Photo Tours - Mal Pais
Mal Pais is a quiet and utterly secluded stretch of beach along the West Coast of Costa Rica (Puntarenus Province). Recently, Forbes Magazine voted the beaches of Mal Pais and neighboring Santa Teresa as "One of the ten most beautiful in the world." The white sands stretch as far as you can see and are completely free of hotels, resorts or any other buildings. They exist, but just not directly on the beaches. The biggest draw of this beach destination is the surfing. The waves are large, well built and endless. Because of the vast length of the beaches there is no waiting for the next wave or fighting for dominate positions. Just move up or down the beach a little and find your own wave to claim.
The area is very long and skinny. By that I mean that there is a single road which follows the ocean and everything is on it. So be prepared to do some walking if you wish to check out "town". It really is worth the money to rent yourself a bicycle so that jaunts from bar to bar don't take up the whole evening. You can also find scooters and motorcycles for rent.
Getting There and Getting Out:
Essentially there is only one way in or out. Take the bus from Cabano which you can catch early in the morning at Frank's Place (crossroads between MalPais and Santa Teresa) and from there you can make your way to whatever destination your are taking. Getting to the beaches is the same idea in reverse. Make you way to Cabano and then take the bus to Frank's. Beware that the dirt roads can become quite ugly in the rainy season possibly causing delays and in some cases (depending on where you are going), the buses may simply stop running.
If you are coming from the mainland you may want to hop a speed boast from Jaco to Montezuma and the catch a bus through Cabano to Frank's.
For more up to date details on transportation you can check out MalPais.net
Other Thing to Do:
World Class Surfing is not the only attraction to this area. Of course there are the stunning beaches with mind blowing sunsets, perfect for any couples getaway. There is also plenty of jungle to explore. Canopy tours are available and you can also hire a local guide to take you hiking. This is recommended as not only will the keep you from getting lost in the jungle but they can tell you about the fauna and wildlife you are seeing. Other activities include snorkeling, horse back ridding and boat excursions.
Not far from Mal Pais and Santa Teresa is the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, Costa Rica's oldest nature preserve. Established by a Scandinavian couple, aren Morgensen and Olof Wessberg, who donated the land, the park features an evergreen forest, beaches and a plethora of birds and wildlife. The park is open from 8 am to 4pm, closed Monday and Tuesday. Entrance fee $ 6. Check out the Cabo Blanco Park website for more information.
