Mal Pais Costa Rica

EATING AND DRINKING IN MAL PAIS

Cheap eats> On the beach is Soda Piedra Mar, good food, especially fresh fish, great prices!

Sunsets>  Buenos Aires restaurant is a little expensive, but great sunset views, so go for cocktails. Or, eat wood baked pizzas on the beach at Pizzaria Playa Carmen

Italian/pizza>  Al Chile Viola has pizza nights on Sunday and a 'romantic' setting for great- if expensive- Italian favorites like lasagna. La Bella Napoli also serves great wood-oven baked pizzas!

Seafood>  The best seafood restaurant in Mal Pais is Mary's

Also, Las Piedras - Argentianian Steak Grill - steaks, ribs, chicken cooked over an open fire.

Surfing Mal Pais

Malpaís's location between the Central Pacific area and Guanacaste means that it benefits from both the big south swells which hit the beaches south of Puntarenas during the wet season as well as the offshore "Papagayo" winds which create optimum conditions on the Guanacaste coast during the dry season. Another great advantage is the lack of crowds found in Jaco and Tamarindo. The best surf is found on the following beaches:  

Mar Azul is a left and right break seperated by a huge rock that's exposed during low tides. Both break best when an overhead swell has hit the left. There are two main rocks that the left breaks off the furthest out near the start of the wave is sometimes exposed when padding for the ride which makes for some excitement. Breaks best on an out going tide and the inside can be dangerous during lower tides. All around an awesome spot though fickle with the tides.

 

El Carmen: Continue straight on at the crossroads to the beach and you'll see the peak right in front of you. A long right wall and shorter section left break over a gradually sloping sand bottom.

 

Santa Teresa: Turn right at the crossroads and continue 3 km. To "Cabinas Santa Teresa" and turn down to the beach. Santa Teresa tends to pick up more swell than El Carmen and holds shape better at low tide.

Travelling to Mal Pais

FLY: from San Jose to Tambor. It's just a 20 minute flight on Nature Air or Sansa

From Tambor you have the choice of picking up a previously arranged rental car (let us know if you would like rental car recommendations), taxi, or private driver. It is approx. a 40 minute ride to the hotel.

DRIVE:

From San Jose:
You drive the Panamerican Highway # 1 via Palmares, San Ramon, Esparza, towards Puntarenas. You have to get into downtown Puntarenas and follow the map signs to reach the Paquera Ferry Boat.
The ferry ride takes about 1.5 hours. Once in Paquera drive towards Tambor and then Cobano. Continue straight through Cobano and follow the signs to Mal Pais.

From Nicoya:
If you are coming from Nicoya continue the road south from Nicoya straight ahead towards Carmon. Just before this town take the detour to your left to Lepanto. Here the road turns into gravel road.

Continue on the road towards Naranjo beach, Paquera, Tambor, and finally Cobano. You will pass through Tambor and Cobano. Follow the signs to Mal Pais.

A 4X4 is recommended as most of the roads are unpaved.

SHUTTLE BUS:

Montezuma Expeditions (tel. 506/440-8078, fax 506/440-8006, info@montezumaexpeditions.com) has a daily minibus shuttle from San José ($35).

PUBLIC BUS:

There’s daily bus service between Cóbano and Malpaís.

Hotels in Mal Pais

Mal Pais Surf Camp is the best place for surfers and budget travellers with camping facilities. $

Moana Lodge is a small boutique hotel less than 200m from the beach.  $$

Hotel Casa Chameleon is a beautiful collection of bungalows with wonderful sunset views. The bungalows have stereo systems, , blender, A/C and overhead fans,in room safes, walkie-talkies & even sarongs!!
There is also an outdoor swimming pool and private cabinas.  $$$

Mal Pais

Mal Pais

Mal Pais is situated on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica on the southern tip of the Nicoya peninsula.