Carmen

Playa Mar Azul

Q: Is there any food or beverages in the area of Playa Mar Azul?

The bar is located right on the Playa Mar Azul.There are 4 restaurants nearby.Hotel Vista de Olas is the closest place located 800 meters from the beach.

Beach camping

7.9

/ 10 Very good

#70 out of 233
in Malpais

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About

Playa Mar Azul is located on the Pacific ocean and it is in the 70th place out of 233 beaches in the Costa Rica region 122.2 km away from its center, the city of San Jose. It is one of the beaches of Malpais settlement, just 0.9 km from its center. The beach is located in an urban area. It is partially covered by trees which give natural shade.

It is a small bay with crystal turquoise water and bright sand & rocks cover, so you don't need special shoes. The entrance to the water is very smooth. This beach is suitable for different categories of people, lonely travellers, relaxation getaway lovers etc. It is partially crowded during the high season. There is a campsite located nearby.

Playa Mar Azul coast is free for all. This beach has the following amenities, beach restaurant, toilets. .

Please note, that this shore has a significant low tide.

In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you can also take part in other activities.

This beach is easily accessible, it is located very close to road. Parking is located directly on the beach.

3 more beaches are also available within a 5 km radius. The best one is Santa Teresa Beach, which has a rating of 8.2.

Weather

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Historical

+34 ^oC +25 ^oC

Air temperature

4.1 M/S

Wind

+30 ^oC

Water temperature

0.6 M

Wave height

Malpais, ,

even more interesting beaches

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Key features

Rare and important points

Partially protected from waves

See all

Beach overall scores

Water

Exceptional

9.5/10

Cover

Poor

3.3/10

Cleanliness

Good

7/10

Amenities

Poor

2.7/10

Booking.com

Playa Mar Azul is located in Costa Rica within Malpais, which makes it easily accessible and therefore popular among travelers. In the high season this may cause some discomfort, due to the large influx of tourists.

The beach stretches on the sunny coast, within the boundaries of the settlement, it is not difficult to get to it. If your stay is located not far from the beach, you can reach it by walking. In this case you will not be tied to finding parking or to the schedule of public transport. If you are traveling by car just use your navigator. In any case, do not forget about the availability of public transport and taxis.

User reviews

"This beach is a real hidden treasure! We decided to take an Uber from our hotel in Santa Teresa to get here. The rock formations were absolutely breathtaking, especially during low tide in the late afternoon. We were able to explore some incredible tide pools and my granddaughter had a blast. We also got to witness a beautiful sunset."

Kathleen Chase

"I absolutely adore this beach! What's even better is that it has free public access, making it a great spot for anyone looking to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea without breaking the bank."

Maggie McAllister

Booking.com

Photo of Playa Mar Azul with bright sand & rocks surface

Photo of Playa Mar Azul with turquoise pure water surface

Photo of Playa Mar Azul with very clean level of cleanliness

Photo of Playa Mar Azul and the settlement

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Panoramas

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User reviews

Kathleen Chase

"I absolutely adore this beach! What's even better is that it has free public access, making it a great spot for anyone looking to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea without breaking the bank."

Maggie McAllister

Read all reviews

Stays nearby

A good place to stay! Lots of accommodation options nearby.

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Beach features

Click any to view all beaches in the area with choisen feature or See all to filter

General features

ownership
- Public free entry
- Beach with basic amenities
occupancy
- Crowded in high season
location
- Within the settlement, roads and buildings adjacent to the beach
size&shape

Access

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Booking.com

Nearest Beaches

Average rating of nearest beaches is 7.6 (Very good)

Malpais, Costa Rica

Mal Pais Beach

7.7

Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access

Malpais 0.2 km

Malpais, Costa Rica

Playa Cuevas

8.1

Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access

Malpais 0.9 km

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Santa Teresa Beach

8.2

Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Light sand & pebble

Santa Teresa 0.5 km

Cabuya, Costa Rica

Cabo Blanco Beach

7.6

Free entrance, Virgin beach, Light sand & pebble

Cabuya 3.9 km

Hermosa, Costa Rica

Playa Hermosa

8.1

Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access, Light sand & pebble

Hermosa 0.4 km

Cerro Buenavista, Costa Rica

Playa Los Cedros

7.7

Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access

Cerro Buenavista 1.2 km

Hermosa, Costa Rica

Playa Divina

7.8

Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access

Hermosa 0.8 km

Montezuma, Costa Rica

Montezuma Beach

Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand

Montezuma 0.1 km

Montezuma, Costa Rica

Playa Montezuma

7.9

Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access

Montezuma 0.5 km

Bello Horizonte, Costa Rica

Manzanillo Beach

7.6

Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand

Bello Horizonte 0.8 km

Abuela, Costa Rica

Cocalito Beach

7.6

Free entrance, Virgin beach, Picturesque, Easy access

Abuela 1.9 km

Abuela, Costa Rica

Tango Mar Beach

8.3

Free entrance, Amenities beach, Easy access, Bright sand, Turquoise pure water

Abuela 1.8 km

Beach surroundings

Restaurants Attractions Transport Localities

Restaurants

Hotel Vista de Olas• 11 min walk
Ritmo Tropical Hotel• 25 min walk
Ritmo Tropical Resta...• 25 min walk
Restaurante Playa Ca...• 25 min walk

Attractions

Mal Pais Tidepools• 3 min walk
Playa Ventanitas• 16 min walk
Las melinas• 24 min walk
Taxi Boats & Land Tr...• 2.5km

Transport

TMU• 20.1km
Terminal de buses de...• 53.2km
Estación de Tren Cal...• 58.6km

Localities

Malpais• 980m
San Jose• 122.2km

Travelers reviews

7.9/10 Very good

Average Reviews rating

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Reviews
Q&A

7.9/10 Very good

Average Reviews rating

Questions and answers

What is the water and sand quality of the Playa Mar Azul?

The beach has a sandy and rocky covering of gold color. It's very clean, the surface has a mixed fraction. Turquoise and clear water sparkles in the sun. The entrance to the water is a mixture of sand and rocks, so it is highly recommended to wear aqua shoes.

What are the key activities at Playa Mar Azul?

For the main activity - sunbathing, there are no sun loungers on the Playa Mar Azul, so you need to take personal items with you and there is a natural shade that can become a lifesaver on a hot day.

Is the Playa Mar Azul good for swimming?

The entrance to the water is very smooth, the bottom is comfortable.

Playa Mar Azul is partially protected from waves. The tides are high, so sometimes you have to cross several meters to get to the water.

So the overall recommendation of the Playa Mar Azul for swimming is very positive.

Is the Playa Mar Azul good for families?

Family travelers should consider the following features of the beach. On the beach, there are minimal sufficient amenities such as sun loungers or beach bar. It's covered with mixture of sand and stones and the entrance to the water is very smooth.

Is the Playa Mar Azul secluded and good for relaxing?

There are several buildings near the beach. During the high season, the beach can get very crowded, making it an unsuitable place for those looking for a relaxing holiday.

What are the key audiences of Playa Mar Azul?

Playa Mar Azul can be a good place for the following groups of travelers:

Campers

Is there any food or beverages in the area of Playa Mar Azul?

The bar is located right on the Playa Mar Azul.

There are 4 restaurants nearby.Hotel Vista de Olas is the closest place located 800 meters from the beach.

How far is the Playa Mar Azul from parking?

The Playa Mar Azul has a parking spot. It is not very large, so in high season it can be busy. The approximate distance from parking is less than 100 metres.

Are there any attractions nearby Playa Mar Azul?

There are 4 attractions near Playa Mar Azul that are popular with travelers. The nearest are Mal Pais Tidepools located in 0.2 km. See the attractions section for details.

What is the best time of the year to visit Playa Mar Azul?

The month with the highest temperature in Playa Mar Azul is March. Its average value reaches 34°C. The warmest sea is in April, the average value is 30°C. The coldest month is October with air temperature 28°C and water 27°C. See more details in weather section.