive black-, gold-, and white-sand beaches receive swells from the south and the north, making it a world-class surfing destination. But Guanacaste-which takes its name from the national tree, known in English as the elephant ear-in fact has a striking variety of ecosystems, including rainforests, dry forests, and wetlands. Alongside all the natural beauty, you'll find cute beach towns with surf shops, boutique hotels, concept stores, and family-owned restaurants serving healthy dishes made with local ingredients.

There's a big buzz around Nosara, a beach town in northwestern Guanacaste. Its newest boutique hotel, Sendero Nosara (doubles from $420), was opened in February 2023 by Stefanie Tannenbaum, a hospitality executive, and her husband, Chris Begg. The pair came during the pandemic and ended up staying. They renovated an existing hotel to create Sendero, which features airy rooms and natural décor. It is steps away from the nearly five-mile-long stretch of white sand at Playa Guiones.