VUE

On my second day in Guanacaste, I headed up near Tamarindo by horseback. Passing through villages and scenic beaches is probably the biggest FOMO killer of all time. But there is one thing you should know about Tamarindo, there is surfing (like a lot of surfing). People come from all over the world to crash waves on the beaches in this town, but before you try to hang ten there are definitely a few spots you shouldn't venture out to if you're a beginner. There's a wave for everyone on any skill level, and no shortage of good teachers in the area. As someone once told me, "Going to Tamarindo and not surfing is like going to Italy and not trying the pasta." I'll leave you with that. The homestretch of my journey began north in the Bay of Papagayo at El Mangroove, an Autograph Collection hotel just about an hour drive from JW Guanacaste Marriott. One could almost say it was fate to end the trip there because it embodied the very principles of "Pura Vida." Divergent from the luxe feel of the first two hotels (but certainly luxurious in its own right), the bohemian-chic resort presented the most ideal scenario for connecting with nature and in fact, it's a mindset woven into the very fabric of the resort's key philosophy. The 85-room boutique hotel evokes a sort of barefoot luxury as it sits at the edge of a beach forest, ideal for everything from watching the sun set to meditating. El Mangroove focuses heavily on sensorial gastronomy, with a combination GULF OF PAPAGAYO El Mangroove, Autograph Collection VUE ON TRAVEL V U E N J . C O M 114

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