Your stay — Cuesta Arriba B&b
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The Property — Cuesta Arriba B&b
Stepping into Cuesta Arriba B&B feels like landing at a friend's hillside retreat: open-plan common areas with ceiling fans, a small pool surrounded by dry tropical forest, and a deck where howler monkeys announce dawn. The USP is its elevated position above Malpaís village, giving sweeping ocean views without the coastal humidity. It suits independent travellers who want a quiet, uncrowded base for surfing, yoga, or hiking Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve — not a party scene or a luxury resort.
Chronicles of Malpais
Malpaís and neighbouring Santa Teresa were remote fishing hamlets until the 1990s, when a rough dirt road and word-of-mouth drew surfers to the consistent waves off Playa Malpaís. Development stayed slow due to lack of paved roads and electricity that only arrived in the early 2000s. Today, the area retains a bohemian, barefoot vibe with a mix of expat-owned cafés, surf shops, and eco-lodges, all strung along a single coastal road. Unlike Costa Rica's Pacific north, Nicoya Peninsula's southern tip remains less crowded and more focused on nature and wellness than all-inclusive tourism.
Best Time to Visit
Full Malpais guide →Best months
December to April: the dry season with clear skies, calm seas, and stable 29–32°C highs; crowds are moderate but not overwhelming.
Peak / festival surge
January and February are the busiest, drawing surfers for consistent swells and holidaymakers escaping northern winter. Hotel prices roughly double from low-season rates. The Malpaís Surf Festival (usually February) adds demand, but it's a small local event, not a mass crowd.
Budget shoulder season
May and November are excellent budget months: rain is sporadic (short afternoon downpours), prices drop 30–50%, and the forest turns lush while crowds thin.
Weather & packing
The Nicoya Peninsula has a sharp dry/wet split: July falls in the green season, so expect morning sun and heavy afternoon rain. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and sandals that can handle mud — not city shoes.
Live City Briefing — Malpais
- The main road from Cobano to Malpaís is now fully paved (completed 2024), cutting drive time from San Jose to about 4.5 hours and ending the bone-shaking gravel section.
- A new direct bus service from San Jose (Transportes Cobano) started May 2025, running one daily coach to Malpaís with a stop in Cobano — book early as seats fill fast.
- July is turtle-nesting season: Olive Ridley turtles lay eggs at night on Playa Malpaís and nearby beaches; avoid flashlights and keep quiet if watching.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Cuesta Arriba B&b, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request an upper-floor room on the side facing away from the main road. Given the 3-star rating and Malpais’s dusty coastal access road, rooms slightly elevated catch the ocean breeze and avoid ground-level dust from passing 4x4s.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or common area – likely where the owner parks and guests gather for breakfast, so early-morning chatter and vehicle noise are predictable.
Best views
Rooms facing west (toward the ocean) give a partial sea view – Malpais sits on a headland. east-facing rooms look into the dry tropical forest, which is greener after rain.
Quietest floors
If the B&B has more than one level, the first floor (above ground) is quietest. There’s no lift, so stairs filter foot traffic, and upper rooms get less street noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from the main Malpais road (gravel/dirt) – expect occasional quad bikes, pickup trucks, and roosters at dawn. No bar or nightclub nearby, so evenings are quiet.
Insider tips
Parking is limited to a small gravel lot – arrive early if driving a big 4x4 to avoid backing out onto the road. The owner lives on-site; ask for a packed breakfast if you’re heading to the beach before 7am – they are accommodating.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Cuesta Arriba B&b
Free Wi-Fi throughout; average speed 15 Mbps; no login required
No lift; two-storey building accessible only by stairs
No digital newsstand or physical newspapers; library with travel books, no building heritage quirks
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 (no fee); check-out by 11:00; late check-out fee $30 until 14:00, subject to availability
Free for same-day early arrival or late departure; $5 per bag for overnight storage
No step-free access; main entrance has two steps; no rooms on ground floor; no wheelchair access
Free on-site parking for 6 cars (first-come, first-served); nearest public lot 1 km away (no cost on street but unsafe overnight); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 13% VAT included in rate; no separate city tax
Deposit & card hold: 50% of total stay due at booking; $100 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Amigo — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Costa Rican Colón, CRC
Use ATMs at Banco Nacional or BAC Credomatic for the best rate; avoid exchange bureaux at airports and tourist offices which give poor rates.
Visa/Mastercard widely accepted in hotels, mid-range restaurants, and larger shops; cash needed for smaller sodas, taxis, and market stalls. Contactless is available but not everywhere.
Restaurants: 10% service charge often included, but optional extra tip of 5-10% for good service. Taxis: round up to nearest 500-1000 CRC. Hotel staff: 2000-5000 CRC for bellhops/maids.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A cup of filter coffee at a local soda stands out 'café chorreado' for about 500 CRC.
A casado (rice, beans, salad, plantain, protein) at a soda costs 3000-4000 CRC.
A main dish at a typical mid-range restaurant is around 6000-8000 CRC.
Look for sodas on the side of the main road through Malpaís; they often have reasonable prices and local cooking.
Supermercado Malpaís is the main grocery option; also check pulperías (corner stores) for basics.
Not a shopping destination; bring what you need. Local markets are seasonal and pricier than elsewhere.
Shared taxi or colectivo from Santa Teresa or Tambor to Malpaís costs about 15,000-20,000 CRC total for the journey. Within the area, walking is best.
Withdraw cash at Banco Nacional ATMs for best rates; eat at sodas for affordable casados; avoid US dollar pricing where items are marked up.
Emergency Contacts
MalpaisIn Costa Rica, dial 911 for police, ambulance, and fire services. There is limited mobile coverage in Malpais; keep a local SIM card and charger. The nearest hospital is Hospital de Nicoya (call 2686-4500) or clinic in Cóbano (call 2642-1211). For non-urgent assistance, visit the Malpais Red Cross station or ask at any local hotel for directions to the nearest landline.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Malpais, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Cuesta Arriba B&b
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: pharmacy · Amigo — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Cobano bus station → Malpaís main road (drop off near Bluejay Lodge turn)
💡 Not recommended for first-time visitors with luggage — services are infrequent on Sundays and can be packed. But if you’re light and flexible, it’s dirt cheap. Ask the driver to drop you at the Bluejay Lodge dirt road (about 500m walk).
San José Airport (SJO) or Liberia Airport (LIR) → Bluejay Lodge, Malpaís
💡 From SJO the drive is 5 hours; from LIR only 3.5 hours on better roads. Save half a day by flying into LIR if you can. If you arrive late, consider a night in Cobano and morning pickup.
San José Airport (SJO) or downtown hotels → Bluejay Lodge, Malpaís
💡 Book door-to-door with Bluejay Lodge direct — they often share a shuttle code for slight discount. Avoid extra Uber-style rip-offs at the airport; use registered operators.
San José (Calderón Guardia bus stop, near Hospital San Juan de Dios) → Malpaís bus stop (entrance to town, on the main road)
💡 Get off at the Malpaís entrance, not the bus station in Cobano. Walk or flag a local taxi (around 5 USD) the final 3 km to Bluejay Lodge — no bus goes right to the door.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Cuesta Arriba B&b?
Request an upper-floor room on the side facing away from the main road. Given the 3-star rating and Malpais’s dusty coastal access road, rooms slightly elevated catch the ocean breeze and avoid ground-level dust from passing 4x4s.
Which rooms should I avoid at Cuesta Arriba B&b?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or common area – likely where the owner parks and guests gather for breakfast, so early-morning chatter and vehicle noise are predictable.
Is Cuesta Arriba B&b noisy?
Street noise from the main Malpais road (gravel/dirt) – expect occasional quad bikes, pickup trucks, and roosters at dawn. No bar or nightclub nearby, so evenings are quiet.
Which rooms have the best views at Cuesta Arriba B&b?
Rooms facing west (toward the ocean) give a partial sea view – Malpais sits on a headland. east-facing rooms look into the dry tropical forest, which is greener after rain.
What are insider tips for staying at Cuesta Arriba B&b?
Parking is limited to a small gravel lot – arrive early if driving a big 4x4 to avoid backing out onto the road. The owner lives on-site; ask for a packed breakfast if you’re heading to the beach before 7am – they are accommodating.
What time is check-in at Cuesta Arriba B&b?
Check-in at Cuesta Arriba B&b is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Cuesta Arriba B&b have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; average speed 15 Mbps; no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Cuesta Arriba B&b?
13% VAT included in rate; no separate city tax
Where can I eat cheaply near Cuesta Arriba B&b?
A casado (rice, beans, salad, plantain, protein) at a soda costs 3000-4000 CRC.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Cuesta Arriba B&b?
Shared taxi or colectivo from Santa Teresa or Tambor to Malpaís costs about 15,000-20,000 CRC total for the journey. Within the area, walking is best.
When is the best time to visit Malpais?
December to April: the dry season with clear skies, calm seas, and stable 29–32°C highs; crowds are moderate but not overwhelming.
Top Attractions in Malpais
💡 Look for the mosaic-tiled bench near the Super Joseth mini-market — it's the work of a local sculptor. Best seen in the late afternoon light.
💡 Walk north toward the rocky point at low tide to see tide pools with small crabs and starfish. Bring reef-safe sunscreen as the water is crystal clear.
💡 At the southern end, a small creek flows into the sea — during dry season (Dec–April) you can wade in it. Avoid the rip current near the rocks at the north end.
💡 Park at the entrance to the trail (free) and walk 10 minutes. For a quieter swim, go on weekdays before 9am. No lifeguard, so check depth before jumping.
💡 Start early — before 7am — to see howler monkeys, coatis and white-faced capuchins. The beach trail is 1.5 km each way, bring water and snacks as nothing is sold inside.