Carmen

Mal Pais Beach

Q: Is there any food or beverages in the area of Mal Pais Beach?

There is no restaurant or bar directly on Mal Pais Beach.There are 4 restaurants nearby.Hotel Vista de Olas is the closest place located 1700 meters from the beach.

Good for Relax

7.7

/ 10 Very good

#89 out of 233
in Malpais

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About

Mal Pais Beach is located on the Pacific ocean and it is in the 89th place out of 233 beaches in the Costa Rica region 122.3 km away from its center, the city of San Jose. It is one of the beaches of Malpais settlement, just 0.2 km from its center. The beach is located in a natural place. It is partially covered by trees which give natural shade.

It is a spacious coastline with turquoise water and bright sand & rocks cover, so you don't need special shoes. The sharpness of entering the water is quite normal. This beach is suitable for different categories of people, lonely travellers, relaxation getaway lovers etc. It is not crowded place during the season. There is a campsite located nearby.

Mal Pais Beach coast is free for all. It has no amenities, only nature. .

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

In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you can also take part in other activities. There are also some surf spots.

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

2 more beaches are also available within a 5 km radius. The best one is Playa Cuevas, which has a rating of 8.1.

Weather

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Historical

+34 ^oC +25 ^oC

Air temperature

5.3 M/S

Wind

+30 ^oC

Water temperature

0.5 M

Wave height

Malpais, ,

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Key features

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Beach overall scores

Water

Pleasant

6.4/10

Cover

Poor

3.3/10

Cleanliness

Pleasant

6/10

Amenities

Bad

1/10

Booking.com

Mal Pais Beach (Costa Rica) is located outside the Malpais settlement, which may cause some difficulties for travelers who stay far from the coast. However, the remoteness from the village is not always a bad thing. Lovers of quiet rest know, the farther the beach, the fewer crowds.

The beach stretches on the sunny coast and the easiest way to get to the beach is by car or bike. If you don't have this option, then the second best solution is to use the taxi, which can drive you directly to the beach. The only problem, if your stay is far away it can be quite expensive. There is also a possibility of use of public transport, but in this case you need to check the correct route to the Mal Pais Beach with the locals. Take into account that the bus stop is usually in some distance., but accessing the beach requires traversing some distance on foot. While driving or cycling are the most convenient options for reaching the start point of trail, these methods may not be feasible for everyone. Alternatively, a taxi can be used to drive directly to the location. Public transportation is another option, but it's important to confirm the correct route with locals beforehand as the bus stop may be located at some distance.

User reviews

"I had a great time at this tranquil beach. There were some fishermen and plenty of rocks, but it was a small beach situated in a sheltered cove. Snorkeling was great at high tide. Collecting shells was also enjoyable. If you're looking for fresh fish, head there around 9 am when the fishermen come in."

Sara Kellan

"Be mindful of the strong current! The water is a stunning hue, perfect for snorkeling. I visited on a weekday during the day and had the beach all to myself. :)"

Lila Anders

Booking.com

Photo of Mal Pais Beach with bright sand & rocks surface

Photo of Mal Pais Beach with turquoise water surface

Photo of Mal Pais Beach with spacious shore

Photo of Mal Pais Beach with very clean level of cleanliness

Photo of Mal Pais Beach located in natural area

Photo of Mal Pais Beach - popular place among relax connoisseurs

All photos

Panoramas

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User reviews

Sara Kellan

"Be mindful of the strong current! The water is a stunning hue, perfect for snorkeling. I visited on a weekday during the day and had the beach all to myself. :)"

Lila Anders

Read all reviews

Stays nearby

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

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Beach features

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General features

ownership
- Public free entry
- Virgin beach with no amenities
occupancy
- Moderate in high season
location
- In a natural environment, there are no roads or buildings within the beach
size&shape
- Length - long, about 500 meters
- Width - sufficient

Access

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Booking.com

Nearest Beaches

Average rating of nearest beaches is 7.6 (Very good)

Malpais, Costa Rica

Playa Cuevas

8.1

Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access

Malpais 0.9 km

Malpais, Costa Rica

Playa Mar Azul

7.9

Free entrance, Amenities 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

Cerro Buenavista, Costa Rica

Playa Los Cedros

7.7

Free entrance, Virgin beach, Easy access

Cerro Buenavista 1.2 km

Hermosa, Costa Rica

Playa Hermosa

8.1

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

Hermosa 0.4 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

What to do in Mal Pais Beach? Are there any attractions or entertainments in region?

For those who wish to engage in something more extreme than a lazy holiday on the beach, it is worth noting that Mal Pais Beach is excellent for surfing. This kind of activity is suitable for beginners and for professionals. The waves in this region you can see in the photos above or study the reviews by our users. And by the way, on the beach you can take surfing coaches!

Beach surroundings

Restaurants Attractions Transport Localities

Restaurants

Hotel Vista de Olas• 21 min walk
Ritmo Tropical Hotel• 3km
Ritmo Tropical Resta...• 3km
Restaurante Playa Ca...• 3km

Attractions

Mal Pais Tidepools• 14 min walk
Playa Ventanitas• 29 min walk
Las melinas• 2.9km
Taxi Boats & Land Tr...• 3.5km

Transport

TMU• 20.7km
Terminal de buses de...• 53.8km
Estación de Tren Cal...• 59.1km

Localities

Malpais• 230m
San Jose• 122.3km

Travelers reviews

7.7/10 Very good

Average Reviews rating

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Reviews
Q&A

7.7/10 Very good

Average Reviews rating

Questions and answers

What is the water and sand quality of the Mal Pais Beach?

The beach has a sandy and rocky covering of gold color. It's very clean, the surface has a mixed fraction. The water is impeccably turquoise. 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 Mal Pais Beach?

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

The Mal Pais Beach is also suitable for the following water activities:

Surfing

Is the Mal Pais Beach good for swimming?

The entrance to the water is gentle, the bottom is comfortable.

The waves in the Mal Pais Beach are usually strong. The tides are high, so sometimes you have to cross several meters to get to the water.

There are some boats in the bay.

Is the Mal Pais Beach good for families?

Family travelers should consider the following features of the beach. This is the natural virgin beach with minimal amenities. It's covered with mixture of sand and stones and the entrance to the water is gentle.

Is the Mal Pais Beach secluded and good for relaxing?

The beach is located in a natural area. During the high season, the occupancy of the beach is moderate, which is very good for lovers of a relaxing holiday.

What are the key audiences of Mal Pais Beach?

Mal Pais Beach can be a good place for the following groups of travelers:

Campers

Is there any food or beverages in the area of Mal Pais Beach?

There is no restaurant or bar directly on Mal Pais Beach.

There are 4 restaurants nearby.Hotel Vista de Olas is the closest place located 1700 meters from the beach.

How far is the Mal Pais Beach from parking?

The Mal Pais Beach 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 Mal Pais Beach?

There are 4 attractions near Mal Pais Beach that are popular with travelers. The nearest are Mal Pais Tidepools located in 1.1 km. See the attractions section for details.

What is the best time of the year to visit Mal Pais Beach?

The month with the highest temperature in Mal Pais Beach 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.