Silvestre Nosara Hotel & Residences

Staying near Playa Guiones, one of Costa Rica’s most prized beaches, usually means checking into a traditional hotel or self-catering at a house rental. Silvestre Nosara Hotel & Residences offers the advantages of both, filling a gap identified by one of its British co-owners during an extended stay in the area a few years ago. This sustainably built boutique hotel is set slightly back from the beach, and each of its nine suites feels like a small house, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen with a stocked refrigerator, and furnished outdoor space.

But apart from slicing a mango for fruit salad or running a load of beach towels through the washer-dryer after a surfing class, guests don’t have to lift a finger. Silvestre Nosara has all the services of a hotel, from a delicious al fresco breakfast and a cool cocktail bar to an open-air gym and a rooftop infinity pool.

Inside and out, the look is modern and tropical, a mix of high-end and artisan-made: think luxurious modular sofas, woven hammocks, cheerful greenery, Marshall speakers, colorful artwork, creative light fixtures, and coffee tables crafted out of driftwood. The largest residence has a private garden with a dining table and a barbecue, but the others have spacious balconies, and it’s not uncommon to spot toucans in the trees from the residences’ airy living rooms.

The Jim Banks high-performance surfboards included with each residence are not just for show: the hotel is near one of the best surf breaks in the country, and lessons can be booked via the surf concierge. Afterwards, retire to the rooftop for a swim and a smoothie, or venture down the street, where a range of bars, shops, and restaurants await.