Playa Nosara

For years, most travelers headed here for the surf. The wide range of surf schools and waves varying from beginner to expert levels makes Nosara one of the best place to learn to surf. Along with surfing, the Nosara Yoga Institute, which offers instructor training, and daily classes for all levels, is increasingly a draw for health-conscious visitors. Healthy-food options, spas, and exercise classes abound plus there's an organic market Saturday mornings from 7 to noon on the main road near the Giardino Tropicale Hotel, selling organic produce plus fish, meat, eggs, dairy products, fresh juices, and baked goods.

Bird-watchers and other nature enthusiasts can explore the tropical dry forest on hiking trails, on horseback, or by boating up the tree-lined Nosara River. The access roads to Nosara are abysmal, and the labyrinth of woodsy roads around the beaches and hard-to-read signs make it easy to get lost, which is why most hotels here provide local maps for their guests.