Mal Pais Surf Camp & Resort is a full service surfing resort, situated in Mal Pais Costa Rica, on 10 acres of lush tropical gardens, just minutes away from numerous surf spots. We offer a wide range of accommodations at our hotel at reasonable rates and good value to fit all budgets. Our concept here in Mal Pais is Pure Life/Pura Vida! Fun for the whole family. Come enjoy the peace, tranquility and natural beauty of the last frontier of Costa Rica!

Owned and operated by surfers for surfers and others.

We offer Poolside Houses & Villas, Cabinas, Ranchos and Camping Area. Our Surf Camp and Resort has everything you need for your Costa Rica vacation, including Restaurant, Jungle Bar and B.B.Q., Recreation Area, 17-Meter Swimming Pool, Universal Gym, Satellite TV, Surf Videos, Billiards, Ping Pong table, Surfing Lessons, Surfboard and Boogie Board Rentals and Instruction, Waterfalls, Nature Park, Horseback Riding, Surf Fishing and Boat Trips and Surf Camp Packages. We offer Pick-up Service from Airport & Ferry Docks.

Poolside Houses & Villas: Pura Vida! Spoil Yourself! Sleeps up to five comfortably, with hot water and more. Kids under 10 stay free. Live in luxury in a rustic but elegant setting with the best atmosphere.

Poolside HOUSES options available:

. Poolside house upper level, open floor plan at $115 per night double occupancy add $15 each additional person

. Poolside house lower level, 2 separate bedrooms at $115 per night double occupancy add $15 each additional person

. Poolside house lower level with fully equipped kitchen and sat. TV at $150 per night double occupancy add $15 each additional person

. Poolside house upper and lower level with fully equipped kitchen and sat. TV at $ 250 per night for 4 persons add $15 each additional person.

Poolside VILLAS options available:

. Poolside Villa, will sleep up to 5 persons comfortably at $95 per night double occupancy, add $15 each additional person.

. Poolside VILLA with private garden and fully equipped kitchen will sleep up to 4 persons comfortably at $ 135 per night double occupancy, add $15 each additional person.

We are dedicated to friendly excellent service. Our Surf Camp and Resort has everything you need for your Costa Rican vacation. Enjoy tropical cocktails by the pool or relax in the jungle bar. We have pool tables, ping pong, surf videos, massage rancho, universal gym, indo boards and a relaxing atmosphere.

Restaurant and bar:

We pride ourselves on an international menu as well as Costa Rican favorites.

We have specials daily such as:

. Filet Mignon

. Stir Fry Fajitas

. Grilled Dorado

. Whole Red Snapper

. Pasta Carbonara

. Seafood Platters

“amazing”

Mal Pais Surf Camp & Resort

we decided to spend 2 weeks in costa rica and ended up spending the majority of it at the Mal Pais Surf Camp! For the unfortunate traveler who lost her money and camera, i feel for you, but this happens anywhere, and be advised that the staff suggests your leave all valuables (including passport, money, camera, credit cards) with them in the main lodge.

that aside, the surf camp is beautiful, and everyone there is friendly and laid back. Can you think of a place where howler monkeys wake you up every morning, and there is hot dark costa rican coffee brewing at sunrise? Surfboard rentals that are cheaper than starbucks, and surfing coaches that seem to have leaped out of the movie “Endless Summer?” Mal Pais Surf Camp is by far the best bang for your buck, and actually to everyone I met from England to LA, NYC, to Amsterdam would all agree.

“Watch Your Belongings!”

Mal Pais Surf Camp & Resort

We just returned from a two week vacation from Costa Rica and spent two nights at Mal Pais Surf camp. When checking in we were told to leave all valuables at the front desk, we should have listened!! We felt strange leaving our valuables with someone else. There are no safes in the rooms. We brought our bags in and walked to the beach for about 20 minutes and came back to find all of our bags opened, which was strange because we locked all the doors, some even had dead bolts. Our video camera had been stolen and $400 cash from my wallet, not my wallet, my credit cards, or the camera case. We checked all the doors again and they were locked. This left a bad taste in our mouths. After that, we decided to still stay and we didn't leave anything else in the room. It's a shame because the pool is great and the nachos were delicious. Our friends stayed in another room and were fine. We learned from this experience, it could have been worse. We just hope who ever has our video camera enjoys watching our stupid home videos.

“relaxing and fun”

Mal Pais Surf Camp & Resort

The staff and very relaxed but helpful. We stayed in the one of the ranchos. There was five beds and there was only two of us. The price was still only 50 dollars a night. Overall it was a good value, even better if you have more people. The food was great, although you can find better priced food in the downtown area. The rooms are simple and have a summer camp feel. I would stay here again. The beach is beautiful and the pool is nice and refreshing after a day of sun and surf. This place is great for friends, families, and single travelers.

“Relaxed atmosphere and fresh food”

Mal Pais Surf Camp & Resort

I stayed at the Surf Camp with 4 friends in one of the awesome villas. Our villa was comfortable and cool, my favourite part being a huge drying room next to the bathroom for hanging our wetsuits and bathing suits, and leaning our boards up to dry. They've got a wide variety of accommodation for everyone's budgets and needs: Everything from fully equipped poolside houses to basic camping sites. The restaurant is delicious- they serve hearty, fresh food, and the specials change daily. I love the banana shakes! I'm planning a trip back there for this February, and can't wait to take more surfing lessons, and relax by the pool again. Friday and Saturday nights get a little loud with the music and the mechanical bull competions, but the rest of the week is pretty chill.

“Good value”

Mal Pais Surf Camp & Resort

Mal Pais surf camp offers good value. Three of us split a "rancho" that sleeps 5 with a shared bathroom. It was $15 a night each. We had to pay for meals and surfboard rental. We found out about this place in the "Lonely Planet". They offer a wide variety of accomondations. Rooms, ranchos, camping, condo. There is a pool, bar and restaurant on the grounds as well as surf board rentals. It's about a ten minute walk from the hamlet of Franks Place. It's a sleepy little surf town. For nightlife, the different hotels take turns hosting a disco night. Mal Pais is worth visiting and it is a matter of time before the high rises move in. It is not the easiest place to get to. The surfing is intermediate and not the best place for beginners. A lot of solo travelers were doing the surf camp deal. If you don't mind sharing a rancho with others for $50 a day you get a bed, three meals, and a surf board rental. The staff is friendly and they offer surf lessons. The food is good and averages about $10 a meal. They also play surf videos at the bar. It's clean and suited for active travelers. The beach is an easly ten minute walk down an easy trail. This place is suited for active travelers. We were in Costa Rica the first two weeks in December just before the high season. Prices then go up.