Activities

Surfing, Fishing Tours, ATV Tours, Swimming, and Sun:
All in Beautiful Mal País

The Area

Mal País is a quiet fishing village and tourist destination where guests can find tranquility, pristine nature, and wildlife. Nearby (less than 2 km away) are the vibrant beach and surf towns of Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa, Playa Hermosa, and Montezuma.

World-Class Surfing, Yoga, and Wellness are the area’s main attractions, and visitors from around the globe come to experience the unbeatable waves and renowned retreat centers and spas. You’ll also find Cabo Blanco National Park, Costa Rica’s first protected Absolute Reserve, as well as Curu National Park, Kayaking, Horseback Riding, Canopy Tours, Zip Lines, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Waterfall Hikes, and Day Excursions to nearby Islands.

Tours and Package Adventures

Vista de Olas is a family run and operated Boutique Hotel. We love where we live and what we do and strive to share the magic of the Nicoya Peninsula with our friends – our guests.

Sven and Michael Zaugg are the Vista de Olas Tour Guides and Operators. The young men were born and raised in Mal País and know its forests, coastline, and surf intimately. Both are Certified ISA Surf Instructors, lifeguards, and serious outdoor enthusiasts. Let the Zauggs design a custom tour to accommodate your needs and desires or take you on one of our mind-blowing Vista de Olas Signature Tours.

We offer professional, tailormade surf packages for our guests as well as guided ATV tours, sport fishing, hiking excursions into the coastal forests and nearby National Parks, as well as snorkeling, kayaking and exploring beautiful beaches on our island hopping tours of Isla Cabo Blanco, Cemetario Isla Cabuya, and Isla Tortuga.

Vista de Olas Adventures:

Choose from:

Surf Classes: Surf the local award-winning waves of Mal País, Santa Teresa, and Playa Hermosa. Or, let the Zauggs create a custom surf package of the Nicoya Peninsula just for you.

Sportfishing: Fish for Costa Rica’s world-renowned Billfish and other coveted species on one of our fully outfitted fishing boats.

Sportfishing, Snorkeling, and Island Hopping: Don’t miss this three-in-one Highlight Tour. Fish for big-game species along the Northwest Pacific Coastline, kayak among quiet coves over turquoise waters, and snorkel the rocky reefs surrounding quaint deserted offshore islands.

ATV Adventures: Take a thrilling tour of the Nicoya Peninsula’s rugged backcountry. In addition to some fantastic sightseeing you’re also likely to encounter several types of wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, iguanas, and a host of tropical birds.

Other Tour Options: Horseback Riding, Canopy and Zipline tours, Waterfall Hikes, National Park tours, and many more.

Surfing Lessons

Fishing & Snorkeling Tours

ATV Tour

5 Stars: “Highlight of our stay in Costa Rica”

“Roger and his son Sven made our trip to the coast wonderful. Firstly, Sven picked us up from up-country and drove us 6 hours through the most stunning scenery. As you’ll have read on other reviews there is no view of the ocean as good as from Vista de Olas. Sven took us out fishing on their private boat and they cooked us our catch of tuna and maki-mahi that evening. You don’t get it fresher than that. Breakfast was limited but we were happy to check out the fun cafes in town. Whilst there we hired one of their ATV’s which was essential. Roger was at hand constantly to advise on where to surf, swim and eat. If you fancy they can organize all sorts of other excursions. The rest of the staff were friendly and professional, and they all worked very well together. If you can’t stay there at least pop up for a sundowner cocktail.”

James L., January 2, 2019, TripAdvisor