99 Surf Lodge

A sleek, low-slung modernist hotel, stylish but unpretentious, situated right on Popoyo, a legendary surf beach, in a part of the world that’s developed enough to be hospitable but nowhere near overdeveloped — on paper, 99 Surf Lodge is perfect. And the best part about it, naturally, is that it’s actually a real place.

Every room has a view of the ocean, so you can check the surf conditions before you get out of bed. (Not that there’s much to worry about; the season here is year-round.) The bungalows and suites sleep up to four, and all come with a private veranda for enjoying the omnipresent offshore breeze. And while they come with design-hotel style, they’re eminently affordable — Nicaragua is among the better values in global travel.

Surfing is obviously the primary attraction, but just about anything you can do on the water is available here, and there are some very climbable mountains nearby as well. The hotel’s own gym can fill in if you somehow don’t manage enough exercise in the water, and the restaurant, Taberna 99, is there to fuel you for further adventures.