Mal Pais is a laid-back surfer’s paradise, blessed by beautiful beaches and a tranquil atmosphere.
What better what to enjoy such a gorgeous setting than from the comfort of your own bungalow?
Hotel Ritmo Tropical is an ideal place to enjoy Mal Pais, with all of the comforts of home in addition to the luxuries of an indulgent vacation.
The bungalows all have their own welcoming porches for enjoying a cocktail and the ocean breeze. Inside, each bungalow is equipped with a safe, a fridge, a TV (but please – shut it off and go enjoy the outdoors!), and ample storage space for spreading out your belongings.
The bungalows have many, big windows for enjoying the ample sun, and strong aircon to still keep you cool. The private bathrooms are comfortable and relaxing, and definitely necessary after a day of sun, sweat, salt, and sand.
Family owned and operated since the hotel was built in 1999 (with construction completed in 2000), the attention to detail and outstanding service is obvious. The hotel manager, Jonathon, is the owner’s son, and he lives on site, right next to the hotel. Fluent in 3 languages, Jonathon is super friendly and an avid surfer. If you’re looking for Mal Pais recommendations, from the best surf spots to the best restaurants, he’s the one to ask.
While the tiny town of Mal Pais has its fair share of restaurants, if you’re staying at Hotel Ritmo Tropical you don’t have to venture out for dinner. In fact, the hotel has my favorite Italian restaurant in all of Costa Rica – thanks to the awesome Italian owner of Hotel Ritmo Tropical who is also the restaurant chef.
With plenty of the usual Italian options, and well-known in the area for its pizza and pastas, I was pleased to find a variety of vegetarian choices as well.
The salad was the best I had in my whole Costa Rican stay (and definitely beat anything I’d had while living in Brazil!) and the morning breakfast was huge, filling, and delicious… truly the perfect fuel for beach exploring.
If you eventually tire of beach hopping and surf searching, Hotel Ritmo Tropical’s pool is idyllic, peaceful, and inviting
While I stayed, there were very pool goers (probably everyone else was taking advantage of the beach) during the day, and it made for a very relaxing and secluded experience.
An avid animal lover, I was also happy to know that monkeys, birds, and iguanas frequent the lush grounds. In fact, I heard monkeys every morning, and saw iguanas every afternoon.
Aside from the rush of animal sightings, you’ll find that even walking the grounds of Hotel Ritmo Tropical slows your pulse.
The lush greenery, bright flowers, and friendly smiles from staff members set the tone for the ultimate relaxation vacation. You can unwind even further with an appointment at Hotel Ritmo Tropical’s on site spa, offering everything from full body massage to facials.
Some guests find their stay so pleasant that they end up staying for a month or longer, and many come back every year, even with growing families. Maybe you’ll be one of them!
Necessary Details
You can book your stay at Hotel Ritmo Tropical directly at their website here and also via Agoda. Email here to book directly for the best price.
During high season, the bungalows rent for $60-100 per night depending on the number of people staying (up to 5 people per bungalow). There is also a studio apartment available at the same price, and 2 smaller rooms available for $40-50 and sleeping 1-2 people. For the most up to date pricing, be sure to contact Hotel Ritmo Tropical.
If you want to see a bit more of Mal Pais, Hotel Ritmo Tropical is in walking distance of everything. Turning right from the hotel driveway, you’ll soon run into the Mal Pais town, and then taking a left turn you’ll reach the beach. In the opposite direction, turning left from the driveway, you can reach other hotels and another beach, and wander along the peaceful road taking in the scenery. If you’d rather get around by car, the hotel has a spacious car park and includes a night guard for safety.
*While I was hosted by Hotel Ritmo with a complimentary stay, I was not compensated for this post and as always my opinions remain unbiased and unaltered*
A short vacation in Thailand turned into a life abroad with a canceled ticket home. Nearly a decade later and after living in Bangkok, Rio de Janeiro, Puebla, and Puerto Vallarta, Steph is on to her next adventure and living back in beautiful, cosmopolitan Mexico City. She is living, traveling, and working (both as an expat therapist and an international health insurance representative) around the world to find the beautiful, inspirational, and interesting while sharing it with you!
