Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "Just what we were looking for - an awesome Mal Pais: My wife and I spent the last week of our honeymoon at Moana and had a terrific time. Aidan and Vicki were tremendously friendly and welcoming and made us feel perfectly at home. They were also super helpful with local recommendations and reservations for surfing lessons, manicures/pedicures (for my wife!), car hire, and dinners. Our room was very spacious and comfortable, and we made full use of the lodge's facilities, especially the beautiful pool and spa, which are superb to hang out at to watch the sunset. Breakfast each morning was also terrific - pancakes, omelet’s, fruit salads, and great coffee. Overall we had a terrific time and would highly recommend Moana to anyone else visiting Mal Pais.
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "Moana Lodge" Moana Lodge is a relaxing and friendly place to stay in Mal Pais with comfortable rooms, a modern new pool and Jacuzzi, hospitable owners and a delightful staff. During our stay we visited the various other hotels in the area and felt great about our choice. Moana Lodge features a peaceful ambiance, well-appointed, clean and comfortable rooms, as well as a lovely pool vibe. We felt it was the best place to stay in Mal Pais or Santa Teresa for the price we paid. Granted, you will not find many of the amenities or beachfront access that are available at Flor Blanca; however, for the extra $500 we would have spent per night, we didn’t feel it was worth it. While we do love our luxuries, most people don’t come to Mal Pais for white-glove service. They come for adventure, surfing, ATVing, great food, spectacular sunsets and the decidedly eclectic, yet, very hip vibe. One does not need beachfront access from a hotel because there are dozens of uninhabited stretches of beach throughout the area that are just waiting to be visited. We HIGHLY recommend that you rent an ATV for a week to get around town – it is really the only way to get a feel for the various restaurants, beaches and activities in the area.
During our stay, my husband and I couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel and take a cool dip in the pool, listen to some of the hotel’s great tunes, crack a beer (available at the front desk) and take a long nap in one of the most comfortable four-poster beds we have ever slept in. In the morning, we would rise to monkeys playing in the trees and the smell of breakfast waiting next door in the open-air kitchen. The breakfasts very tasty – pancakes, smoothies, fried eggs with rice and beans, and the staff were so sweet and friendly. Aidan, the new owner, was so helpful on every level – truly dedicated to making Moana Lodge a memorable place for all who visit.
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "Perfect vacation" I have nothing but positive feedback for the Moana Lodge and the wonderfully efficient, professional, helpful and friendly staff. My husband and I knew the minute we arrived, as we met the owner, were escorted around the beautiful and well designed property, that we'd found the right place. From our window and the comfortable chairs outside our door on the deck, we could watch the ocean and hear the waves. The Moana, like most of the accommodations in Mal Pais and Santa Theresa, is not directly on the beach but the beach is close enough! We walked every day to Playa del Carmen and surfed, beginning the first day with a lesson from an excellent surfing instructor the Moana Lodge recommended to us. I was very impressed with the level of integrity displayed by the owners of the Moana Lodge, Vicki and Aidan. It's such a friendly place that we know the names of all the staff and I felt very welcomed and comfortable practicing my Spanish skills with them. Breakfast each morning at the Moana was just right. On different days we had omelets, pancakes, toast, smoothies, GREAT coffee, and FRESH fruit every day! And for other meals we walked (literally) across the road to a spot ON THE BEACH for a sunset meal with fresh fish, beans and rice, fajitas, chicken... and we explored the many other restaurants close by. I'm just so overjoyed that we found this place and we cannot wait to return. Our thanks to Aidan, Vicki and their staff for an amazing vacation. See you next year! Sarah Lakosky
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "just okay" we stayed here a few nights but there is nothing special here. the room is clean but there is no beach or even view to beach. it is not bad but it is located in a place that there are better places. not bad but just nothing that stands out special. no place to eat that is really good. I think the hotel Tropico Latino is better for the same price. thank you
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "a wonderful find" I did extensively research in Mal Pais/ Santa Teresa (using TripAdvisor, Conde Nast, & Budget Travel), booked the Moana Lodge, & was very pleased with the result. We stayed in March, had 2 rooms for 4 nights.
The place has been recently purchased by a new owner from Ireland (Aiden), who runs it with his partner (Virginia?) & they do a fantastic job. Their customer service is phenomenal, but not overbearing. They assisted us booking horseback riding on the beach, recommended excellent places to eat, & even checked on the ferry for the trek back to the mainland. I was more than impressed with the management here (which, I will honestly say, if rare coming from me). Aiden even went as far as to find me in the morning one day to show me a coati, I believe, an animal that hangs out near their cabina. One evening we stayed in the little outside sitting area & Aiden borrowed us some DVDs to watch there, while we relaxed with our beers. The rest of the staff is just as great. The girls that put our breakfast in the morning are so sweet. Breakfast is simple (good bread & fresh fruit), but plentiful, tasty, & included in the price. I loved the maintenance boy. He doesn't speak English, but keeps the place spotless & one day we traipsed through the bushes near the hotel as he tried desperately to point out monkeys to me.
I was very worried about the location, because we came to surf. Let it be known, I could not find any quiet, safe, clean properties near a surfing beach anywhere in the two towns. The ones that are near surfing beaches are loud "surfer" hostel like places, which are not my scene because I am not a 20 year old college drunk. You, of course, will have a vehicle & the drive is simple & there is a great surfboard rental spot right by Playa del Carmen. I'm not sure that I would stay much further south down the road though or, for that matter, very far up the road in Santa Teresa.
The deluxe rooms (a great price at $120) are attached to just one other room. I could hear our neighbors, but it wasn't terrible. Aiden has done a great job with remodeling. He even showed me photos of what the place looked like when he bought it! The rooms are SPOTLESS! The bed was comfy & you can even see a glimpse of the ocean from your room. (it is across the road though & that beach is too rocky for swim/surf) The window above the vanities has banana trees behind them. The pool is tiny, but refreshing in the mid-day heat. There are beautiful flowers on the grounds. We never saw monkeys outside our room, but our friends did & we heard them one morning. There is air conditioning in each room and, although, it is not as powerful as US AC, it got very chilly when left on all night! I only had 2 complaints about the entire stay. The water pressure in our room was horrible. However, I checked our friend's room before we checked out & theirs was great, so I should have just told Aiden because I know he would have fixed it immediately. The first night we stayed, there was distant but loud bass pounding all night. I don't know if it came from the nearby house or across the road, but I almost lost it. Luckily, not another peep of music the rest of the 4 day stay. I LOVED the modern rooms &, really, the entire hotel.
We were going to book at Casa Chameleon (because it is rated #1). We emailed asking about availability & they finally responded two weeks later. We then said we wanted to stay 2 nights (2 rooms each night), instead of 4. They responded (after many emails) over a MONTH later, stating they were booked. I am STILL upset at their rude & inefficient customer service. By the time they responded, other hotels could have been booked! Mind you, we contacted them months prior to our stay, so my belief is that they were not booked, but wanted someone for a longer stay. We tried to look for their property while in Mal Pais to ask them about the situation, but strangely never found it. We also debated about staying at Hotel Milarepa because it is beachside. We did go scope the hotel & eat dinner there. The grounds are great & the view amazing. The negatives are that it IS right on the beach & I do wonder about theft, as other reviewers wrote. Also, there isn't air conditioning. This would not bother me, but it does get very warm & just be aware what your needs are. The only other negative I could obviously see was that to get down to the hotel, you must go down many many stairs..... plus it is not on a surfing or swimming beach & further from town than Hotel Milarepa is.
Read this paragraph for city tips. The trek from the mainland was not nearly as bad as I had researched. The venture to Monteverde is MUCH worse. Many of the roads have been worked & the two biggest obstacles are dust everywhere & the ferry. The Puntarenas ferry was on strike on our drive back so we had to travel up to Naranjo. Just leave very early both days to get on your ferry. The surfing is very good. The easy waves at Playa del Carmen are similar to Pacific Beach, but change throughout the day. We did not surf at Playa Santa Teresa, but they look just as easy & more consistent. We also ventured north to Playa Hermosa & the waves look the biggest there. The most amazing & completely empty beach (seriously, only one other person there: a fisherman) was north on a gorgeous drive at Manzanillo. On the drive there, we saw at least 15 monkeys on the side of road & watched them for 20 minutes. Aiden will recommend great places to eat & these are some of them. We loved Pizza Carmen right by the beach (good pizza/pasta/beer). My favorite spot was Mary’s, just up the road from Moana Lodge (fish tacos & cocktails). Soda Del Mar is just across the street with an amazing view & dirt cheap prices. We also had seafood in Santa Teresa at Brisa del Mar & BBQ in town at Las Piedras. The restaurant at Hotel Milarepa was good, complete with candelabra, view, & great service (but a little pricey). Stop near the pharmacy in town at the little fruit shake/ ice cream shop: the owners are wonderful & attentive. FYI: there is no ATM in town yet. One is coming, but get your cash before heading out! We loved horseback riding on the beach & the Spanish speaking guide & his son are fantastic. I would recommend passing on the very strenuous hike at Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve. You don't get a guide on the hike, so you never see any wildlife. After you finally hike 2 long sweaty hours to get to the beach, you will find riptides, coral &, surprisingly, other people on the beach. Then you have to hike back!
In summary (after a far too long review), I can recommend WITHOUT hesitation, to go to the Nicoya Peninsula & stay at The Moana Lodge. I never repeat vacations, but will be back here (although nowhere else in Costa Rica, even though it is a lovely country) & should only be lucky enough to have Aiden still running the place!
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "Wonderful Stay" The grounds were beautiful and the rooms were spacious and clean. Aidan and Vicky, the couple who own the hotel are spectacular hosts. They directed us to wonderful places to see and great things to do in the area. During my stay, Aidan and Vicky prepared a 5 course meal for everyone in the hotel using the fish I personally caught that day!! They made me feel at home. This is the nicest hotel in the area and I highly recommend staying here during your time in Costa Rica.
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "A Fantastic Hotel, Great Location & Fabulous Service" Probably the best place to stay in Mal Pais. We Stayed there March 23-25 and came back on the 26 after experiencing terrible accommodations at Tropico Latino.
The rooms here are great with queen sized beds and fantastic decor. There is also a great breakfast in the morning which is great as well. The grounds are just beautiful with wildlife abound. We were blessed with both monkeys and an ant eater in the trees while we were there.
We loved this hotel so much we are planning on staying here next year for our wedding.
Jason & Peggy
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "Excellent experience!" My wife and I traveled to Mal Pais for our honeymoon in January 2007. We had such a wonderful time in the area and did so enjoy our stay at the Moana Lodge. The grounds are wonderfully maintained, the accommodations extremely comfortable, and the staff incredibly friendly and helpful. We are the types who spend a lot of time exploring areas we visit and we were always very happy to return to our accommodations at the Moana. The pool area is extremely inviting! And Mal Pais is awesome! I'm going back in a month!
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "Best Place in Town" This place is no doubt the best value in town. The rooms were exotic, spacious, and extremely comfortable. The staff was absolutely incredible. An Irish gentleman and his Costa Rican girlfriend run the place and they could not be more accommodating. They have standard rooms and deluxe rooms, and the prices vary upon the season, but I believe no doubt the best bang for the buck in town. I could lay in my hammock on my porch and listen to the ocean at night, or chill out in the very cool pool and hot tub area which happens to have some of the most comfortable swinging beds in the world! There are only 7-10 rooms so it was very private, and was very relaxing. One of the most beautiful beaches in the world and one of the best places to eat in town are just a few hundred meters away. Overall I would say if you want to have a very relaxing, comfortable escape into paradise, the Moana Lodge is the place to stay. The places in town that are less expensive are not nearly as comfortable. The air conditioning and bathrooms were the nicest in town. I visited a lot of places in Mal Pais looking for different places to stay and better bargains, and I ended up staying at Moana for my entire trip...and even extended my stay. I'm 30 and my dad's 60 and we loved the place equally and I have already recommended it to friends and family. Give Aiden or Vicky a shout and they will take care of you...
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "WOW! Simply FANTASTIC! No really...." What a JOY to find that there are still hotels where the personal touch takes precedent.
I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and professionalism of the hotels (relatively) new owner Aidan and his partner Vicky.
I decided to take a short break from my business trip in San Jose and emailed the hotel to see if a room was available. I got a quick, positive, and friendly reply and the deal was done.
OK... The basics: my deluxe air-conditioned room was spacious, airy, clean and elegantly decorated with an African motif. The four poster bed was so comfortable I had barely seconds to appreciate it before passing out. The walk-in shower and bathroom area has all been recently refitted and is in great order.
In short: the room was a delight.
The pool and Jacuzzi is situated at the rear of the hotel surrounded by jungle. You can float on your back and admire the hummingbirds, frigates, and monkeys as you listen to Aidan's iPod groove from Salsa to Jazz and back again.
The area is surrounded by loungers and two deluxe swinging 'mattress hammocks(?)' which make for a doze-tastic way to catch up on your holiday reading.
The setting is great - although I would recommend hiring a car or ATV if you are visiting Mal Pais.
But what really makes me enthuse about this hotel is the personal care and attention Aidan invests in his guests. I was travelling alone and it was great to be taken out and entertained by this gregarious proprietor and his partner.
Is this a hotel review written by a friend to corrupt the impartiality of the TripAdvisor ranking system...
NO...
But I had such a great time at this hotel, I just can't rate it highly enough. Is it possible to add a sixth star? It's just so refreshing to find a funky, stylish, and utterly fab hotel run by someone who really does give a damn...
Recommended? You betcha...! See you soon at the Moana...
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "A couple's paradise" Situated on the scenic mountain side of Mal Pais, Moana Lodge is a true gem with beautifully manicured gardens, African themed rooms, and luxurious amenities. Out of the over 6 places we stayed while touring the coast of Costa Rica, this was undoubtedly the highlight.
The owner Aidan went out of his way to ensure we had everything we needed during our stay - recommending local restaurants, romantic beach spots and cool surfer lookouts. Each morning we woke up to a fresh homemade breakfast of local fruits, yogurt toast and juice - a perfect start to the day!
Just a day before our arrival to the hotel, our car was broken into and we unable to make it for our first reserved night. Aidan was very compassionate to this and didn't charge us for the missed night.
Overall, an incredible hotel that we'll never forget. Especially since we'll be visiting again.
Cheers, Ryan.
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "A great place for our honeymoon"
We had a lovely stay at Moana Lodge for our wedding and honeymoon in December 2006. The new owners went out of their way to make our stay really special.
In short....beautiful rooms....a relaxing atmosphere....wonderful views....a great choice of restaurants near by....fantastic surf. A little slice of paradise.
Many thanks to Aiden and Vicki
Sian and Henry
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "Great Place to stay" I stayed at the Moana Lodge from December 29, 2006 through January 2, 2007, and I could not imagine a better lodging experience in the area! The hotel was clean, neat, had a wonderful view, was across the street from the beach, and had a fantastic pool/Jacuzzi. The owners of the establishment, Aidan & Vicky, were also a joy to be around. They helped us set up activities in the area, and even cooked dinner for the whole hotel one night! Highly recommend.
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "A Little Bit of Paradise" We just came back from a family vacation in Costa Rica during Christmas break. It was a lovely trip but the highlight was staying at the Moana Lodge. After the endless driving from the Puntarenas ferry on the dirt roads and arriving at the lodge to the welcome of Aiden and his staff is like arriving home. The accommodations are simple but elegant, the bedding clean and comfortable. The layout of the property is peaceful, quiet and zen like yet the area offers some great restaurants, great surfing, awesome beaches and just funky nightlife. It was nice to be so pampered while we there....I want to go back. Make sure you sit by the pool or in the Jacuzzi and take in the sights of the ocean across the tree tops.
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "intimate, beautiful, awesome hospitality,..." Moana Lodge was great. We couldn't ask for better hospitality. The 3 nights we spent at the Lodge wasn't long enough. No restaurant, no problem, there's a great restaurant across the road on the water. The room we stayed in was very well lit, cool, comfortable, but why the hell would you spend time in the room when you could lay out by the pool in the swinging beds. This was a great place to relax and enjoy our engagement. thank you Aidan and Vicki
--Josh and Robyn
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "Garden of Eden" My boyfriend and I are travelling around Central and South America for 6 months and we stayed in Moana Lodge whilst in Mal Pais. It is incredible there - the garden of Eden! It’s in a tropical rainforest area on the coast. The grounds haven’t been cleared at all to accommodate building, instead the cabins and paths have been built in and through the existing jungle. The paths just wind through the thick flora with huge palm leaves and all manner of exotic plants and colors.
There is an open kitchen in the centre of the grounds and, while you eat, there are humming birds hovering in front of plants everywhere you look, they squeak like kids´ squeaky toys! The grounds are full of those leaf cutter ants that you see on jungle programmers, marching around with pieces of leaf about 30 times their size held up vertically like a little sail!
There are daily visits from monkeys, possums, lizards (small and large), skunks, flocks of parrots, raccoons, etc... The skies are full of vultures and eagles constantly circling overhead and formations of pelicans are always passing by.
The rooms are all newly decorated and there is a really fresh and bright look to the lodges. The owner and his girlfriend were extremely helpful and friendly. They organized tours for us, booked restaurants and even offered us advice on the rest of our trip in Costa Rica.
Highly recommended place for anyone who wants to treat themselves to a holiday with a difference!
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "A Real Getaway" Stayed in Moana Lodge for a week at the end of July.
The fact that we had no TV in the room was actually a bonus for me. A real get-away from day to day living!
Moana is in a fantastic tranquil location. The only noise to wake you in the morning was from the singing monkeys and chirping birds in the trees above our hut – a real jungle experience!
The variety of colorful flowers and fruit trees was also a highlight in Moana – a really charming setting.
I also found it very clean. The other place we stayed in Santa Teresa was close to the main road and quite dusty with all the traffic etc.
When we were there they were just finishing building a Jacuzzi which looked amazing. Other upgrades were planned which should make it a very special place.
The new young owner and the staff were very friendly to us and helped out loads in organizing canopy/surfing etc. He even took us down to a tiny fishing port nearby where I bought some freshly caught tuna. Yum!
Would definitely go back!!
Mal Pais: Moana Lodge: "My favorite in this area" I stayed in Playa Carmen, in Santa Theresa and at the Moana Lodge in Mal Pais for a total of a month. These three quaint little communities are all within 2 km's of each other.
My favorite place I stayed in the area was the Moana Lodge, which I ended up staying at for 2 weeks. The staff was courteous and the management spoke English and Spanish. It was within walking distance of Playa Carmen and is located in Mal Pais.
The pool area was great as well as the new hot tub that had just been installed. They have a nice lounge area by the pool as well as a food ball table that was great to have around.
There was also a great little common area with a large dining table, full kitchen, shared refrigerator, couches and a television (connected to Sat TV....use the Alt Audio button on the remote to get the channels in English.) as well as a DVD and a large library of movies to watch if the mood struck you...like hundreds of DVDs.
I stayed in a bungalow room with two twin beds, a small refrigerator and air conditioning. The rooms were simple and clean, I actually liked them very much. I had no problems with bugs or pests of any kind in the rooms.
All in all I loved this place and for the price, especially compared to the surrounding places, it can't be beat.
I'll certainly be going back to this area and I’ll DEFINITELY be going back to the Moana Lodge.
Hotels Montezuma 
