SANTA TERESA - MALPAIS Surf School & Lodge,
Puntarenas | Nicoya Peninsula | Costa Rica.

Surf Camps & Surf Schools | Surf Resort | Surfaris |

The Lodge | The Surf | The Packages | The Location | The Trip

If you’re thinking of a tropical getaway, think no further than the Nicoya Peninsula on the southern tip of Coast Rica. This is the ideal place for anybody looking to relax and take in the amazing landscape that meets a very active Pacific Ocean. Santa Teresa has amazing white sand beaches, consistent surf and a chilled-out international atmosphere, and this stretch of coastline referred to as Mal Pais has some of the best breaks in Costa Rica and is the perfect surfing destination.  

Santa Teresa is an upscale surf school, boutique hotel and surfer’s hideaway only steps away from one of Forbe’s “Top 10 beaches in the world”, boasting some excellent uncrowded beach breaks. A Billabong sponsored school, the Lodge offers a range of packages for surfers of all levels while providing a range of activities for non-surfer companions. 

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The Lodge

A surfer’s hideaway and boutique hotel, the Lodge features an open air swimming pool, a rancho style restaurant and fine accommodation formed by beautiful bungalows. Each bungalow is distinctively decorated with exotic hand-carved woods and elegant textures, while provided with comfortable bedding, full private bathrooms and all modern amenities.

Lodge Amenities

• Open air rancho kitchen
  
• Outdoor tiled swimming pool
  
• Free internet access
  
• Daily house keeping

Bungalow Amenities

• AC and Ceiling fan
  
• Pillow top mattress
  
• Private bathroom with hot water and organic soap
  
• Aromatherapy candles
  
• Laptop size room safe
  
• Breezy verandas
  
• All bungalow can accommodate up to 5 persons

Activities

• ATVs / Quad Bikes: Explore back roads and find gorgeous beaches and great tucked away restaurants in Santa Teresa/Malpais
  
• Massage & Spa Services: Wide variety of luscious spa services in the privacy of your bungalow
  
• Snorkeling & Scuba Diving: Grab a snorkle and explore the deep tide pools in Malpais
  
• Equestrian Tour: Experience the jungle and beaches of Santa Teresa/Malpais on horseback
  
• Fishing: Local guides will take you to some of the best fishing spots the area has to offer.
  
• Bird Watching: There are over 894 species including 19 globally threatened species in Costa Rica.
  
• Cabo Blanco Nature Preserve: The first National Park to be established in Costa Rica
  
• Canopy Tours: Experience zip-lining through and above thick Cabo Blanco National Park’s rain forest on lines extending as long as 500m.

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The Surf

Billabong Surf School

Santa Teresa Resort is located right on Suck Rock, a famous surf break in the country, while being steps away from stunning white sand beaches hosting some of the best variety of surf in Costa Rica. Student ratio is never more than 3 to 1 and you may even be instructed privately as your skills progress during the course. For advanced surfers, transportation to Malpais’ secret spots is organized!

CPR Certified instructor will educate you on surf etiquette, knowledge of the ocean, pre surf stretches, paddling, standing up and all the necessary skills so you go home stoked and surfing safely on your own or, in the case of an intermediate surfers, with new skills to further your knowledge of the sport. We believe that surf is not just a sport but a lifestyle and an attitude, having fun in the water and respect for Mother Earth.

Malpais Surf Spots

Malpais has very consistent surf, benefiting from south swells during the rainy season and west and northwest swells during the dry season. The rainy season from May to November will see slight onshore sea breezes in the afternoon while the dry season from December to April will be offshore a majority of the time. The beaches of MalPais have good sandbars that produce quality beachbreak waves in the 2-6 foot range. Whether you’re looking for softer breaking waves or something with a bit more juice, there are waves suitable for every level of surfing. With a lack of crowds, warm water, and stunning beaches, MalPais takes top honors as a perfect surfing destination.  

The main surf beach, El Carmen, is between Mal Pais and Santa Teresa. It has a good set of sand bars that offer some nice lefts and slightly longer rights. The break is popular with longboarders and because it is a gentle beach break without heavy rip tides, this spot is also suitable for beginners. There are several other spots in the Manzanillo-Santa Teresa-Mal Pais stretch of coast. In general, El Carmen, Santa Teresa and Playa Hermosa are good with small swells, while, Los Suecos, Punta Barrigona and Manzanillo are at their best with bigger swells.

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The Packages

STOKED SURFER Package 

7 Night Surf ‘n Stay Package

Single: 1,695 USD per pax in private accommodation

Double: 1,295 USD per pax in shared accommodation

Triple: 1,195 USD per pax in shared accommodation 

Including the following:

• Airport transfer to/from San Jose or Tambor Airport to Santa Teresa
  
• Lodging for 7 days/nights in shared accommodation
  
• Two Dinners during the week at good local restaurants
  
• 1 Surfing class daily including all equipment (max 3 to 1 student/teacher ratio)
  
• Use of equipment during your entire stay
• Pre-surf fresh fruit and coffee
  
• Full post-surf breakfast. Tico style eggs, rice and beans, plantains, toast, yogurt, granola, fresh   tropical fruit, coffee and juice
  
• 2 Yoga sessions 
  
• Billabong rash guard, T-shirt & goody bag gift

ZANCUDO Package

7 Night All inclusive package (B&B)

Single: 2,195.00 USD in private accommodation

Double: 1,675 USD per pax in shared accommodation

Triple: 1,495 USD per pax in shared accommodation

Including the following:

• Airport transfer to/from San Jose-Santa Teresa- San Jose
• Lodging for 7 days/nights
  
• Pre-surf coffee and fresh tropical fruit
  
• Full post-surf breakfast. Tico style eggs, rice and beans, plantains, toast, yogurt, granola, fresh   tropical fruit, coffee and juice.
  
• Use of equipment during your entire stay
  
• 1 hour full body massage OR 5 Yoga classes as schedules allow
  
• Still water photographs on a CD - professionally shot, of you surfing!
  
• Billabong rash guard, T-shirt & goody bag gift

We can make custom packages for people that do not need Surfcourses.

 

 

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The Location

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a small country located in Central America and one of the trendiest holiday and adventure-travel destinations in Latin America - One of Costa Rica’s main sources of income is tourism. Costa Rica is also a democratic and peaceful country, and was the first in the world to constitutionally abolish its army back in 1949.

Costa Rica is located on the Central American isthmus, 10° North of the equator. Bathed by the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, the country extend on an narrow stretch of land from Panama in the south to Nicaragua in the north. The highest point in the country is Cerro Chirripó, soaring at 3,820 metres (12,532 ft) and  the fifth highest peak in Central America. The country is ranked 5th in the world and 1st among American countries in terms of Environmental Performance. Although the country is small, it shelters 6% of the existing biodiversity in the entire world and 25 % of the country is under natural conservation protection (National Parks and Nature Preserves).

Malpais & Nicoya Peninsula

The Surfcamp is located in Malpais on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, which is home to the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, an amazing national park full of incredible wildlife. The hilly interior sweeps down to the Pacific Ocean, leading to some of the most incredible beaches in Costa Rica. Separating the Nicoya Peninsula from the mainland of Costa Rica is the Gulf of Nicoya. While quite large, the Gulf is technically a marine estuary of the Pacific Ocean with an extensive mangrove habitat teeming with all kinds of life. It accounts for 20% of Costa Rica’s fishing industry. 

With its consistent surf, white sandy beaches and a very welcoming vibe, Malpais has developed into one of the top travel destinations in Central America, and so too has the once small fishing village of Santa Teresa, which hugs the coastline about 100 miles west of the capital San Jose. So attractive and peaceful is this pueblo on the Pacific Ocean that it has lured not only surfers but many international travelers who have settled down here, contributing to the diverse and social community that flourishes in this tropical environment.  

Climate 

The Nicoya Peninsula experiences two contrasting seasons: the dry season begins at the end of November and until May, when the sun drenches the land. The first rainfalls to relieve the dry season occur in May at the start of the rainy season. Rainfall increases during the following months to become quite heavy from September to November, when the peninsula turns into a lush rainforest.  

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The Trip

Santa Teresa - Malpais (Puntarenas) 

6 Hours bus trip from San Jose

San Jose International Airport (SJO) 

(Major airlines: Iberia, AA, Continental, United, Delta, Air Canada, Lacsa)

Tambor Regional Airport (TMU)

Daily flight from San Jose

Shuttle service from Tambor Airport to the Surfcamp are included in the packages

For info on Tambor Airport and Flight, click here

Entry Requirements

Citizens holding valid passports from the European Union, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan are permitted to stay in Costa Rica for 90 days without a visa. For other countries, please check before. All travelers must carry a passport that remains valid for at least six months after the date of entry. No vaccine are necessary.

 

Other destinations in Costa Rica

PLAYA HERMOSA Surf Tours & Resort - Costa Rica
PLAYA GRANDE Surf Camp - Playa Grande
PUERTO VIEJO Surf Lodge & Accommodation - Talamanca
TAMARINDO Surf Camp - Tamarindo

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