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Voykit pocket guide · Costa Rica
Malpaís
Go for 2–3 nights if you surf; otherwise a half-day visit from Santa Teresa or skip. The beach is the draw, not the town.
Malpaís is a laid-back surf town on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, next to Santa Teresa. It has a consistent beach break, a handful of lodgings and a dusty main road. Most visitors stay in Santa Teresa and walk or bike over for the surf. The town itself has no bank, no ATM and limited dining — plan ahead.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry season)
- Avoid
- May–Nov (rainy season, roads worsen)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CRC
- Money
- Currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₡25,000–40,000 excl. bed · Mid ₡40,000–70,000 excl. bed · High ₡70,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Kölbi, Claro and Liberty sell SIMs at SJO and in towns; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% service is in the bill; extra optional.; Guides: US$5–10 per person per tour.; Shuttle drivers: US$2–5.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; put paper in the bin in many places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a soda (casado) | ₡5,000–8,000 |
| Beer (Imperial or Pilsen) | ₡1,500–2,500 |
| Coffee | ₡1,000–2,000 |
| Surfboard rental, half day | ₡10,000–15,000 |
| Taxi from Santa Teresa to Malpaís | ₡5,000–8,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TMU · Tambor Airport
- Flights from San José; about 45 min drive to Malpaís. Check schedules.
Typical fares
- Tambor Airport → Malpaís shuttle
- about ₡25,000 per person (check)
- Taxi Malpaís → Santa Teresa
- ₡5,000–8,000
- Bus Cóbano → Malpaís
- about ₡1,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking or biking along the beach road. ATV rental is common. A 4x4 is strongly recommended if you drive in — roads are unpaved and muddy in the wet season.
See and do
Known for
- Surf break at Playa Malpaís
- Proximity to Santa Teresa
- Sunset views from the beach
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Teresa | Walk along the beach or drive 10 min | 10–30 min |
| Montezuma | Drive via Cóbano, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve | Drive south past Santa Teresa, about 25 min | About 30 min |
| Tambor | Drive east via Cóbano, about 45 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Along the main road
- Closest to the beach and surf break; basic hotels and hostels.
- Santa Teresa
- More dining and nightlife; 10 min drive or 30 min walk south.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Good morning | Buenos díasBWEH-nohs DEE-ahs |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah |
| Where is the beach? | ¿Dónde está la playa?DOHN-deh es-TAH lah PLAH-yah |
| I don't understand | No entiendonoh en-TYEN-doh |
| Can I pay with card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?PWEH-doh pah-GAR kohn tar-HEH-tah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Buenas' and a handshake; cheek kiss among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting
- Conflict: Stay polite and indirect; avoid: Raised voices
- Time: Be on time for tours; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Nature: Stay on trails, keep quiet; avoid: Feeding animals
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATM in Malpaís; bring cash from Cóbano or Santa Teresa.
- Rip currents at the beach — swim only where locals do.
- Road from Cóbano is unpaved and can be impassable after heavy rain.
Malpaís is generally safe, but avoid walking alone on the beach at night. Lock your car and don't leave valuables visible. Rip currents are the main hazard.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Malpaís yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Surf break at Playa Malpaís
- Proximity to Santa Teresa
- Sunset views from the beach
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Malpaís, revision 5109234 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5109234
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Malpaís
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
The US Embassy is in San José; most other countries also have embassies there.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/malpais). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.