“What color sand do you like?” I asked the puzzled tourist. “Do you prefer pink or black, full of shells or soft under your feet. Are you going swimming or kayaking, surfing or paddle boarding?” All he did was ask which beach I liked best, and in return the poor man got drilled with twenty questions. It is a simple inquiry that is getting more difficult to answer the longer I live here.

The stretches of beaches along the Nicoya peninsula in Guanacaste may be the most beautiful in the world. With their shady palm trees and hidden nooks, it’s the perfect place to lie in a hammock and forget your troubles. However, the more you explore, the more you discover the small details that make these beaches so unique.

Playa Penca, located in Potrero, has soft pink sand that feels like a mini foot massage as you walk across the beach. It is here that I work on my second book, the follow up to Happier Than A Billionaire. With so few people, this is the perfect place to write a chapter or just lean back and take a nap. It was here that I swam in the ocean and decided to make Costa Rica my home. That was over 5 years ago, and I remember the combination of anxiety and excitement I felt knowing my life was going to change drastically. It’s amazing how strongly Costa Rica can speak to you, and how much you don’t want your days here to end.

If you are looking for a place to rent paddle boards or kayaks, Pura Vida Ride on Playa Danta can supply you with all the equipment required for an action-packed day. They even rent mountain bikes where you can take advantage of the ocean view trails that wind around Las Catalinas. When you’re finished, sit back and enjoy a smoothie at Lola’s Restaurant or relax on a tree swing and feel like a kid again. It’s the ultimate playground for adults. Why should the kids have all the fun?

Leaning to surf is best done at Tamarindo. With its long break and great instructors, it’s a terrific place to wipe out and learn the skills needed to stand on a board. An added bonus when hanging out here is listening to the surfer’s conversations. No one asks how the stock market is doing, or mortgage rates, or anything that does not involve the churn of the sea. I like that about Tamarindo; sometimes it takes getting on a surfboard to remember how incredible life can be and how often it gets smothered by one’s daily problems. Happiness for some is simply knowing when high tide is.

Pirates Bay is an interesting beach where I once saw sheep staring out at the ocean. Off shore is a large rock where it is believed Captain Morgan hid his rum. During low tide, I hiked out and climbed it to find the hidden cave. I was greeted by one hundred bats, no rum, but a great story to tell my friends at home. It’s not every day you get to act like a pirate and look for hidden treasures. And it’s not every day you see sheep sunbathing.

Another favorite is Playa Conchal, the best place to swim and snorkel in the northern Pacific. It always seems like this cove has the warmest water, so clear you can see tiny schools of fish race between your legs. It’s here I buy a cold coconut for a dollar—a pipa frio—and drink the cool coconut milk through a straw. It is refreshing, and I dig out the meat inside for an extra treat. For another dollar you can buy a bag of cashews off a lady or purchase an Italian Ice from a man who pushes a cart across the sand.

After reading this article, you can see why I have a hard time answering the question, “What is your favorite beach?” I’m in love with so many I never know which one to choose. And as for the poor tourist I confused, I eventually told him the one he was standing on was the best. Why make things more complicated when every beach here has something to offer? I watched the man as he took off to play in the waves with his family.

Sometimes, where you are is exactly the place you should be. I learned that from a surfer.