LOCATION: The hotel Tropico Latino is located at Santa Teresa de Malpais, about four km north of Cabo Blanco Reserve. Malpais is a small fishing village on the west coast of the Nicoya peninsula. A couple of km north is Santa Teresa and further up Playa Hermosa, a great wild, isolated, sandy and shaded beach.

ACCOMMODATION: 10 spacious comfortably furnished bungalows, each fronted by a wide individual porch with hammocks and with A/C. The bungalows, designed combining modern lines and comfort with local materials, have luxurious private bathroom with hot water.

RESTAURANT: The open air restaurant features fusion cuisine as well as Costa Rican. Fresh caught local seafood receives pride of place.

ACTIVITIES: The hotel, set in a wide and peaceful garden, has a large beachside pool and jacuzzi. Chaise-long and hammocks are scattered between the garden and the beach.

Inshore fishing or dolphin watching excursions in chartered motorized panga at US $15 per boat per hour and a half day horseback tour on a farm the borders of the reserve at US $30 represent outstanding value. Surfers will enjoy some of Costa Rica's least crowded and most consistent waves with miles of empty beach break as well as numerous points and reefs to choose from.

GETTING THERE: By car: From San José drive to Puntarenas and take the "Tambor" car ferry to Paquera. Drive through Tambor to Cóbano. In Cóbano drive straight through town and turn left after 1 kilometer to Malpaís. After 8 km. You arrive at a crossroads just before the beach, turn right and the hotel is 800 yards on your left. The hotel is signposted from Paquera. 4x4 is not necessary, but is recommended in the rainy season. Total journey time from San José is 5 ½ hours, as we recommend that you arrive at Puntarenas at least one hour before the ferry departs. From Guanacaste drive south through Nosara, Sámara and Coyote, ford the Río Bongo and continue through Manzanillo to Malpaís. Several stretches between Coyote and Manzanillo are along the beach, so make sure the tide is low. This route is only possible with a 4x4 during dry season (Dec.-Apr.). There are alternative but more roundabout routes north open year round. By air: Both SANSA and Natureair fly daily to Tambor. The lodge can arrange airport pick up. By public transport: Bus to Puntarenas, Lancha or Ferry to Paquera. You can either continue by bus to Cóbano and then Malpaís or the lodge can arrange pick up at Paquera dock or in Cóbano.

SURFING MALPAIS Surfers will enjoy some of Costa Rica's less crowded and most consistent waves. Miles of empty beach breaks as well as numerous point and reef to choose from. The hotel offers surfing facilities, fishing trips, horseback riding and relaxing massages. Malpaís's location between the Central Pacific area and Guanacaste means that it benefits from both the big south swells which hit the beaches south of Puntarenas during the wet season as well as the offshore "Papagayo" winds which create optimum conditions on the Guanacaste coast during the dry season. Another great advantage is the complete absence of crowds; this area is one of the last frontiers of surf exploration in Costa Rica. When locals refer to Malpaís, they mean the whole area between Cabo Blanco and Manzanillo. The best surf is found on the following beaches: El Carmen: Continue straight on at the crossroads to the beach and you'll see the peak right in front of you. A long right wall and shorter section left break over a gradually sloping sand bottom. Santa Teresa: Turn right at the crossroads and continue 3 km. To "Cabinas Santa Teresa" and turn down to the beach. Santa Teresa tends to pick up more swell than El Carmen and holds shape better at low tide. Playa Hermosa: Next beach north from Santa Teresa, and even less crowded. Peaks all along the beach. When the beach breaks get big, the reefs and points start to work. Recommended spots are: Playa de Los Suecos: Turn left at the crossroads go 4 km. And park where you see the fishing boats. Walk south 100 yards along the rocks and paddle out through the channel next to the hotel. The wave is a lefthander with a fast take off followed by a long workable wall. Gets hollow with size and offshore. Punta Barrigona: Between Los Suecos and the crossroads turn down to Mar Azul restaurant. A long lefthander wraps round the point turning into a great hotdog wave as it moves through the inside. Needs a lot of swell to work properly. Manzanillo: Turn right at the crossroads and go 8 km. To Manzanillo village. The reef is offshore at the north end of the beach. Very fickle wave which needs a lot of swell to work. The manager at Trópico Latino Lodge is a surfer and is happy to give you information, advice and directions.

Room Rates	Until Aug 31 /08			Sept 1 - Oct 31 /08			Nov 1 /08 - Apr 30 /09
	DOUBLE	TRIPLE	QUAD	DOUBLE	TRIPLE	QUAD	DOUBLE	TRIPLE	QUAD
Bungalows A/C ocean view	$137	$150	-	$120	$133	-	$155	$168	-
Garden Bungalows A/C no ocean view	$120	$133	$146	$103	$116	$129	$137	$150	$163
Garden Rooms A/C no ocean view	$86	$99	$112	$77	$90	$102	$103	$116	$129
2 Rooms Suite A/C	$137	$150	$163	$120	$133	$146	$155	$168	$180
Rates do NOT include 16.39% tax. Breakfast is NOT Included. Additional Person $15 One children under 12 free, second child pays $15 Transfer to/from Paquera $45 Transfer Tambor-Airport $35

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