At a glance
- From Santa Teresa
- About 15 minutes south of central Santa Teresa; 3 km (about 10 minutes) south of the Playa Carmen crossroads
- From the airports
- San José airport (SJO): 5½–6 hours via the Puntarenas–Paquera ferry. Liberia airport (LIR): 4½–5½ hours. Cóbano airport (ACO): 30–35 minutes
- Swimming
- The open beach is rocky, and the reef has strong rip currents. For a calm dip, use the Mar Azul tide pools at low tide
- Best for
- Couples who want quiet; families with kids of any age at the tide pools (with water shoes)
- Facilities
- A small village with a working fishing port, a few restaurants and a mini-market; banks and supermarkets at Playa Carmen
- Getting there
- Dirt side roads south from the Playa Carmen crossroads; the tide-pool road turns off at Indigo Yoga Resort
- Surf
- A consistent reef break for intermediate and experienced surfers, biggest in January and February
Where are the Malpaís tide pools?
The best-known pools are at Mar Azul, on the rocky shore of Malpaís. Driving south from Santa Teresa, turn right at Indigo Yoga Resort onto an unmarked dirt road (go slowly: there’s a big bump). It loops into a grassy field with palm trees by the sea, and tall rocks mark the pools. Park in the shade, but not under the coconuts, and keep valuables out of sight.
The pools come in all shapes. Some are narrow but four or five feet deep, clear enough to snorkel; others are wide and shallow, just right for small children. You can easily spend a couple of hours here.
When should you go?
Go at low tide. Check a tide chart before you set off (the nearest official table is the national weather service’s tide table for Puntarenas) and plan to be there around the low. That’s when the pools are calm and cut off from the sea. As the tide rises, waves start splashing over the rocks and the pools get rough, so head back to the sand when you see the sea reaching them.
Bring water shoes (there are sea urchins in some pools), a rash guard or water shirt, a sun hat and reef-safe sunscreen. There’s nothing to buy at the pools, so pack water and snacks. Stay inside the pools: the reef beyond has strong rip currents.
Insider tip: Pair the tide pools with Playa Los Suecos, just south past the fishing port. On the same low tide you can snorkel both and peek into the bat cave at Punta Murciélago, and still be back in Santa Teresa for lunch.
What else can you do here?
Plenty. It’s easy to find a quiet cove or a strip of sand to yourself. Spend the day reading and sunbathing, with the village’s cafés close by, or wander the shore looking for shells and stay for the sunset over the Pacific, some of the best on the peninsula. Malpaís is still a working fishing village, and it’s quieter and less developed than Santa Teresa or Playa Hermosa.
The Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve starts just to the south, but there’s no public entrance from this side: the ranger station is past Cabuya, about an hour’s drive round via Cóbano and Montezuma.
Is Malpaís good for surfing?
For experienced surfers, yes. Malpaís has a consistent reef break that works through the year, at its biggest in January and February, and it’s best left to intermediate and advanced surfers. First-timers usually take lessons at Playa Hermosa; see surfing near Santa Teresa.
Where to stay and what’s nearby
Staying close to the water is easy here. Where to stay in Malpaís and Santa Teresa
Want to compare the other beaches first?
More about Beaches in and around Malpais
Frequently asked questions
Where are the tide pools in Malpaís?
At Mar Azul, on the rocky shore of Malpaís. Driving south from Santa Teresa, turn right at Indigo Yoga Resort onto an unmarked dirt road and park under the palms in the grassy field by the sea. Go at low tide, and wear water shoes.
When is the best time to visit the Malpaís tide pools?
At low tide. Check a tide chart (the nearest official one is Costa Rica's national weather service table for Puntarenas) and arrive around the low, when the pools are clear and still. As the tide comes back in, waves start washing over the rocks, and that's your cue to get out.
Can you swim at Malpaís beach?
Not on the open beach: it's rocky, and the reef has strong rip currents. The tide pools are the calm option, and some are deep enough to snorkel in. For a real swimming beach, the calm Gulf side at Tambor and Curú is about an hour away.
Is Malpaís good for kids?
Yes, thanks to the tide pools. Some are shallow and wide, others four or five feet deep, and kids as young as five have snorkeled in them. Watch for sea urchins, bring water shoes and reef-safe sunscreen, and keep children inside the pools, away from the waves. See Santa Teresa with kids.
How far is Malpaís from Santa Teresa?
About 15 minutes by car from central Santa Teresa, along the beach road. Malpaís village is about 3 km south of the Playa Carmen crossroads, where you'll find the banks and supermarkets.
Where should we stay near Malpaís beach?
Malpaís is the quietest part of the strip, with small hotels and villas among the trees; Casa Chameleon's plunge-pool villas are here. For more choice and restaurants, look at Playa Carmen and Santa Teresa, 10 to 15 minutes north. See where to stay in Malpaís.