Surf: General: Tucked into the southwest tip of the rugged Nicoya Peninsula, Mal Pais (and neighboring Playa Carmen and Santa Teresa) is a popular haunt, as the surf is pretty consistent and spread out enough to accommodate a whole army of waveriders. It's all similar -- shifty A-frames with long walls that connect into inside closeouts -- though it can get bigger and hollower as you head north, especially during a S swell. Mal Pais is easy, almost California-style beachbreak -- not as heavy as Hermosa, but very fun. South of Santa Teresa, toward Cabo Blanco Nature Preserve, there are a few quirky, bigger-wave reefbreaks. Heading northward, there are some semi-secret spots waiting to be ridden. Tides: Mid. Size: Head high to a couple feet overhead. Will close out when big. Wind: E Swell: S, SW, W Bottom: Sand, some scattered rocks. Paddling: Can be long paddles back out when it's pumping. Spot Rating: Can get pretty fun. Access: If you're not staying right at the beach, there are a bunch of dirt trails that lead off the road to the beach north of Frank's Place -- pick one and lock up your stuff. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Yeah, but you can find your own semi-uncrowded peak. Local Vibe: Relatively mellow. Be cool and keep it that way. Environment: Clean Hazards: Shallow rocks in certain places. Season: All year, though biggest April-September.