In the southwest of the province of Puntarenas, Malpais (meaning "bad land") and Santa Teresa were, in the 1980’s, part of Costa Rica's ends of the world, where no one thought to go. In 15 years, this wild piece of the Pacific coast has revealed part of its secret. The place became known, it developed while preserving its environment, keeping all its charm and character.
Today, as in the past, it is accessible by rocky and dusty tracks in the dry season, and a 4*4 is essential to get around. The sandy beaches are superb and the waves delight surfers from sunrise to sunset. Stretching for about ten kilometres, this remarkable coastline leans against a line of jungle-covered hills and is made up of two distinct parts, delimited by el Cruce (the intersection of the Santa Teresa and Cóbano roads): Malpais to the south and Santa Teresa to the north.
In terms of beaches, there are 4 from south to north: Playa Malpais (the quietest), Playa Carmen (the most central), Playa Santa Teresa (the most frequented by swimmers and surfers) and finally Playa Hermosa, which is quieter.