Malpais

Wave Quality Rating 3 Type of Wave Beach break Direction of Wave Right & left Bottom Sand & Rock Difficulty Beginners Crowd Level Not Too Bad Hazards none General Description Really nice peeling beachbreak with a pointbreak off to left (if looking out over ocean). sandy bottom with a few boulders/rocks here and there. Wave quality varies a bit (as always) but was AT LEAST 3/5 while we were there with chest high being typical (and some overhead sets).

Absolutely Beautiful small, laidback town. Waves vary but 95 % of the time you can surf. Probably as consistant as Tamarindo. Some rip tide. Talk to locals. I did cut my heal on volcanic rock, I didn't wait , I just went in. Now I know where there is sand and where the rocks are. But it is mostly sand.

How to get there Little difficult to get to. Most people take the ferry from Puntarenus. You can Fly in by www.flysansa.com from the main (next to main airport) airport in San Jose (Alejuela). The flight lands in Tambor about 20 to 25 minutes by taxi from the small landing strip (called an airport). Taxi ride is approx. 15 to 20 bucks. Hotels cost from $20.00 to $120.00 depending on A/C , Hot water , high/low season. Frank's Place is one of the original hotels in Mal Pais. (has website). Absolutely beautiful small town. Surfing is the main attraction. Very low key town. A slow pace for sure. A few small bars. Access & Parking Info / Cost Very good access (free) behind The main hotel 100 meters from beach. (forgot the name) The main cross streets of the town are near Frank's Place (name of the Hotel).
All dirt roads in the small town. Very nice place to relax. No parking/access costs. Where to Stay Casa Zen = $20.00 bucks per night. Frank's place $80.00 per night in High Season. Luz de Vida is right on the Beach (website), Blue Jay lodge is a treehouse type hotel very nice is $80.00 bucks but not that close to beach. Reserve the first night for a hotel then pick once you get there. There are very many choices and they will be available. Equipment Hire Small town is mostly surfshops. Take your pick. Alex's surf shop is the best. But often does not have as many boards as another place. Surfboards at a place called the "Shithole" Terrible name but they do a pretty good business, better selection but Alex is nicer. Surf Schools Blue surf sanctuary, Santa Teresa surf camp, there are plenty of surf schools here. Take a look around.
There's a surf school or two up the beach a ways nearer to town, but the breaks aren't as good there. When its Flat? Not often. Frank's place has mother nature's schedule for the waves.

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