Welcome to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world: Malpais and Santa Teresa, known for their rugged jungle beauty, unforgettable sunsets, and especially the epic surf in Santa Teresa. The area has also become known as a hot spot for amazing cuisine in Costa Rica, since many amazing chefs have moved here from different parts of the world.

From the moment you arrive in the Malpais / Santa Teresa area, you’ll know that you’ve discovered a very special place, quite unlike other towns in Costa Rica. The area has been compared with Maui 50 years ago, or Santa Cruz, California, but with monkeys and warm water.

Even though Malpais and Santa Teresa are so popular, there are many beautiful beaches nearby that you can have almost to yourself. There are beautiful secret waterfalls, and point breaks for surfing that often have no one on them.

Santa Teresa and Malpais are two small beach towns that are run together and create one incredible spot for surfing. Malpais is more rocky, but Santa Teresa is primarily sandy surfing beaches with warm, clean water and year round epic waves. The area has many surf schools, surf camps, and surf instructors who make their living here.

Many tourists come from South America and Europe, not only the United States and Canada. Many have stayed in the area and found a way to make a living by creating unique little restaurants, hotels, and rental houses. The food in Santa Teresa has become among the best in Costa Rica. Many five-star chefs have built restaurants here and do their own cooking, creating a plethora of dining opportunities.

Santa Teresa has also become very popular as a surf destination from within Costa Rica itself, and many Costa Ricans visit the area on weekends and holidays. The name Malpais translates directly as “bad country” but in fact is better translated as “badlands” because the area’s rivers dry up during the rainy season, making it inhospitable to cattle and farmers. But now, there are many wells drilled in the area, providing water to the citizens of Santa Teresa.

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica has many luxury villas and other rental houses available to tourists. Most popular are the beachfront rental homes, that range from $350-$2000 per night. The high end vacation rentals are consistently booked despite the prices, especially since Forbes Magazine rated the Malpais/Santa Teresa beaches among the top 10 most beautiful in the entire world.

Many have found that renting a vacation home is superior to the experience provided by a hotel. A rental villa usually has more space, more privacy, and is a much more unique and adventurous experience. The typical tourist to this part of Costa Rica usually craves this type of lodging, and as a result there are no hotel chains set up in the area.

The hotels of the area are unique and mostly mom-and-pop type of places. The beachfront hotels are the most popular, ranging from $100-$1000 per night for a room, and the rooms of all price categories are frequently booked. The gorgeous setting of Santa Teresa makes it very popular with honeymooners, and for people having weddings, and many of the rental houses and hotels cater to such clientelle.

Learn more about Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. Stop by Geoffrey McCabe’s site where you can find out all about having your Wedding in Santa Teresa and other information about this beautiful Costa Rica beach town.

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