Mal País is a marvellous beach that extends for long distances and that offers some of the best waves in the country, its name could not be more ironic.
Literally meaning ‘bad country’, Mal País is anything but. It is a gorgeous stretch of coastline nestled among superb natural surroundings, boasting a relaxed atmosphere. Its name, though, comes from a time when the area’s main activity was agriculture and not tourism.
During the dry season, which can be very harsh in Guanacaste, it was extremely difficult to grow crops because all nearby rivers and streams would dry up. For most of the 20th Century, Mal País was unknown to the international community, subsisting on a combination of fishing and agricultura.