The area was crowded but very friendly.
- ANTHONY L, DEC 2017
Santa Teresa - Mal Pais
Santa Teresa is an excellent place to do just that so be prepared to kickback and unwind. Santa Teresa is billed as a surfer's paradise, and the surf is indeed exceptional. it provides consistent and outstanding swells year round. The sleepy beach hamlet of Malpais is Santa Teresa's quiet neighbor located 4 miles (6.5 km) north of Cabo Blanco National Park, Malpais sits at the southwestern cusp of the Nicoya Peninsula, opposite Montezuma.
Santa Teresa - Mal Pais
Nicoya PeninsulaSanta Teresa - Mal Pais
Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica, Central America
Snorkeling
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Average Rating
888 Reviews
The booming surf village of Santa Teresa provides a great opportunity for visitors to enjoy international cuisine, daily yoga classes, year round surf and a generally cool vibe. There are excellent place to enjoy the incredible natural surroundings in relative peace. Reflecting this relaxed attitude, the village of Santa Teresa and nearby Malpais offers relatively few services with regard to tours. However, Canopy Tours are available, and one can also take Horseback rides along the beach.
The beaches of Santa Teresa are soft, sandy and with a consistent surf break while Malpais alternates between long stretches of sand and large patches of rock. A green jungle with its mischievous monkeys lines the shore. For the most part, beaches in Malpais have been spared of development. Development has largely taken place in areas to the north, around the Beaches of Santa Teresa.
The nearby Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve can make an excellent day trip from Santa Teresa and Malpais. Check with locals before heading to the Reserve. Usually a visit requires entering the town of Montezuma. There is a road closer to Malpais, but unfortunately, it is often in disrepair.
The hamlet of Santa Teresa and Malpais is accessible by road via Highway 160, or you can take the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera or Naranjo Beach, and ride a bus or drive the rest of the way. Flights to the nearby town of Tambor are also available via San Jose and Liberia.
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Traveler Feedback
Traveler Feedback
This was probably our favourite place in all of Costa Rica. Its a bit less developed than other areas, and its mostly dirt roads, but a great place to unwind in the surf and sand. Certainly a place for more active people. Don't expect all-inclusive beach service.
- JOE M, NOV 2017
Great spot, still enjoyable during the low season
- SANDRA D, SEP 2017
Go to Zwart Cafe! We also enjoyed Banana beach restaurant and bar.
- JENNIFER G, NOV 2015
Our favorite! The local sodas were perfect.
- LINDSAY K, JUL 2015
Absolutely loved this area and will certainly go back. Would love to retire here!
- SHERIL S, JUL 2015
It was a sleepy beach town which is what we were looking for...not too crowded but with great restaurants not too far away.
- LAURA V, APR 2015
Bring lots of sunscreen! Small town charm with a quiet ambiance that was relaxing! Take advantage and eat the local food from local restaurants. Just walk into anyone! I bet you will not be disappointed!
- DAISY V, APR 2015
The Bakery, fantastic restaurant. I want to go back just for that!!
- STEPHANIE S, MAR 2015
This place is mainly for beach lovers and surfers
- MAXIME C, FEB 2015
We tried many restaurants and none of them disappointed us, getting pricey but the food is excellent, so fresh.
- ROBERT A, FEB 2015
Such a great vibe from this location. Much less touched by tourism than Tamarindo. Would suggest renting a 4 wheeler to other guests.
- KENDRA K, JAN 2015
We loved eating at The Bakery!! What a gem! Ate there multiple times. We enjoyed Zula Restaurant, and Ritmo Tropical Restaurant Pizzeria. Their mojitos were deadly. Driving here was hectic at times as the tourists and locals drive their motorbikes and quads super fast and crazy. Also, people stand in the middle of the road talking. We were surprised there weren't more accidents.
- KESIA W, JAN 2015
Casa del Mar in Santa Teresa for wonderful food and cocktails.
- ALISON M, NOV 2014
We expected some businesses to be closed for the off-season, but we were really surprised to find only a very small number of restaurants and shops open. We loved that there was hardly anyone else around, but if we visit again, we'll definitely choose a different time to come. The weather was WONDERFUL, though. For being the rainy season, we only got rained on during the daytime once and it was while hiking at Cabo Blanco, so we didn't care at all.
- SHANNON K, SEP 2014
We enjoyed the seclusion of the area, but the place we stayed was a little hard to do without a car. This was stated in their website, so we shouldn't have been surprised, but we thought there would be a few more restaurants and such within walking distance.
- TERESA C, AUG 2014
Loved this quaint little town. I will certainly be visiting it in the future! The cafes were great, the people were great, the beaches are beautiful... can't wait to return.
- KRISTEN W, JUL 2014
Zula restaurant had delicious food and the best smoothies in Santa Teresa. We were happy with all of the sodas we visited in Santa Teresa- all had very friendly service and great traditional Costa Rican food. Chicken Joe's had the best rotisserie chicken we have ever had.
Santa Teresa is very touristy but it is so spread out that there is definitely room for everyone. The beach is unbelievably beautiful for miles and there are great surf breaks all along that part of the coast. We also saw a lot of wildlife every day -birds, iguanas, geckos, monkeys, as well as beautiful trees and flowers.
The main road that runs through Santa Teresa is extremely dusty in the dry season, which was hard to deal with.
- BRITTEN W, JAN 2014
Soooooo gorgeous. Sunset dinners were awesome. Very laid back town. Awesome places to eat. Seemed like half of the town was locals and the other half were people who vacationed there and liked it so much that they moved there permanently!
- CHRISTOPHER G, JAN 2014
We love Santa Teresa. It felt safe, friendly, happy. Mainly young people enjoying the surf, sea, sun and food. We felt as if we had gone to a health farm. WE ran, walked, surfed, did yoga, went to Montezuma and ate in a different place twice a day. Meals were amazing and fresh fresh fresh. Unbelievable value. this goes down as one of my most favourite places in the world.It was not over touristy, we had beaches to ourselves, company at restaurants but they were never too full to have us. It was safe, spacious,friendly, a blast. Liked the fact that roads were bad, everyone on ATVs. WE saw plenty of wildlife, iguanas, monkeys, humming birds... This place is paradise.
- CATHERINE S, DEC 2013
Santa Teresa - Mal Pais
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