Best Beaches in Cobano, Costa Rica
The beach at the small town of Montezuma in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica was only a remote fishing village until the 1980s when budget-minded visitors discovered its beauty. Still a relatively quiet village on the southern tip of the famous Nicoya Peninsula, Montezuma and the nearby Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve draw backpackers and eco-tourists to its rivers, beaches, and waterfalls and is considered somewhat bohemian with its funky international guests and open-minded locals. The beach here is especially well-suited for snorkeling because in the dry season the water is very transparent and the rock formations are teeming with fish, Moray eels, sea turtles, and octopi.
Costa Rica has gained international prominence as a surfing destination, and Montezuma boasts exceptionally important surf spots such as Playa Grande, Los Cedros, and Rio Lajas. Anamaya Surf Camp is a luxury retreat center, and La Escula del Sol Surf School is an all-inclusive school that teaches surfing, fire dancing, yoga, and the Spanish language. The beach town has an active nightlife, numerous diverse restaurants, and a plethora of arts and crafts galleries as well as artists selling their goods along the streets.
Malpais (or Mal Pais) Beach, situated on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica just south of Santa Teresa, is a beautiful, relaxing beach that’s sandy, long, and at times rocky but is sprinkled with sandy, shady, secluded areas perfect for private relaxing. Be careful not to confuse Malpais, a larger, much busier beach area that includes Santa Teresa and Playa Carmen, with the small, tranquil neighborhood of Malpais. The neighborhood of Malpais is laid-back and has few accommodations and no shops. As part of the famed Nicoya Peninsula, Malpais has activities to please everyone and has recently become a destination for the younger, more enthusiastic crowds. Of course, visitors come to Malpais Beach for the surf as its waves can accommodate on most days throughout the year any level of surfer from the beginner to the advanced levels. Surfing, however, is not the only attraction to Malpais. Try snorkeling, sport fishing, scuba diving, seashell collecting, and sunset watching, all within steps of your lodging. The town has a small port where you can catch a tour boat or rent a stand-up paddle board; its maritime sanctuary Cabo Blanco protects many species of sea life, and the area is excellent for bird watching.
One of the worst kept secrets of the area is Playa Cuevas in the adjacent Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, locally known as “the secret beach.” This exquisite white-sand cove is perfect for snorkeling at low tide and can be accessed from Maipais.
Ironically, Malpais means “bad land” in Spanish, but ask anyone who has visited the area and they will quickly tell you that it’s incorrectly named. The land here is anything but bad!
Looking for the place where the surf is always up? Try the quintessential surf village of Santa Teresa, a small beach town where the sun is bright, the sands is sparkling, and the water is crystal clear. And while your initial lure might be the beach, you’ll be surprised by the fishing, the kite-surfing, the yoga and spas, and the gorgeous sunsets. Even though Santa Teresa has recently boomed in popularity, it has managed to resist the high-rises and still has a pristine coastline with sandy white beaches bordered by a broad strip of forests and jungle covered hills that separate the beach from the town.
Santa Teresa is a great place for novice surfers with its easy-going breaks and many surf schools and camps, but Santa Teresa is about more than surfing. Try one of the long hikes along the scenic coastline, swim and investigate interesting sea life in the tidal pools, go snorkeling or fishing, or read a book while enjoying the amazing views from any direction.
Visitors often mention the memorable sunsets at the beach where the entire town seems to gather. Watching surfers show their talents, chatting with the Ticos, enjoying the bonfires, and planning for the rest of the evening all combine to make visitors feel welcome. Don’t be surprised if the beauty and atmosphere of Santa Teresa make you think about joining the many others who have settled at Santa Teresa permanently!
