Malpais and Santa Teresa lie on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, which juts far into the Pacific Ocean on Costa Rica's Northern Pacific coast. A few nautical miles out away from the shore, the ocean bottom drops to over one thousand meters deep. Fish that dwell in the open ocean are often close to the shore, providing a spectacular environment for diving, fishing, snorkeling, and scenic boating, with visibility during the dry season of  depths up to 100 feet.

Depending on the time of year, visiting Malpais/Santa Teresa area may bring you encounters with a wide array of sharks, tuna, manta rays, dolphins, jacks, barracuda, turtles, and even migrating whales traveling past the Malpais bay. The convergence of major marine currents coupled with the tropical climate and plankton blooms during the heavy rains supports a nutrient rich environment that is a lifeline in the migration routes of many species. Large schools of brilliant and majestic fish, soft coral systems, and mollusks abound in the rich maritime enviornment close to shore.

Malpais is a tranquil and modest seaside village with moderate and casual hotels spread out along three kilometers of road. While in recent years Santa Teresa has seen a boom in development, Malpais has retained a quiet and tranquil atmosphere with large areas undeveloped and unspoiled.

Malpais along the coast is rocky in most places, with fascinating volcanic formations gracing a unique natural scenery. Old growth jungle stretches right into the shore, where one may find a wide range of shore quality, from short sandy stretches, to rocky outcroppings, or beaches composed entirely of tiny crumbling seashells. Malpais is an ideal place to experience solitude within striking, unspoiled shore life.

The village of Malpais is nearly devoid of shops and tourist services, although hotels and dining options cover a wide range from local rustic to high budget restaurants with tremendous views into the hills of Guanacaste.

At the southern tip of Malpais is a small fishing port which serves as a base for boat tours around the tip of the peninsula. Fishermen will be guaranteed a good catch on nearly any day, and sight seers will not be disappointed if they visit the waters of the maritime sanctuary of Cabo Blanco.  

At the southern end Malpais borders the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, while to the north it merges with Santa Teresa, where there's lots of shops, tourist facilities and a vibrant, hip and thriving surfer scene. Although Malpais is famed as one of the top surf destinations in Costa Rica, the most popular surf spots are actually on the beaches of  its neighbor to the north, Santa Teresa, known on the international scene as the "New Eldorado."

New hotels and shops are springing up every day in Santa Teresa, and this former small fishing village with a 5 kilometer dirt road down the middle of town, has claimed the hearts of many who were just passing through on a surfing vacation, and decided to stay forever. Broad sandy beaches have surf for the advanced as well as the beginner. International tastes have brought a wide range of flavors to the restaurant scene of Santa Teresa, and during the high season especially there is abundant night life, dancing, and a range of live music to choose from. Day activities at that time of year span an interesting range of international influences, and visitors may find themselves passing on the traditional tropical fun to enjoy a class in acrobatics or choose from a wide range of yoga at different hotels. As the sun sets, everyone heads to the sprawling beach to watch the sunset and make plans for the evening.