5 Stylish Boutique Hotels in Popoyo, Nicaragua for Design Lovers

Are you looking for a stylish stay in Popoyo? After a week spent in a upscale surf resort, here are my favourite boutique hotels in Popoyo, Nicaragua.

If you’re heading to Popoyo for the first time and prefer beautifully designed, boutique-style stays over basic surf shacks, you’re in the right place.

During my weeklong visit in late November, I based myself at Malibu Popoyo Surf Eco-Resort, and it quickly became clear that Popoyo has a small but impressive collection of hotels created for travellers who appreciate elevated design, good food, wellness-focused amenities, and direct access to world-class surf.

Popoyo is split into two main areas: Playa Popoyo (South) and Guasacate (North), and the hotel experience varies significantly between them. Playa Popoyo offers more secluded, upscale, surf-centric resorts, while Guasacate has breezier, walkable beachfront stays close to cafés, restaurants, and tide pools.

I explored both areas extensively and found a handful of boutique properties that consistently deliver standout design, comfort, and service.

In this guide, you’ll find the best boutique hotels in Popoyo, who each one is best for, what to expect from the rooms, and the amenities that actually matter.

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Boutique Hotels in Popoyo (South)

I’ve sorted the best boutique hotels in Popoyo into two different areas – Popoyo (South) and Guasacate (North), since each destination is about a 20 minute moto drive apart, and it’s important to choose the best area that suits your travel style.

I cover what each area offers extensively in my guide to the best areas to stay in Popoyo.

1. Malibu Popoyo Surf Eco-Resort (Where I Stayed)

Best for: Couples, solo wellness travellers

Malibu Popoyo Surf Eco-Resort is the most polished boutique stay in Popoyo (South), designed for travellers who want a refined surf-and-wellness experience without sacrificing comfort.

I stayed here for a week on our 2 weeks in Nicaragua, in the Garden Suite, which featured minimalist interiors, polished concrete floors, strong A/C, and a private outdoor shower. The resort offers a range of room types, from garden-view suites to breezy bungalows, all built with a modern, sustainable aesthetic.

The property centres around an open-air restaurant, yoga shala, and a geometric pool deck that looks straight out of a design magazine. Guests have access to surf guiding, surfboard rentals ($90 USD a week at the time we stayed), daily yoga, and on-site spa treatments ($60 USD an hour).

A couple times a year Malibu Popoyo also hosts the surf team from OMBE for a special week-long surf school, a major draw for visiting Popoyo for many travellers.

You can choose the base package that includes breakfast or go all out and get the surf all-inclusive package with surf coaching, daily yoga and all meals.

2. Hide and Seek Resort

Best for: Intentional seclusion, couples, honeymooners, and adults-only atmosphere

Hide and Seek Resort is one of the most stylish boutique stays in Popoyo Beach, designed for travellers who value architecture, natural materials, and a calm atmosphere.

The resort features modern villas with clean lines, neutral palettes, outdoor showers, private terraces, and strong breezes that flow through the open-plan layouts. Rooms are equipped with A/C, high-quality bedding, minibars, and well-designed bathrooms with polished concrete finishes.

Amenities include a central pool, a refined on-site restaurant (Oasis Bar & Dining), landscaped paths, and access to a quiet stretch of Popoyo’s coastline.

While the resort doesn’t sit directly on a surf break, it’s a short 5 minute walk to Playa Santana (Popoyo’s advanced surf break), a 20 minute walk to Beginner’s Bay or a moto ride to Popoyo Main Break.

3. 99 Surf Lodge

Best for: Beachfront luxury

99 Surf Lodge is one of the most recognizable boutique hotels in Popoyo, thanks to its striking minimalist architecture and direct access to one of Nicaragua’s most consistent surf breaks.

The rooms range from compact ocean-view studios to larger suites with private terraces. Interiors follow a clean, modern style: Think concrete walls, simple furnishings, crisp linens, and large windows that pull in natural light. All rooms include A/C, fast Wi-Fi, and reliable hot water.

The lodge’s biggest draw is its absolute beachfront location, where guests can watch surfers from the pool deck or step straight onto the sand. The property includes an infinity pool, a popular on-site restaurant and bar (Taberna 99), and spacious communal areas designed for lounging between surf sessions.

Boutique Hotels in Popoyo’s Guasacate Area (North)

4. Mahalo Nicaragua

Best for: Couples, digital nomads, slow travellers

Mahalo Boutique B&B is one of the standout stylish stays in Guasacate, offering a breezy, coastal aesthetic paired with a friendly, intimate atmosphere.

Set just steps from the beach, the property features well-designed rooms with natural textures, neutral tones, A/C, private patios, and comfortable beds. Some rooms include kitchenettes, making it a great choice for longer stays.

Guests love the laid-back communal areas, a sun-soaked pool deck, shaded seating nooks, and an open-air lounge perfect for reading or working. The B&B also serves a healthy, homemade breakfast each morning, which consistently gets high praise.

Its walkable location means you’re close to cafés, restaurants, the Guasacate tidal pools, and Playa Santana.

5. Waves & Wifi

Best for: Digital nomads, coworking, solo travellers, long term stays

Waves & Wifi Resort is a modern, well-designed boutique stay in Guasacate, created for travellers who want reliable comfort, strong internet, and easy access to both surf and dining.

The resort features contemporary suites with clean lines, polished concrete accents, A/C, kitchenettes, and private terraces or balconies. Rooms are spacious and quiet, making them ideal for longer stays or remote work.

The property includes a central pool, cowork-friendly common areas, landscaped gardens, and secure on-site parking. It also boasts my favourite Popoyo cafe – Kooks Cafe and is a 5 minute walk from Guasacate’s expansive white sand beach.

While it’s not directly on a surf break, you can cross the river at low tide and stroll along the beach to Popoyo Main Break and Beginners Bay.

So, which Popoyo Boutique Hotel will you book?

Popoyo may be small and remote, but it has an impressive selection of boutique hotels designed for travellers who want more than just a place to crash between surf sessions.

Whether you base yourself in Playa Popoyo (South) for quiet luxury and direct access to the best breaks, or Guasacate (North) for walkability and a laid-back beachfront scene, each area offers its own version of comfort, style, and convenience.

After staying at Malibu Popoyo for a week, I realized how much the right hotel shapes your entire experience here. Whether you want spa treatments and curated meals, adults-only tranquility, or a design-forward stay with strong Wi-Fi (hard to come by here!) and easy restaurant access.

The designer Popoyo hotels in this guide stand out because they deliver reliable amenities, thoughtful design, and a genuinely elevated experience in one of Nicaragua’s most relaxed surf destinations.