Located right at the doorstep of Malpais on the Nicoya Peninsula, one of the preferred destinations of surfers from around the world, lies the intimate and cozy Hotel Playa Carmen. Light sands and crystal blue waters form consistent waves for all lovers of surf whether beginners or advanced.
Santa Teresa and Mal Pais have become world famous destinations for their magical atmosphere, breathtaking wild sand beaches and sunsets.
Santa Teresa is very well known for its consistent surf all year round with waves from 3 to 10 feet high.
At LDV beach front bungalows and hotel rooms, enjoy any kind of sport: beach volleyball, pool table, tennis table and the best surf breaks of Santa Teresa in front of our hotel.
WE LOVED IT! It's one of the nicest hotels in the area (we also stayed at Blue Jay lodge & Surf Camp). After I made our reservations I read the review "Please overlook the other reviews and read this one" which described this hotel as a very dirty and bad place to stay at (I was a bit worried). When we arrived at The Place I knew that that review was not true. I didn’t smell anything bad around the kitchen or any other area on this beautiful property.
Santa Teresa - Mal Pais is located in the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, Approximately 6 Kms. long, this once small town has grown quickly in the last few years with people coming from all around the world to start their life in the tropical dry forest.
This area's main attraction is the best conditions for surfing all year round, over reefs and sandy point breaks. You can also enjoy other activities such as horseback riding, canopy tours, yoga, fishing, boat excursions, swimming, or just relax inside a natural tide pool over the nearest beach.
The enchantment of Santa Teresa and Malpais, Costa Rica, is in their miles of perfect pale gold beaches, fringed to the high tide mark by lush trees and flowers with outcroppings of rock where tide pools form. Densely wooded hills rise steeply from the coast and ovelook fifty miles of beach and mountains virtually untouched by man.
The Red Palm Villas Beachfront Estate boasts perfect Hawaiian style sunsets, emerald waves, exotic tropical flowers and birds, and towering almond and coconut trees in your beach front yard, a truly amazing environment that awakens the senses.
Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architecture, sculpted with loving attention to nature in harmony and balance allows you to experience vibrant color, sound and life through both of its luxurious beachfront villas and two new luxury apartments.
Beija Flor Resort is a Boutique hotel in Mal Pais, on the southern-most tip of the Nicoya peninsula. Just 2 kilometers from the Cabo Blanco
Natural Reserve and steps away from the Pacific Ocean, it provides everything a person seeking relaxation and comfort needs: Our eleven spacious rooms and one fully-equipped villa combine warm colors and local materials with a modern design. They are located in a tropical garden, which iguanas, squirrels and many birds call their home.
Ocean View Hotel and Yoga Center in Santa Teresa Mal Pais
Horizon is a peaceful hill top hotel which looks out to the vast horizon of the pacific ocean. We can see, hear, smell and feel the presence of the big blue from dusk till dawn, dawn till dusk.
Yoga Hotel - This energy is our blessed companion, day and night.
An infinity pool, formed in the shape of a triangle, points towards the ocean. It is the perfect location for welcoming the breath taking sunsets. Two more pools are dispersed on the premises.
A sophisticated nature lodge nestled on 5 hectares of tropical rainforest artfully designed for those seeking serenity and quiet submersion into nature.
Perched on a hilltop facing the Pacific Ocean, the hotel flaunts a striking art-brut décor, as well as a gourmet restaurant with spectacular sunsets.
Nearby is an expansive beach wilderness of endless miles of white sand.
"Imagine just a moment.... the essence of paradise."
Esencia Hotel and Villas is located in Santa Teresa - Mal Pais Beach on the Nicoya Peninsula. This is one of the most virgin and beautiful regions of Costa Rica. Endless miles of soft, white sand beach perfect for swimming and surfing. -- The hotel offers ten marvelous, independent and private villas. The architecture of the units contains elements of Mediterranean style, with lots of lights, spaciousness and comfort.
The ViewPerched on top of a quiet peaceful hillside sits one of the most exclusive hotels on the Nicoya Penninsula; Vista de Olas Hotel and Spa. Vistas de Olas offers a feast of dazzling views that draw gasps of awe from every first time visitor. Like a fine vintage wine, we have taken the time and patience necessary to create the best possible luxury vacation environment.
Tranquil, comfortable, and nicely priced, the red-tile-roof bungalows here are simple, yet tasteful, with wooden ceilings, a rack for surfboards, and front terraces with chairs. Some cabins, arranged in a semicircle around a gravel garden, have views of the sea and the jungle behind. A pizzeria, in front of the property, also serves breakfast. The Italian owner offers good pasta dishes, such as farfalle tossed with fish and shrimp, at reasonable prices.
After journeyng to Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula imagine driving down the hills which overlook the ocean, a breathtaking glimpse of the open Pacific.
Upon completing your descent you are at the crossroads of Mal Pais and Santa Teresa, Playa Carmen lies 200 mtrs directly ahead; famous for its beach and consistent surf.Turning right at the crossroads, 100 mtrs into Santa Teresa, you find the entrance to
Welcome to Casa Zen!We have been waiting for your arrival...
Casa Zen
Our guest house is located 100 meters from the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean of Costa Rica, Central America.The beach opens to a long gently curving stretch of beach in Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula.
Otro Lado Lodge is a small resort just a few steps from one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. Situated in a quiet tropical garden with a swimming pool, the lodge is comprised of four separate residences, each with two levels and can accomodate four people confortably.
On the main floor of eachdwelling there are two sofa beds, a simple kitchen (equipped with a fridge plus coffee maker) and a private open-air bathroom.
Dave and Ari Nelson would like to invite you to ...
... this 5 Bed /4 Bath 'HOUSE ON THE HILL', built with an Asian Touch and eye for Detail in 2005. Tucked to the edge of the Mountain, the House offers a refreshing Breeze, great Views, and the Subtropical Climate provides magnificent Color and Coolness for the Garden and Lounge Areas. Rooms are private, spacious and radiate the art of Simplicity and Style.
Refugio Paraiso has 8 new cabinas located 3 minutes walk to Playa Carmen beach. Our name means paradise shelter, a plece where you can relax and enjoy your stay while being comfortable in paradise.
POINT BREAK is a Costa Rica Hotel located in Santa Teresa Beach; one of Costa Rica'n best surfing location. Our rustic-palm-roofed cabins, hammocks and lovely terraces with beach chairs will indulge your senses and help you get in the mood for good days of leisure at our Costa Rica Hotel.
Santa Teresa is a small village recently grown along the Pacific Coast. It’s a melting pot where different cultures coming from all around the world searching for an idyllic beach catch up and live in harmony, giving to this place colorful tones and good vibes. Santa Teresa has become a “must” for travelers and surfers looking for long solitary beaches with good breaks and amazing sunsets.
Luz de Luna, built in a Japanese- Caribbean style sits in harmony with its natural environment affording you the opportunity to relax peacefully in an eco -friendly setting.
From our grounds you can safely explore the many splendid beaches and lushvegetation of the surrounding area.
What an awesome place to stay! The woodwork is entirely native Costa Rican hardwoods, exquisitely finished. Tropical hardwoods are the worlds most beautiful and no expense was spared on the hotels craftsmen. After a day at the beach relax in your air-conditioned room, then enjoy dinner in the restaurant, one of the best in the area.
Beach Break Surf Hotel in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
The front of Beach Break Hotel as seen from the street in Santa Teresa.
Beach Break Surf Hotel is located in the heart of the multicultural rustic town of Santa Teresa. Beach Break Hotel is within mere blocks of Santa Teresa’s pristine beaches offering world class beach breaks, tide pools, and natural coves. Beach Break Hotel caters to surfers, and non-surfers alike.
La Hacienda is a Bed and Breakfast located only steps away from the beach. There are five unique bedrooms and two casitas, each with its own style and flavor. Each room is supplied with high quality beds and linen, private bath or shower, hot water and A/C.
Villas Monarka is an apartment-style hotel, decorated from head to toe with images of its namesake, "La Monarka", the monarch butterfly. Each villa is wonderfully built and provides a great base for exploring the nearby beaches.
Welcome to Star Mountain, a 225-acre sanctuary nestled in the hills above Mal Pais.
Come experience the power and beauty of the jungle while relaxing in our cozy eco-lodge. With 4 guest rooms and one house for rent our hotel is intimate and low-impact, and ideal for a medium sized group. It is the perfect spot for nature lovers who want to experience unspoiled nature and tranquility while enjoying all the amenities of fine lodging and dining.
Pachamama Houses and Bungalows is the perfect place for people who like sports, nature, sun and beach. Only 1 km away is Cabo Blanco, the first national park created in Costa Rica, in 1963.
For the ride across the ocean on a barge, and the rocky drive to Mal Pais, I wouldn't recommend this "hotel."
There is not much to this property, and if you are used to nice accomodations don't stay here. There is a little cooking area outside with a refrigerator. Inside, there is little more than just beds. I know that one goes to Mal Pais for surfing, but I wanted to watch TV before falling asleep. There was no TV (there might be now).
For beach and nature lovers, the quiet seaside village of Mal Pais has it all - surfing, snorkeling, SCUBA diving, horseback riding, ocean fishing.
Nearby Cabo Blanco National Park and Nature Reserve, birdwatching, wildlife, swimming and sunbathing, and some of the most intense sunsets in Costa Rica!
Buenos Aires is perched above the center of Santa Teresa, right atop the main surf beach Playa Carmen. From here you have the best panoramic views of Mal Pais and Santa Teresa.
Mal Pais Surf Camp & Resort is a full service surfing resort, situated in Mal Pais Costa Rica, on 10 acres of lush tropical gardens, just minutes away from numerous surf spots. We offer a wide range of accommodations at our hotel at reasonable rates and good value to fit all budgets. Our concept here in Mal Pais is Pure Life/Pura Vida! Fun for the whole family. Come enjoy the peace, tranquility and natural beauty of the last frontier of Costa Rica!
Florblanca Reserva, formerly Latitude 10, is an amazing resort/property. the landscaping is imaculate and the bungalows are amazing. the maids came twice a day only when we were gone and did a fantastic job. The views from our room were amazing as well.
This beautiful brand new aparthotel is located only 2 minutes walk from the surf beach of St. Teresa.The hotel boasts either studio or 2 bedroom bungalows which are fully equipped with kitchen, bathroom with hot water, bedroom/living room and furnished outside deck area overlooking the landscaped tropical gardens, pool and rancho.The studio's sleep 2-4 people and the two bedroom bungalows sleep 4-6 people.
HOTEL CASA CECILIA is a four room hotel right on the beach. The rooms are very comfortable with a double bed in two rooms and twin beds in the other two rooms.Each room faces the beach and has air conditioning and small refrigerators. Come experience the magic of Costa Rica at Hotel Casa Cecilia. Our priority is to make your vacation a wonderful experience that you will treasure forever.
Spacious Private Beach Accommodation in Costa Rica
Casas de Soleil equals comfortable living, surrounded by natural beauty; our luxurious homes offer you the finest in accommodation on the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica.
Our hotel offers 4 spacious and very comfortable rooms which accommodate 2 - 4 people each. They all have private bathrooms with hot water, fan and refrigerator. Two of our rooms have a kitchen.
The Plaza Royal is the finest hotel on Carmen beach, or Santa Teresa, or Mal Pais, or any of the other surrounding beaches. New and luxurious, each rooms has a living room, dinning room, kitchen, satellite TV with DVD player, air-conditioning, and everything else one could want. The staff is well trained and courteous. The location is ideal; it's quiet, just across the street is a small grocery that specializes in American and European foods, plus, it's located on a wide, white sand beach. In my opinion, it's one the two prettiest stretches of beach on the entire Peninsula.
Come and stay at the Funky Monkey Lodge in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.
Our guesthouse, bar and restaurant is hidden deep in the rainforests in a tranquil setting of the Nicoya Peninsula. Enjoy a refreshing dip in our swimming pool, or take a 3 minute stroll to access some of the most unspoilt beaches in Costa Rica.
Surf camp was my last stop of a round the world trip, and really was one of the highlights of the 5 months.. I booked for a week and stayed for a month in the end, it was perfect!
All the camp staff are so nice and friendly, with amazing bedrooms that look over the sea, perfect to look out for some waves (not that i knew what to look for). With food that is better than my mum cooks and loads of things to do if you've mastered surfing : )
Thank You Travel Blanket for the great review, that basically decided it for us!
Okay, here goes. Tranquilo Backpackers has to be the best place to stay in Mal Pais. If you're looking for something super laidback and relaxed this is the place to go. Lots of the people here are surfers who wake up early in the morning so sleep time is around 11 at the latest each night.
We stayed at the house located at Santa Teresa Surf Camp. If you are expecting bare bones with a great view and location, then this is OK. One shower didn't have any hot water, one had a trickle of hot water, the day we left the water system completely failed. The beds are old, sag, with worn sheets, and lumpy pillows
BEACHFRONT BUNGALOWS & RESTAURANT- PLAYA SANTA TERESA
Welcome to the last corner of paradise, welcome to El Rey Patricio Beachfront Hotel & Restaurant at Playa Santa Teresa, in the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica.
We are located in the Mal País area, at the exuberant far end of Santa Teresa beach, where the road meets the ocean, where the beach meets the tropical forest and where you will meet the perfect vacation of your dreams…
Welcome to Montezuma Costa Rica. Zuma Tours is the Montezuma Costa Rica, leading tour operator since 1993. Located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, the village of Montezuma Costa Rica is surrounded by tropical beauty. The glistening Pacific Ocean, abundant with marine life and the dry tropical forests that cover the hills, make Montezuma Costa Rica, one of the finest areas for a diversity of tours and activities.
At Zuma Tours we can help you make the most of your visit to Montezuma Costa Rica, take part in our famous snorkeling trip to Tortuga Island, catch a Mahi-Mahi on one of our Sport Fishing trips for a tasty dinner or take a relaxing hike to one of the many spectacular waterfalls.
Check out what we have to offer and let Zuma Tours guide you through your best Costa Rican vacation and enjoy the most of Montezuma-Costa-Rica.
I used the Zuma tours jetboat to cross from Herradura to Montezuma. My communications with them were speedy, polite and to the point. The Jetboat ride was wicked, we saw numerous Dolphins (40-50) during our short crossing. I would recommend using this service. Zuma tours also helped coordinate a Budget rental for us when we arrived in Montezuma. Our plan was to take the Ferry boat back to Puntarenas when our stay in Montezuma was over; however, with the recent Ferry boat issues we decided to use Zuma tours Jetboat again to return to Herradura. Zuma once again helped us out - they were able to coordinate with Budget to return our rental car in Montezuma and have another car waiting for us in Herradura so that we could continue our Journey. I would say dealing with them again was a great experience, no problems, allowing us to enjoy our vacation care free!
“The taxi boat ride from Montezuma to Jaco was one of the best parts of out trip.”
Our boat driver stopped and pointed out sea turtles to us, we saw three on the way to jaco. this was truly one of the most fun parts of our trip WELL worth the money. Would you rather be in a cramped car/bus for hours up and down mountains, or on the water in an open boat in the beautiful Costa Rican weather? seems like a no brainer to me.
We decided to book our activities with Zuma Tours because they had the most informative and professional looking website. We booked the scuba diving and snorkling trip with them. The guy who sold us the trip was just what we like in a salesperson, and not like any of the other salespeople we met on our trip - he gave us all our options, was not pushy and did not try and shove anything down our throat, he was chilled and laid back and very friendly. He answered all our questions - and was honest about the viewing conditions of the water. The day trip was a lot of fun - the crew on the boat were great - chilled, relaxed, friendly and really added to our experience. The food was delicious and fresh and there was a full drinks container with cold drinks all day so we did not have to buy anything once we'd paid for the tour. It was a really fun trip, and what really made it was the friendliness of the staff and crew! Thanks Zuma Tours!
“Taxi Boat is a great way to get to Nicoya Peninsula”
My family took a trip to Tango Mar, near Tambor, on the Nicoya Penisula in September 2009. Getting there proved to be a challenge because we were coming from several different places in the U.S. on several different airlines. But the Taxi Boat proved to be an excellent way to get there quickly. Humberto was very helpful in getting things setup for a very smooth experience.
Our planes arrived at around noon, which makes it so that you cannot take a small plane over because they only fly the small planes in the morning (at least at that time of year). So our choices were to take a taxi and take the ferry over (which may have resulted in a long wait - I think they only run every couple of hours), or take the Taxi Boat.
I was a little concerned about the coordination with the flights and the taxi over to Jaco to catch the boat, but everything worked out great. Basically, the latest flight got in at 12:30, and we were in our Taxi by 1:15 (no one checked baggage, which I highly recommend). We arrived in Jaco at a little after 3 pm and the taxi boat was right there waiting for us. The guys wrapped our luggage in plastic bags, loaded it on the boat (actually we had to get on one boat which took us to another boat), and we were off. We arrived at the other side within an hour.
The Taxi Boat has a regular schedule once a day each way. They did a special trip for us since it was in the afternoon. It was a little expensive, but spread over 10 people, it ended up being pretty reasonable, and worth it because it saved us a lot of time. It usually runs from Jaco to Montezuma, but they dropped us off at the Bahia in Tambor since that was much closer to where we were staying, which was great. So, basically, we left the airport at 1:15 and were in Tambor at 4:15, which allowed us to enjoy the rest of the day. If we took the ferry over, we would have arrived probably between 7 and 9 pm (depending on the timing with the ferry).
My family has all been around boats for most of our lives, so we had no problem with the boat. The only caution that I would give is that the boat is not huge and the seas are pretty heavy (the swells were several feet), so if you are not comfortable in that kind of ride, you might want to find another travel method. They have a nice YouTube video of the boat on their website - http://thetaxiboat.com/ - so you can see it for yourself.
I recently spent 4 days in Montezuma with my girlfriend and parents. Getting to Montezuma from Jaco was easy and fast. Rather than having to wait on a ferry, we used Zuma Tours to get across. Their boats are well taken care and got us where we needed to go without any worries. The captain stopped the boat so we could photograph humpback whales, sea turtles, and dolphins. They were very professional and helped us have a comfortable trip. Wonderful company to work with. They seemed to truly care about the environment and safety of passengers.
I would like to start this review off by saying that Zuma Tours and Humberto are very professional and want you to have a good time in their country and they are NOT going to risk your safety. We (6 adults) booked zip lining, tortuga tour, and deep sea fishing excursions with Humberto 5 months prior to our trip. We liked that we had our excurions all planned out and prepaid for prior to our vacation. We also didnt know what excursions were offered by Barcelo because it was hard to get a hold of the hotel. Zip lining in Montezuma was the highlight of our stay in Costa Rica. Most of us would have enjoyed doing it again. Zuma's price for zip lining/transportation was the same price that Barcelo had offered it for. The men that work the zip lining are professional, safety concious and a lot of fun! The last three days of our trip was really windy and our tortuga and fishing trips were cancelled due to rough seas. Humberto refunded our credit cards within 6 business days. If I had to change anything regarding my dealings with Zuma Tours it would only be that we would have booked our excursions within the first couple days of our trip and not towards the end of the trip and we would have booked the Tortuga excursion through the hotel since a catamaran leaves from the Barcelo shore. Zuma tours and tours offered by the hotel were similar in pricing. Humberto answered my questions very quickly and we received a prompt return on excursions due to bad weather.
I have just returned from a fantastic trip to Costa Rica where my 2 girlfriends and I celebrated our 40th birthdays. The highlight of this trip for me was the day we went Ziplining in Montezuma. I was scared silly at first but the guides were wonderful and soon I was have an adrenaline filled adventure. The scenery in the jungle was amazing. This is by far an incredible way to view Costa Rica while having a thrill ride at the same time. About half way through the 11 zips we climbed down to a waterfall with a fresh water pool and jumped in. this was both beautiful and refreshing. I cant say enough about the wonderful guides who obviously love what they do. They volunteered to take pictures and some great video for us. After the remaining zips we took a group picture and went shopping in Montezuma for an hour. The hour wasnt long enough so we ended up going back the next day for a few hours. I highly recommend the Montezuma canopy tour, and if you go say Hola to Marvin from three Canadian girls.
Ylang Ylang booked our tour to Isla Tortuga with Zuma Tours and we couldn't have been happier. We had 19 people in our group so we had a boat all to ourselves. The guides were very friendly and were quick to slow the boat to a stop so that we could witness dolphins, whales and a passing shark..
Thankfully the shark viewing was on our way home, and not on our way to the snorkeling point! The guides were very helpful in assisting our 6 year old who was afraid of wearing a mask - go figure. The area they took us to snorkel was nice. We viewed starfish, pufferfish, numerous coral reef fish - even Nemo and Dory, sea cucumbers, dog fish, sea urchins and anemones. The guides constantly surfaced with objects to show everyone and alerted everyone to the sting ray!
If you have younger kids you may want to bring or purchase your own snorkeling gear. The mask was way too big for our 6 year old and filled with water. Basically, he couldn't use it. The mask I had was used so many time it leaked as well. They are cheap enough in town and I think comparable to the rental price.
The Island of Isla Tortuga has a gift shop (so much for the uninhabited island as per brochure LOL) and porta johns that cost one dollar to use. You can also rent lounge chairs.
The BBQ fish was awesome that the guides prepared for us for lunch. The guides cut up fruit and even hacked up coconut for us. Pura Vida!!!!
Since the boat was our group only we pretty much got to do what we wanted. Some of us stayed on the island and mixed drinks, others swam in the beach, others went on giant conch shell searches (and found them!!!), and other had the boat take them back to the snorkeling point.
We had an ultra-fabulous time and I highly recommend this tour to groups of people. Bring sun block...... and make sure you use plenty of it!
Zuma Tours was Great !! My Girlfriend and I went out for the 1/2 day fishing trip on a 26' boat. Edder, my Captain, and his first mate were totally professional, talented, fun, and committed to our great time and fishing. We left Montezuma early in the morning, and went out for about 1 hour into the Paciffic. We put the lines in the water and began trolling. Within the 1st hour of fishing, I reeled in a 20+ pound Mahi Mahi - what a beautiful fish !! Now that dinner was caught, I really wanted to pursue Sailfish. We fished hard all morning, spotting lots of sailfish breaking the water, and had a few near misses where we lost our bait. Right at the end of our day, we hooked the big one, and I reeled in a 200 lb. Sailfish - What a rush !!! I cannot recommend them enough. I know that it is "called Fishing, not Catching" as the saying goes, but "Ed" and his first mate definately put us in the best position to catch fish !!! Thanks again to Zuma Tours and best of luck to anyone who goes out on a trip with them !! By the way - the fresh Mahi Mahi was a truly delicious dinner ! Heath Patterson Atlanta, GA. USA
Malpais and Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Malpais
Malpais is situated on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica on the southern tip of the Nicoya peninsula. Also known as the Hawaii of Latin America, there are several beaches to swim, dive or snorkel though it's main attraction is it's unique conditions for surfing and it's pristine subtropical nature. Horseback riding, sportfishing, canopy tours, scuba, and nature tours make up some of the other popular activities nearby. Malpais is a community unlike any other in Costa Rica with a strong surf culture and a the laid-back atmosphere that maintains the type of earthy tourism that made Costa Rica famous.
The Cabo Blanco National Park is located 3 Km south, a paradise for tourists, students of biology and ecology. It's name derives from the Chorotega Indians who inhabited the area, they discovered a very smooth stone with wich they could draw, "mah pah" was the name they called it, hence the name according to one version. MalPais boasts a great selection of places to stay and eat from camping on the beach to luxurious resorts and a wide range of activities. Without a doubt it's a very attractive place to relax and enjoy the golden rays of the Pacific sunset.
Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa extends for approximately 6 km. It has grown quite quickly in the last few years with people coming from all corners of the world, some settled and transformed this little fishing village into one of Costa Rica's trendiest destinations. With waves for the beginner to the fearless pro, waves are available for all, year round.
In the past there was a huge cattle farm, which in time got subdivided between locals, and then eventually was sold to foreigners seeking a place in Paradise. Today in Santa Teresa you will find many restaurants, places to stay to accommodate all budgets, horseriding, volleyball, beach soccer, canopy or even ultralight flying are but a few or it's diverse activities, whether you want to surf or just relax this is one of the Pacific's greatest spots.
Malpais and Santa Teresa have many hotels and accomodations that range from beach hammocks, to cabinas, to four star luxury hotels. In this beautiful and tranquil beach community of Costa Rica there is something for everybody. You may see also "Montezuma Hotels"
Mal Pais arount de web:
Mal Pais is a tranquil little village with charming hotels loosely spread out along three kilometers of road.
At the southern end it borders the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve while to the north it merges with Santa Teresa where you find shops, tourist facilities and a vibrant surfer scene.
Mal Pais
Although Mal Pais is famed as one of the top surf destinations in Costa Rica, the most popular surf spots are actually on the beaches of
While in recent years Santa Teresa has seen a boom in development, Mal Pais has largely retained its quiet atmosphere with large areas of unspoiled nature.
The coast of Mal Pais is in many places rocky, with some bizarre volcanic formations creating fascinating scenery.
On a beach walk flocks of pelicans will sometimes be your only company. Old growth forest spills down to the shore where rocky outcroppings alternate with sandy stretches and beaches made up entirely of tiny shells.Playa SuecosAt the southern end of Mal Pais is the small fishermen port which is also the basis for tours by boat around the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. The maritime sanctuary of Cabo Blanco serves as a nursery for many aquatic species and from your boat you can watch dolphins, manta rays or whales. If you are into fishing, a good catch is almost guaranteed.There is no entrance to the Cabo Blanco Park from the Mal Pais side but there are various options to explore the direct neighbourhood of the National Park. You can swoop through the jungle on a canopy tour, amble on horseback through the hills of Cabo Blanco, or hike along the coast: Playa Las Suecas lies on the border to the National Park. You get there by passing by the fishermen port, then follow the dirt road until you see a small path to your right which takes you to the beach. The large rocky pool of Playa Las Suecas is the best spot for snorkeling in Mal Pais.
The village of Mal Pais is essentially devoid of shops and tourist services. Hotels and dining options however range from top notch to rustic though Mal Pais Costa Ricascenic beachfront with the surf bashing over jagged cliffs and views across the beach of Santa Teresa and far beyond to the hills of Guanacaste.
From Mal Pais to the Cabo Blanco National Park
From the village center of Mal Pais it's a scenic 9 km drive to Cabo Blanco on a little road over the hills and via the small village of Cabuya. The first 2 kms of way passes through a river valley with marvelous lush jungle covering steep slopes on both sides. Then the road goes steeply uphill into the rolling hills of the Cabo Blanco backlands. There are no houses all the way to Cabuya (7 km from Mal Pais) and you have to cross two rivers. In rainy season this is not always possible. Before the road drops down to Cabuya you will have a panoramic view of the valley of Cabuya with the prominent Cemetery Island.
The Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve opens at 8 a.m. and the earlier you go the more you will see. A hike to the beach of Playa Cabo Blanco and return takes approx 4 hours. Open hours are 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Mondays and Tuesdays the Cabo Blanco Reserve is closed.
A small costal community some 150 km west of the capital city San Jose, Mal Pais lies at the southeastern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in Puntarenas province. Around 4 km north of the Cabo Blanco National Park, this quaint beachfront village is fast becoming one of Costa Rica’s hottest tourist attractions. Extending some 6 kilometers east to west, Mal Pais is a great place to kickback, relax and surf some great waves.
A surfer’s paradise with consistent waves, good swells and a long beach break, Mal Pais is a rocky beach with sandy stretches and is covered with pretty sea shells. With lush vegetation growing alongside the coast, this uncrowded area is prefect for those who want a peaceful and quiet vacation away from the crowds. Regarded as one of Costa Rica’s best Pacific Coast beaches, Mal Pais is just a few miles south of Playa Santa Teresa, Costa Rica’s top surf spots.
With waves that are ideal for the beginner as well as the expert surfer, this beach also offers plenty of water sports such as fishing tours, sports fishing, scuba diving, kite surfing and snorkeling. For those who prefer some land based activities there is horseback riding, canopy tours, mountain biking, quad biking and some great hiking trails to explore.
If you are an avid bird watcher, Mal Pais is home to a huge number of coastal and migratory birds that are a treat to see. The nightlife here is also plenty of fun, with a number of bars and parties held on a frequent basis. However, there are plenty of quiet places along the beach’s secluded coves, reefs and tide pools to have a romantic evening.
Great weather all year round makes Mal Pais, among Costa Rica’s trendiest vacation destinations. Usually uncrowded most of the time, enjoy the area’s natural beauty with plenty of luxury and affordable accommodations, bars and restaurants dotting the coast. A major pastime here is just relaxing on the beach or sunbathing.
When getting to Mal Pais it is important to keep in mind that there are two ways to get here. One is to catch a ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera or Playa Naranjo and then drive out here. Or you could take a domestic flight from San Jose to Tambor then take a taxi out to Mal Pais.
Welcome to Montezuma Costa Rica. Zuma Tours is the Montezuma Costa Rica, leading tour operator since 1993. Located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, the village of Montezuma Costa Rica is surrounded by tropical beauty. The glistening Pacific Ocean, abundant with marine life and the dry tropical forests that cover the hills, make Montezuma Costa Rica, one of the finest areas for a diversity of tours and activities.
At Zuma Tours we can help you make the most of your visit to Montezuma Costa Rica, take part in our famous snorkeling trip to Tortuga Island, catch a Mahi-Mahi on one of our Sport Fishing trips for a tasty dinner or take a relaxing hike to one of the many spectacular waterfalls.
Check out what we have to offer and let Zuma Tours guide you through your best Costa Rican vacation and enjoy the most of Montezuma-Costa-Rica.
I used the Zuma tours jetboat to cross from Herradura to Montezuma. My communications with them were speedy, polite and to the point. The Jetboat ride was wicked, we saw numerous Dolphins (40-50) during our short crossing. I would recommend using this service. Zuma tours also helped coordinate a Budget rental for us when we arrived in Montezuma. Our plan was to take the Ferry boat back to Puntarenas when our stay in Montezuma was over; however, with the recent Ferry boat issues we decided to use Zuma tours Jetboat again to return to Herradura. Zuma once again helped us out - they were able to coordinate with Budget to return our rental car in Montezuma and have another car waiting for us in Herradura so that we could continue our Journey. I would say dealing with them again was a great experience, no problems, allowing us to enjoy our vacation care free!
“The taxi boat ride from Montezuma to Jaco was one of the best parts of out trip.”
Our boat driver stopped and pointed out sea turtles to us, we saw three on the way to jaco. this was truly one of the most fun parts of our trip WELL worth the money. Would you rather be in a cramped car/bus for hours up and down mountains, or on the water in an open boat in the beautiful Costa Rican weather? seems like a no brainer to me.
We decided to book our activities with Zuma Tours because they had the most informative and professional looking website. We booked the scuba diving and snorkling trip with them. The guy who sold us the trip was just what we like in a salesperson, and not like any of the other salespeople we met on our trip - he gave us all our options, was not pushy and did not try and shove anything down our throat, he was chilled and laid back and very friendly. He answered all our questions - and was honest about the viewing conditions of the water. The day trip was a lot of fun - the crew on the boat were great - chilled, relaxed, friendly and really added to our experience. The food was delicious and fresh and there was a full drinks container with cold drinks all day so we did not have to buy anything once we'd paid for the tour. It was a really fun trip, and what really made it was the friendliness of the staff and crew! Thanks Zuma Tours!
“Taxi Boat is a great way to get to Nicoya Peninsula”
My family took a trip to Tango Mar, near Tambor, on the Nicoya Penisula in September 2009. Getting there proved to be a challenge because we were coming from several different places in the U.S. on several different airlines. But the Taxi Boat proved to be an excellent way to get there quickly. Humberto was very helpful in getting things setup for a very smooth experience.
Our planes arrived at around noon, which makes it so that you cannot take a small plane over because they only fly the small planes in the morning (at least at that time of year). So our choices were to take a taxi and take the ferry over (which may have resulted in a long wait - I think they only run every couple of hours), or take the Taxi Boat.
I was a little concerned about the coordination with the flights and the taxi over to Jaco to catch the boat, but everything worked out great. Basically, the latest flight got in at 12:30, and we were in our Taxi by 1:15 (no one checked baggage, which I highly recommend). We arrived in Jaco at a little after 3 pm and the taxi boat was right there waiting for us. The guys wrapped our luggage in plastic bags, loaded it on the boat (actually we had to get on one boat which took us to another boat), and we were off. We arrived at the other side within an hour.
The Taxi Boat has a regular schedule once a day each way. They did a special trip for us since it was in the afternoon. It was a little expensive, but spread over 10 people, it ended up being pretty reasonable, and worth it because it saved us a lot of time. It usually runs from Jaco to Montezuma, but they dropped us off at the Bahia in Tambor since that was much closer to where we were staying, which was great. So, basically, we left the airport at 1:15 and were in Tambor at 4:15, which allowed us to enjoy the rest of the day. If we took the ferry over, we would have arrived probably between 7 and 9 pm (depending on the timing with the ferry).
My family has all been around boats for most of our lives, so we had no problem with the boat. The only caution that I would give is that the boat is not huge and the seas are pretty heavy (the swells were several feet), so if you are not comfortable in that kind of ride, you might want to find another travel method. They have a nice YouTube video of the boat on their website - http://thetaxiboat.com/ - so you can see it for yourself.
I recently spent 4 days in Montezuma with my girlfriend and parents. Getting to Montezuma from Jaco was easy and fast. Rather than having to wait on a ferry, we used Zuma Tours to get across. Their boats are well taken care and got us where we needed to go without any worries. The captain stopped the boat so we could photograph humpback whales, sea turtles, and dolphins. They were very professional and helped us have a comfortable trip. Wonderful company to work with. They seemed to truly care about the environment and safety of passengers.
I would like to start this review off by saying that Zuma Tours and Humberto are very professional and want you to have a good time in their country and they are NOT going to risk your safety. We (6 adults) booked zip lining, tortuga tour, and deep sea fishing excursions with Humberto 5 months prior to our trip. We liked that we had our excurions all planned out and prepaid for prior to our vacation. We also didnt know what excursions were offered by Barcelo because it was hard to get a hold of the hotel. Zip lining in Montezuma was the highlight of our stay in Costa Rica. Most of us would have enjoyed doing it again. Zuma's price for zip lining/transportation was the same price that Barcelo had offered it for. The men that work the zip lining are professional, safety concious and a lot of fun! The last three days of our trip was really windy and our tortuga and fishing trips were cancelled due to rough seas. Humberto refunded our credit cards within 6 business days. If I had to change anything regarding my dealings with Zuma Tours it would only be that we would have booked our excursions within the first couple days of our trip and not towards the end of the trip and we would have booked the Tortuga excursion through the hotel since a catamaran leaves from the Barcelo shore. Zuma tours and tours offered by the hotel were similar in pricing. Humberto answered my questions very quickly and we received a prompt return on excursions due to bad weather.
I have just returned from a fantastic trip to Costa Rica where my 2 girlfriends and I celebrated our 40th birthdays. The highlight of this trip for me was the day we went Ziplining in Montezuma. I was scared silly at first but the guides were wonderful and soon I was have an adrenaline filled adventure. The scenery in the jungle was amazing. This is by far an incredible way to view Costa Rica while having a thrill ride at the same time. About half way through the 11 zips we climbed down to a waterfall with a fresh water pool and jumped in. this was both beautiful and refreshing. I cant say enough about the wonderful guides who obviously love what they do. They volunteered to take pictures and some great video for us. After the remaining zips we took a group picture and went shopping in Montezuma for an hour. The hour wasnt long enough so we ended up going back the next day for a few hours. I highly recommend the Montezuma canopy tour, and if you go say Hola to Marvin from three Canadian girls.
Ylang Ylang booked our tour to Isla Tortuga with Zuma Tours and we couldn't have been happier. We had 19 people in our group so we had a boat all to ourselves. The guides were very friendly and were quick to slow the boat to a stop so that we could witness dolphins, whales and a passing shark..
Thankfully the shark viewing was on our way home, and not on our way to the snorkeling point! The guides were very helpful in assisting our 6 year old who was afraid of wearing a mask - go figure. The area they took us to snorkel was nice. We viewed starfish, pufferfish, numerous coral reef fish - even Nemo and Dory, sea cucumbers, dog fish, sea urchins and anemones. The guides constantly surfaced with objects to show everyone and alerted everyone to the sting ray!
If you have younger kids you may want to bring or purchase your own snorkeling gear. The mask was way too big for our 6 year old and filled with water. Basically, he couldn't use it. The mask I had was used so many time it leaked as well. They are cheap enough in town and I think comparable to the rental price.
The Island of Isla Tortuga has a gift shop (so much for the uninhabited island as per brochure LOL) and porta johns that cost one dollar to use. You can also rent lounge chairs.
The BBQ fish was awesome that the guides prepared for us for lunch. The guides cut up fruit and even hacked up coconut for us. Pura Vida!!!!
Since the boat was our group only we pretty much got to do what we wanted. Some of us stayed on the island and mixed drinks, others swam in the beach, others went on giant conch shell searches (and found them!!!), and other had the boat take them back to the snorkeling point.
We had an ultra-fabulous time and I highly recommend this tour to groups of people. Bring sun block...... and make sure you use plenty of it!
Zuma Tours was Great !! My Girlfriend and I went out for the 1/2 day fishing trip on a 26' boat. Edder, my Captain, and his first mate were totally professional, talented, fun, and committed to our great time and fishing. We left Montezuma early in the morning, and went out for about 1 hour into the Paciffic. We put the lines in the water and began trolling. Within the 1st hour of fishing, I reeled in a 20+ pound Mahi Mahi - what a beautiful fish !! Now that dinner was caught, I really wanted to pursue Sailfish. We fished hard all morning, spotting lots of sailfish breaking the water, and had a few near misses where we lost our bait. Right at the end of our day, we hooked the big one, and I reeled in a 200 lb. Sailfish - What a rush !!! I cannot recommend them enough. I know that it is "called Fishing, not Catching" as the saying goes, but "Ed" and his first mate definately put us in the best position to catch fish !!! Thanks again to Zuma Tours and best of luck to anyone who goes out on a trip with them !! By the way - the fresh Mahi Mahi was a truly delicious dinner ! Heath Patterson Atlanta, GA. USA
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“The taxi boat ride from Montezuma to Jaco was one of the best parts of out trip.”
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