SURFING MALPAIS

Malpaís's location between the Central Pacific area and Guanacaste means that it benefits from both the big south swells which hit the beaches south of Puntarenas during the wet season as well as the offshore "Papagayo" winds which create optimum conditions on the Guanacaste coast during the dry season. Another great advantage is the complete absence of crowds; this area is one of the last frontiers of surf exploration in Costa Rica. When locals refer to Malpaís, they mean the whole area between Cabo Blanco Reserve and Manzanillo.

The best surf is found on the following beaches:

El Carmen: Continue straight on at the crossroads to the beach and you'll see the peak right in front of you. A long right wall and shorter section left break over a gradually sloping sand bottom.

Santa Teresa: Turn right at the crossroads and continue 3 km. To "Cabinas Santa Teresa" and turn down to the beach. Santa Teresa tends to pick up more swell than El Carmen and holds shape better at low tide.

Playa Hermosa: Next beach north from Santa Teresa, and even less crowded. Peaks all along the beach. When the beach breaks get big, the reefs and points start to work.

Recommended spots are:

Playa de Los Suecos: Turn left at the crossroads go 4 km. And park where you see the fishing boats. Walk south 100 yards along the rocks and paddle out through the channel next to the hotel. The wave is a lefthander with a fast take off followed by a long workable wall. Gets hollow with size and offshore.

Punta Barrigona: Between Los Suecos and the crossroads turn down to Mar Azul restaurant. A long lefthander wraps round the point turning into a great hotdog wave as it moves through the inside. Needs a lot of swell to work properly.