Mukul Beach Golf & Spa

Set into a 1,670-acre stretch of Nicaragua's Pacific shore, Mukul faces Manzanillo Beach, a run of soft sand that reaches roughly seven kilometres along the Emerald Coast. The name means secret in Mayan, and the resort earns it: no other property shares this beach. Villas sit steps from the water, most with private pools, wrap-around decks and outdoor showers tucked into small gardens. The Presidential Beachfront Villa runs to three bedrooms, with a mussel-shell chandelier over the entry and a soaking tub built into the master bath. Manzanillo Point breaks directly offshore, a left-hander gentle enough for beginners and good enough to hold surfers through the March-to-November season; Tropicsurf runs lessons and rents boards on site. Inland, an 18-hole course designed by David McLay Kidd runs from forest to shoreline, its bridges built from fallen timber and irrigated on a system built to limit water use. A ranger-led trail network covers 12 kilometres of dry forest, climbing to a lookout with views toward Costa Rica. You can hear the surf from the yoga pavilion, set on a platform above the tree canopy. The resort also runs a turtle conservation programme, releasing hatchlings on the beaches where Olive Ridley and leatherback turtles nest. Check-in is at the main palapa, with villa transfers arranged directly.