December 30, 2011

Punta Barragona is one of the most beautiful spots in Malpais and yet hardly anyone ever goes there because it’s difficult to find. The point is a huge rock, and there are surf spots on both sides of it (Mar Azul and Bahia Barragona). In front of this giant rock is an amazing set of tidepools. Check out photos of them here: Costa Rica tidepools.

Next to the point is a huge flat grassy area. Most of it is public land, and there’s rarely anyone ever here.

To get here, drive from the Playa Carmen area south into Malpais, and when you see a large sign on the right that says “Mar Azul”, turn right towards the beach. Go to the ends of this road and go to the left. You’ll feel like you’re driving into someone’s driveway, but you’ll exit onto the grassy area, and you can park out there underneath a palm tree.

To your left will be a beautiful protected cove with hardly any waves, which is in direclty in front of the well-known luxury villa rental March House. At low tide, it’s mostly rocky, but at mid/high tides, it’s a gorgeous white sand beach with hardly anyone on it. It’s very safe for kids.

On the other side of the cove is a mellow lefty point break inside the bay, which is good for beginning surfers.

High on the hills up above, you can see various villas such as Mel Gibson’s house, and both Casa de Amor and Villa de Amor.

This is a great place to go on a day when you’re surfed out or want to spend the whole day on a tranquil beach without a lot of people around.

Los Suecos means, “The Swedes” because of the Swedish family that lived down by this beach years ago. Los Suecos, also know as “the secret beach” is one of the truly hidden gems of the Malpais / Santa Teresa area, and isn’t visited by many tourists.

People who have lived in the area for years come to this beach because of it’s beautiful white sand, it’s extremely photogenic beauty, the best snorkeling on the southern Nicoya peninsula, and its amazing tidepools. It’s also located next to the epic Sunset Reef surf spot.

To find it, drive past the Fisherman’s beach at the very southern end of Malpais and just keep going off to the left. You’ll know you’ve found it when you see a gate. This is Cabo Blanco National Park, but this entrance to the park isn’t open to the public.

Park near the gate and find a trail winding down to the small beach. It’s a very safe place to swim. A rock reef protects the beach so no large waves make it inside.

On a good day, the water can be very clear here. I’ve seen octopus, several species of eels, a turtle, a gigantic ray, lobsters, giant hermit crabs, and lots of fish species. The proximity to the national park, where there’s (theoretically) no fishing means that there’s more sea life here… at least until the spearfisherman kill them.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so I’ll leave you with a set of photos taken from various trips to Los Suecos:

Malpais and Santa Teresa have a great snorkeling spot at Playa los Suecos, which is located at the southern end of the Malpais beach road.

For scuba, however, there are a couple of dive outfits in the general area that will take you to some spectacular locations.

Tortuga Island is known for its beautiful beach and hordes of tourists, but the waters in the area are great for scuba diving. You can see whale sharks, dolphine, whales, octopus, white tip reef sharks, and large schools of fish.

This area is the only place in all of Central America that has THREE shipwrecks. Costa Rica shipwrecks that are suitable for diving occur in very few places in the country, so if you’re into wrecks, this is the best opportunity in the country to see them.

There are also great dive spots around Tambor and Montezuma in various rocky reefs and coves, as well as a great spot off Cabo Blanco.

Scuba Dive options:

Anamaya Yoga Retreats – Anamaya offers week-long yoga retreats that include scuba certification classes, or just go for a couple of scuba sessions during your stay there.

La Escuela del Sol – Scuba Certification program that can include yoga, spanish language classes, and other add-ons.

The best way to do Scuba Diving however is just to call Michele (pronounced like “me-KEL-eh”) who is the Italian boat captain with the best scuba experience and boat in Tambor Bay. You’ll have a great time with his crew of Italians and Argentians, and they offer a great CMAS scuba certification program. Michele’s # is (011 506) 8823-0831

The Balinese/Moroccan design has two bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, a large gourmet kitchen, a salt water swimming pool, and a large covered deck / patio from which to appreciate the epic vistas.

Located within the “Hacienda Okhra” mountain village, it’s one of only three houses on a very large finca, measuring more than 80 acres, and surrounded by jungle.

This house is very popular because of the great price, so it’s a good idea to inquire early about it.

List of amenities:

2 BR / 2.5 BA
Ocean Views
Pool (Salt water)
Full Kitchen
Privacy / Quiet
Internet / Cell Phone Included
DVD & TV with movie collection

Casa Verde also has a back road with a private gate that links it up to Montezuma. So when you’re ready to explore the area, you can quickly get to the waterfalls and beaches of Montezuma.

Reviews of Casa Verde: Casa Verde Traveler Reviews

Drive to the west from the San Jose airport and take an exit after 10 minutes or so to Atenas. Turn left and cross over the highway, and drive 2km. Turn left between a blue school and a soccer field (there’s no sign to the new highway). Drive another 3.5km and you’ll reach the new highway. Turn left just before the highway (not to the right like you’d think) and this will take you to the onramp. This freeway will take you to Caldera and it will curve to the right, leading all the way to Puntarenas. You’ll see a sign on the right that will loop you onto the road to Puntarenas, and then you’ll drive to the end of the road. Puntarenas is on a long spit of land, and the ferry terminal is on the very tip of it. The total journey can take as little as 1 1/2 hours, saving you an hour or so from what it used to be.

There are now two large ferries (Tambor II and Tambor III). To find out the times, call 2661-2084 ext 4. It’s only in Spanish, so if you don’t understand Spanish, we suggest asking the rental car company to translate. There are two ferries, the first to Paquera and the second to Naranjo. Take the Paquera Ferry, and once it lands, follow the main road which will eventually take you to the left (south) to Cobano (about 45 minutes). You’ll pass through Tambor and then Cobano.

When you arrive in Cobano, just pass directly through town, and the paved road will end. Go another mile or so and take a left at the road (you’ll see a sign to Malpais.) Drive twenty minutes more to the Malpais/Santa Teresa Crossroads (known as “El Cruce”). At some point you’ll pass a gas station on the left, which is the only one in the Mal Pais area, so it’s probably a good idea to fill up there. When you arrive down at the main beach road, everything to the left (south) is Malpais. You’ll be in the Playa Carmen area, and everything to the right is Santa Teresa (with most of the hotels and restaurants.)

It will take around 5 hours. You should rent at least a small 4×4 vehicle such as a Terios or Bego, even in dry season, and in rainy season, a 4×4 could be essential just to make it to town. If you want to save some money on your car rental, contact us by clicking here – Cost Rica car rental companies. There are a few lower-priced car rental companies that will save you around $25 per day, as compared with the famous U.S./International brand car rental agencies.

To drive here from Liberia, you’ll be heading down the east side of the Nicoya peninsula. In dry season (Dec-April) you MAY be able to make it down the west coast, but in other months the rivers will have too much water to be able to drive through them.

Between Liberia and here, you’ll pass through the following towns, in order:

Liberia
Filadelfia
Santa Cruz
Nicoya
Jicaral
Playa Naranjo
Paquera
Tambor
Cobano
Malpais

When you reach Cobano, drive straight through town, and the road will turn to gravel. Drive about a mile or two, and you’ll take a left turn (there’s a sign so it’s easy). From there you’ll drive another 20 minutes to get to “El Cruce” (The Crossroads) where you’ll find a small shopping area and Frank’s Place. If you turn left along the beach road, everything that direction is considered to be Malpais. If you turn right, you’ll be in Playa Carmen and a bit further north is Santa Teresa. Playa Hermosa and then Manzanillo are further north still.

It will take around 4 1/2 hours. You should rent at least a small 4×4 vehicle such as a Terios. Contact us if you want a discount Cost Rica car rental company. You will pay $25/day less with one of these rather than the U.S. name brand companies you find online or through travel agencies.

Most of the route is paved, although there are two stretches between Jicaral and Paquera that are gravel.

Whatever your plan is, this hotel with 12 rooms and 3 upstairs apartment-style cabins, has an excellent location which allows you to enjoy a relaxing holidays contemplating nature from one of the most ecologically untouched country in the world. Birds, reptiles, monkeys and insects are part of the daily visitors who come to the hotel and its surroundings. The scenery will amaze you with the various small beaches and paddling pool where you can cool off the heat.
The hotel is very close to a lot of activities to satisfy hunger, entertainment and curiosity. Santa Teresa beach has a wide range of styles ranging from typical restaurants to Japanese. Also in the hotel arrange you  to rent bikes, quads, surf boards, where, take pilates, yoga classes. Also we encorage to take advantage to know the savage beauty of Santa Teresa surroundings: Malpais – a fisher-village, Cabo Blanco – the first Costa Rican absolut reserve, Montezuma – Once was the hippiest beach from Costa Rica.
And if at night there’s more energy or desire to meet people, visit some bars offering 2×1, movie nights, live music, watch american sports or dance from tropical rhythms until electronic music.

But definitely the most importan activity around is the surf, almost all year around there something to surf because the consists’ breaks of about a half mile stretch of beach flanked on either side by a cluster of large rocks. Thess clusters of rocks help keep the sand between them at bay, making for constant perfect sand bars. Other close surf destinations is Playa Carmen and Playa Hermosa.

Also the hotel offers an special for the green season:  8 nights in paradise for the price of 7!

Check it out!

ACCOMODATIONS

• 12 rooms and 3 apartments
• Twin and Double beds (depending of the rooms)
• Full air-conditioning
• Mini-Fridge
• Television w/ Dvd Player and Cable TV
• Wireless Internet
• Coffee Maker
• Safe box
• The apartments includes stove for cooking

The project is runs by Mario, a 10 years experienced surfer and with 6 years been a surf instructor. With Surf Coach level 1and 2 from British Surfing Assotiation and  also an international patent from RLSS Beach Lifeguard and Life Saving.

With all this manage of knowledge the determination of this school is giving the best ways to teach following the unique expression of each new and advanced student with major maneuvers, tricks and advanced maneuvers.

So you can have the tranquility to attent to one of the most professional and safety surf school from the area.

Santa Teresa Surf Hotel is on the tropical forest, where you fall in love of the nature and surfing. The area where is the hotel is in a luxury residence with pool, solarium, bar, spacious parking area, including cleaning and security guardian. All this just all a few steps from the beach.

The hotel is grateful to prepare all your needed for your complete vacations with safety, fun and relax.

In Santa Teresa Suf Hotel you can have packages for all king of tastes: rooms, suite, studios, bungalows, apartments and houses.

AMENITIES

• Two, Single or King-size Bed
• Fully equipped kitchen
• Private bathroom
• Tv and dvd
• Safety Box
• WIFI
• Swimming Pool
• Solarium
• Bar
• Private Terrace
• Closet
• Air Conditioning or Ceiling fan
• Hot water
• Mosquito net
• Speacker ipod (Suite)
• Outdoor Jacuzzi (Suite)
• Room Service Breakfast (suite)
• Towels and linens
• Cleaning and Security Services
• Parking area

As his name it says, Disfrutalo “Enjoy” hotel, is pleased to invite you to live a nice vacation just 80 meters from the Santa Teresa beach, a few steps to the abundant nature and quite few animals like monkeys, geckos, birds and more that occasionally comes.

The Disfrutalo Hotel garden has many flowers, plants, plams, flowers and mango trees where the animals like to enjoy!

AMENITIES

All the Villas and Ranchos provides:

• King Bed
• Mosquito-net
• Private Outdoor Shower
• Hot Shower
• Towels and Linens,
• Remote Controlled Fan
• Air Conditioned
• Cable TV
• Fully Equipped Kitchen
• Every one with Outside Patio, with Hammocks, Dining Table
• Living Room
• Safe Box
• WIFI
• Parking Lot

Just the Ranchos are two floor construction suitable for a couple looking for their privacy giving a romantic atmosphere.