A paradise for surfers, writers, artists and vacationers, a global village with an interesting mix of lodgings and restaurants...

170 km from the Juan Santamaria International Airport, Mal Pais is a paradise for surfers, writers, artists and vacationers. In recent years Mal Pais has developed into a kind of global village, not unlike Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast, with an interesting mix of vacation lodgings and restaurants, although its peaceful atmosphere remains unchanged. The 3-km beach is mostly rocky but scenic with rocky outcrops and forest backdrop, an excellent base for surfers, divers, and those visiting the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve or going on boat tours around the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. The maritime sanctuary of Cabo Blanco serves as a nursery for many aquatic species; from the tour boat you may glimpse dolphins, manta rays or whales. From Mal Pais, Cabo Blanco is a scenic 8-km drive away on a small road over the hills and via the small village of Cabuya.