Sendero Hotel & Villas
Nosara, Costa Rica
Guiones
Vibe
A saltwater courtyard pool sits framed by dense greenery, where surfers swap boards for sundowners beneath whirring fans.
“Jungle surf hideaway”
Renewable local teak framing, repurposed clay roof tiles, and warehouse windows looking onto an eleven-acre jungle reserve.
Morning hospitality with fresh Costa Rican coffee, afternoon pastries, and responsive concierge support for surf outings.
A light-filled movement studio offering daily yoga and Pilates alongside structured wave coaching by Chorotega Surf School.
By an eleven-acre nature preserve, a short trail walk from the surf break at Playa Guiones.
“Sendero’s 25 rooms are more refined than you might expect, even the Jungle Rooms facing the nature preserve — all feature gallery-white walls, oversized warehouse-style windows, and a judicious measure of local craft and artwork.”
Rooms
Jungle Rooms pair warehouse windows and honey stone floors with broad balconies, where outdoor rainfall showers face the nature preserve.
“Everything was designed with sustainability in mind, integrating existing trees into the roofs...”
Wellness
Daily yoga, barre, and Pilates run in the light-filled studio, while Chorotega Surf School coaches all levels right on the beach.
Backstory
Stranded in Nosara during a 2020 surf trip, founder Stefanie Tannenbaum relocated permanently to build the retreat from local plantation teak.
Eat & drink
Sendero Kitchen turns out fresh local seafood in an open-air pavilion, complemented by morning Costa Rican espresso and matcha.
The neighborhood
A sandy footpath cuts through an eleven-acre nature reserve, leading a hundred paces straight to the breaks at Playa Guiones.
More like this
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Esh Hotel & Spa, a Member of Design Hotels
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Tierra Magnifica
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The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate, in your pocket, for the whole trip.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
They did this well. You’ll notice.
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Architecture and interiors lead. There’s a creative vision at work.
The guest is conspicuously well cared for. Requests met before they’re made.
Rooted in place. Local character runs through the whole stay.
Energy and scene. Where the city goes out, whether or not it’s sleeping here.
A building with history. The story of the place is part of the stay.
Built around feeling better. Rest, sweat, soak, spa.
A hotel the city grew up with. Same rituals, same regulars.
A world of its own. No reason to leave the property.
Scene — what’s outside the door
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
A place apart: the property is the destination.