The towns of Santa Teresa and Mal Pais sort of blend together as one. There is only one main road that runs along the coast and for the first time it can be a bit confusing.

However, when most people say Mal Pais, they are referring to the Mal Pais/Santa Teresa area in general and use them interchangeably.

Santa Teresa is located in the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula in the Guanacaste region. It is characterized by broad, white sand beaches with picturesque backdrops around every corner and dramatic sunsets.

This area enjoys warm and clear water with world class waves available. The beach combing here is second to none. At lower tides you can find numerous tide pools hidden along the rock outcroppings complete with colorful tropical fish.

As you walk through town you will most likely encounter howler monkeys, iguanas, green parrots, red squirrels and birds of all types.

Once here, it is easy to see why these beaches were named the “Top Ten Most Pristine Beaches in the World” by Forbes magazine. It has earned the prestigious “Bandera Azul” (Blue Flag) ranking which is awarded to clean, ecologically friendly areas by the government.

Besides the natural scenic beauty, there are a variety of restaurants, bars, and shops making it a destination that has something for everyone. People from all over the world have all become neighbors and business owners in this little slice of Costa Rica.

 

 

Reviews: Hotel Casa Marbella Mal Pais Costa Rica

“Amazing Time at Casa Marbella”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
My husband and I stayed at Casa Marbella in November 2008 and can't wait to go back! The owners, Stephanie and Jim, were great hosts and gave us recommendations of fun things to do and places to eat. We stayed in one of the smaller rooms for 4 days. The atmosphere is very private, safe and relaxing. The pool and amazing sunset view were just what we needed after long days at the beach. The hotel is in a great location, walking distance to the grocery store, several bars/restaurants and the beach. My husband and I both tried surfing for the first time and appreciated Jim's tips-he gives lessons. Definitely try surfing, the canopy zip line-tour and Mary's for mojitos and shrimp pizza. Thanks for the memorable stay!

“Beautiful, breathtaking views”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
We recently visited Casa Marbella in Mal Pais and wanted to remark on the beauty of this boutique hotel. The property is wonderfully kept with a nice selection of clean, roomy, accommodations. A lovely pool and breathtaking views of the Pacific make Casa Marbella a place you hardly want to leave. When we did feel like some activities, the owners were wonderfully knowledgeable and accommodating in booking excursions for us. Be sure and try the 4 wheelers and canopy tour...Awesome...We'll be back to Casa Marbella very soon.

“Beautiful Hotel”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
We loved our stay at the Casa Marbella! This is a newer property that could be charging a lot more. It is kept very clean and has various amenities like the beautiful ocean view infinity pool, comfortable beds, and air conditioners in each room, kitchenettes and safes. Rooms are very spacious with private ocean view balconies, hammocks, and chairs. We loved the sound of the ocean at night. The hotel sets on the side of the mountain about 100 meters from the main road. The grocery store is down on the corner along with some great open-air restaurants. The owners were great hosts and helped us book our 4-wheelers and horses. We rode horses on the beach, did some snorkeling, went over to Montezuma on 4-wheelers, stopping in little towns to eat and shop. Mal Pais also has some great places to shop for souvenirs, jewelry, clothes etc…

“So relaxing at Casa Marbella”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica

My boyfriend and I love to travel; between the two of us we have been to several beautiful places. I have been to Costa Rica a couple of times and really wanted to share the experience. This year we chose to stay at Casa Marbella in Mal Pais. We had heard great things from an acquaintance of ours. Every word was true. The hotel was beautiful, peaceful, clean, and safe. There was so much to do in this small town... charter fishing, canopy tours, renting 4 wheelers, walking on the beach, dining at beach front restaurants, or just relax at the pool with a cold beverage.
The hotel is just the right size and has a small staff so you really get to know them by the time you leave. The only down fall is Mal Pais is a long trip from both San Jose airport and Liberia airport. We drove and took a ferry on the way there and it was worth the travel. On our way back to San Jose after a lovely week there we took a one-hour flight back to San Jose was very convenient!
The weather was great even though we were cutting it close to rainy season, which typically begins in October. We plan on returning next year around the same time and have kept in touch with the couple that owns and runs Casa Marbella.

“Wonderful, relaxing vacation!”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
My husband and I recently brought our 2 year old with us to Mal Pais for a 9-day vacation. This was our second visit to Mal Pais, but our first with a toddler! Casa Marbella is a BEAUTIFUL hotel with breathtaking views of the ocean. It is located close to Ronny's supermarket and several wonderful restaurants. Follow the steps from the parking lot up to Buenos Aires for wonderful food.... we ate there twice!

We stayed in the luxury condo that is huge! On the first floor there is a huge patio with a table that easily seats 6 and a hammock. Inside there is more seating and a huge kitchen. There are two bedrooms downstairs and a bathroom and another bedroom upstairs. If you are traveling with another family or friends the condo is ideal.

The rooms are clean, the beds are comfortable and the hotel is quiet. The owners, Jim and Stephanie, live at the hotel and are super nice and helpful. Stephanie booked massages for my husband and I, gave us directions to the waterfall in Montezuma, rented a 4-wheeler for us and helped us plan our trip to Tortuga.

Casa Marbella is a beautiful hotel. We won't stay anywhere else when we come back to Mal Pais!

“Definitely a great place to stay!”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
A great spot! This was our second time to Mal Pais, and Casa Marbella did not disappoint us. It is a beautiful hotel, and a great central location. Just a short walk down the drive (which is really steep!!! If you're driving up there, don't be afraid. Just gun it!) to the Super Ronny (the local market), restaurants, and most importantly the beach.

Their neighbor hotel (a slightly scary climb up some stairs built into a hill) is Buenos Ares, which provided for a great spot to grab a quick and delicious bite - try the empanadas - they are delicious. It was especially perfect because Casa Marbella doesn't have a restaurant itself.

We stayed for 6 nights during the rainy season (august 2008) in one of the two bedroom suites. The room was very comfortable and clean. It had a very comfy, firm king bed in main room, queen in second room, small kitchen (two burners, fridge, very limited cooking utensils) and a table. It had a nice, clean bathroom, a terrific balcony with a hammock, and a very nice ocean view. The trip to Mal Pais / Santa Teresa is extremely bumpy (supposedly the road is one of the worst in Costa Rica), but that is the price to pay to sneak away to a little slice of paradise.

Stephanie and Jim (the owners) are really nice (a young couple from Florida with a super cute toddler). Take a surf lesson with Jim. He's a great teacher! I had never touched a board before and he had me up on the board in just a few minutes.

The crowd when we were at the hotel was pretty diverse. There was a family with a young boy, some other rooms with youngish couples, and some surfers. Everyone was quiet and respectful and friendly while at the pool/courtyard (very important as the hotel was built around an open courtyard - which could get loud). We made friends with two of the rooms of people, even going on a tour to Isla Tortuga (a must do) with some of them.

Overall, the place has a great feeling to it. A great place for a little R&R. We were sad to leave, and can't wait to go back to Mal Pais. When we come back, we definitely plan on staying here again!


“Perfect Malpais Vacation”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
My daughter and I recently stayed in a 2-bedroom suite for 9 days (we enjoyed it so much we extended our stay). The rooms are tastefully decorated with a kitchen. The highlights were relaxing in the hammock on the deck listening to the ocean. Another favorite was fixing breakfast and eating it poolside overlooking the ocean.

Casa Marbella has the intimacy of a B&B, while feeling like a full service resort. Jim was the best surf instructor I've ever met - he had me stunned at the progress I made on the waves. Stephanie was able to find us fun things to do, amazing restaurants on the beach and take care of every strange request we had (there were a few)

Malpais is incredible. It's a perfect spot for surfing and enjoying the beach. After spending time in Monteverde and Arenal, I really appreciate the unspoiled nature of Malpais and Santa Teresa. It's not overrun with American tourists. I completely understand it being ranked as one of the top 10 beaches in the world.

I tend to want to try new destinations in future vacations. That said Casa Marbella would be the exception, as I hope to return soon.

“Fantastic Casa Marbella”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
We recently stayed in the luxury condo at the Casa Marbella, and it was fantastic! My husband and I went with another couple and had a great time, thanks in a large part to Jim and Stephanie, the owners of the hotel. It is a small property that is very personal and lovely, the luxury condo was huge, with a large great room and three bedrooms. We spent a lot of time on the porch, swinging in the hammock and sipping pina coladas and beer and looking out over the incredible view. The condo itself is beautifully decorated and the perfect space to relax in after a fun day spent at the beach or hiking. We also loved the pool, where you can gaze out to the ocean. Jim and Stephanie provided a huge notebook full of excursions and activities in the area and called to book massages and day trips for us, as well as cab rides. They were invaluable in advising us on where to eat and how to get around. I hope that we can go back next year!!

“Love Casa Marbella”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
A lovely 8 (?) room boutique hotel. Opened in Nov 07. Very clean, nicely decorated. Great view! Jim and Stephanie live on premises, so pretty much always there and always available.

Also loved the location. It was just off the main road, which gave it a very secluded feeling, but a close walk to beach and town. Jim and Stephanie were great!

We were there in the off-season, so we had the pool pretty much all to ourselves.

We'll definitely stay there on our next trip to Mal Pais/Santa Teresa.

“Luxury at a low cost!”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
I traveled to Mal Pais and came across Casa Marbella. It has an outstanding view of the ocean from the hill while overlooking the infinity pool. Each room is modern and laid back. This place is always kept up and looking A+ with security at night for piece of mind. Very short walk down the hill to the beach. Approx 2-3 mins. The owner, Jim, took care of our every need including surfboard rentals and restaurant recommendations. I was blown away!

“Casa Marbella - cool and chic - beautiful views”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
We stayed 10 nights and we enjoyed every minute. The hotel is brand new and has a really cool and chic design (nice details), we stayed in a standard room that was enough, although the rooms on the ends have balconies with hammocks and beautiful ocean view. In the center there is an infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. The view is spectacular; we also enjoyed it when coming home late in the evening watching the stars ;-)
Stefanie and Jim, the owners, are more like friends, they help you with everything and we were lucky to be invited twice for dinner. You should rent a quad, go deep-sea fishing (you can bring your catch back to the hotel what we did, and Jim grilled our yellow-fin-tuna - fantastic!) or take a surf lesson. By the way, the beach which is just a 5 min walk down from the hotel is one of the nicest I have seen worldwide - you will start to surf, for sure!
And there was not only one situation where we felt unsecure!
So we can highly recommend the place. Remember, it is still an insider- tip, not a lot of tourism! For more pictures check

“The best”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
I was referred to Casa Marbella from another hotel in the area that was sold out at that time. I was so impressed with the cleanliness, artistic decor, and high level of comfort and service provided. Stephanie and Jim just opened this hotel and there commitment to their guests is apparent. I was traveling by myself and the intimacy of this beautiful hotel made it easy for me to meet and join other guests for meals and activities if I wished. It is a hotel with 7 different rooms some with kitchens, some with multiple bedrooms. Each room (because I was curious I looked) has its own personality and charm. All the rooms look onto an infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. The view is spectacular and the atmosphere is tranquil. I also loved floating in the pool at night looking up at the stars. I also recommend hiring Jim to teach you a surfing lesson his confident and calm manner is just what you need when trying to surf. I am not easily impressed but I was so pleased with this experience that I am sharing it!

“Great Service, Views, Pool.”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
We stayed 8 nights and can't say more about what owners Jim and Stephanie built and how enjoyable our stay was here. Amazing ocean views from most rooms, a community pool overlooking the ocean and vegetation, and rooms that are stylish, modern and comfortable and extremely clean.

My 4th trip to Santa Teresa/Mal Pais area and this has been my favorite place to stay. Highly recommend staying here. Especially if you too are one of the lucky few that get here while the place is spanking new. It was just completed 3 months ago.

Enjoy! And thank you Jim and Stephanie for a wonderful stay and for sharing your wisdom about the area. We'll be back!!

“Casa Marbella Rocks”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
Stayed at Casa Marbella in Dec '07 and loved every min. of it.
We kind of fell @ss backwards into Casa Marbella and couldn't have been happier. Due to it being Christmas time we were unable to find anywhere to stay in Mal Pais that wouldn't break the bank. But while searching for a place to say we found one of the other hotels in Mal Pais that while full had a "friend" who had a place that could be rented. It was cheap and available so we booked it. Once I arrived in Mal Pais the owner of the other hotel informed me that while the place we had booked was still available the neighbors had shown up and were parting till all hours and he could promise the place would be quite. He suggested that his Friends at Casa Marbella had a spare room and for only $5 more a night we should check it out. He took me up to see the hotel and meet Jim and Steph. One look at the immaculate rooms and the infinity pool and I was sold. We got lucky...the hotel was sold out but one of there rooms that they had just finished furnishing/outfitting was available since they had literally just finished getting it ready (door frame paint was till tacky when I arrived).
The hotel is laid out with 5 standard rooms (1 double 1 single bed), 2 two-bedroom rooms with full kitchens and 2 three-bedroom apartments.
The Standard rooms have bar fridges while the bigger rooms have full kitchens as well as balconies with hammocks.
An infinity pool takes up their hotel courtyard over looking the tree's and the ocean and an outdoor shower for de-sanding after the beach.
Jim and Steph live in one of the three bedrooms but I believe will move around if a big family or group requires the space.
The only complaint that we had about the hotel was that it was at the top quite a big hill, not really a big problem but after a long day of surfing or hiking it was a bit of a chore :)
Jim and Stephanie were great and made sure we were enjoying our stay.... they arranged any taxi's we needed as well as renting Quads and restaurant recommendations. Jim also does surf lessons and even though we went out on probably the worst day for surfing ever...a fun time was still had by all.

The hotel is near to everything in Mal Pais including the beach, supermarket, yoga and restaurants. The Hotel Buenos Ares is 50 feet away at the top of the hill and has a great restaurant over looking the ocean.

Over this entire hotel was a great place and I can't wait to go back and stay with Jim and Stephanie again.

“Amazing Hotel - Beautiful Views.”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
I stayed at the Casa Marbella for four days (end of Jan - Feb 08) and it was incredible from beginning to end. The owners, Jim and Stephanie, are warm and welcoming and have created the perfect oasis in Santa Teresa. The hotel is a great break from all the cabinas and wooden structures you'll find all over Costa Rica. The rooms are immaculate, modern, spacious - perfect. All rooms have a refrigerator and safe (though you don't really need the safe - the hotel is quite secure). There are also units with two bedrooms and full kitchens if you're traveling with family or a group. The pool and lounge chair area is perfect and relaxing.

Casa Marbella is located up a hill off the main street. It is within walking distance to everything - the beach, many restaurants, the market. One restaurant in particular - Brisas Del Mar - is amazing. The freshest seafood I've ever had and perfectly prepared. Word is getting around so it's best to make a reservation. Another spot is the Hotel Buenos Aires, located right above Marbella. It's a convenient spot to have drinks or dinner with an amazing view of the sunset.

My stay was perfect and I'm already thinking about my next trip back. I cannot say enough great things about this hotel.

“Modern oasis just above from the heart of Santa Theresa”
Casa Marbella Santa Teresa, Mal Pais Costa Rica
Casa Marbella is a new property built just above the heart of Santa Theresa. We found it through a friend who knows one of the owners, and were thrilled that we choose to stay here. There are eight rooms, both one and two bedrooms. All have kitchenettes, fridges, and other basic amenities. The property is in a u-shape with a gorgeous infinity edge pool and hot tub in the center. The two rooms on the ends have balconies with hammocks where you can relax with a drink and gaze out at the ocean and wildlife in the trees. The two couples that own Casa Marbella; occupy the space above the rooms. They are youthful, warm, and welcoming. One couple is from Florida and the other from Germany. They were extremely helpful in arranging for our quads, suggesting things to do, and Jim even gives surfing lessons to brave guests. The decor and architecture is chic.