Surf Forecast Surf Report
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Mal Pais Surf Guide

Mal Pais in Golfo de Nicoya is an exposed reef break that has very consistent surf The best wind direction is from the northeast. Tends to receive distant groundswells and the ideal swell angle is from the southwest. Even when there are waves, it's not likley to be crowded. Take care of the strong rips here.

Mal Pais Spot Info

Type:Rating:
Reef3
Reliability:Todays Sea Temp*:
very consistent
83°F*ocean temperature recorded from satellite

Surfing Mal Pais:

The best conditions reported for surf at Mal Pais occur when a Southwest swell combines with an offshore wind direction from the Northeast.

Surf Forecasts:

What's the best time of year to surf Mal Pais (for consistent clean waves)?

decemberBest Season: winter
The best time of year for surfing Mal Pais with consistent clean waves (rideable swell with light / offshore winds) is during Winter and most often the month of December. Clean surfable waves are typically found 63% of the time in December while 36% of the time it tends to be blown out. For the remaining 1% of the time it is considered too small by most surfers but may still be OK for beginners and groms at times.
clean
63%
Surfable waves that hold up well for longer rides in prevailing cross-offshore, offshore or light wind conditions.
blown out
36%
Surfable sized waves that are of poorer quality due to prevailing onshore, cross-onshore or windy conditions (may be preferable for kitesurfing).
too small
1%
Waves usually considered too small for good surf. Some wave-magnet breaks may still work though if conditions are right (on occasion).

Explore Mal Pais Location Map

Interactive Mal Pais surf break location map. View information about nearby surf breaks, their wave consistency and rating compared to other spots in the region. Current swell conditions from local buoys are shown along with live wind speed and direction from nearby weather stations. Click icons on the map for more detail. The closest passenger airport to Mal Pais is Nosara Airport (NOB) in Costa Rica, 65 km (40 miles) away (directly). The second nearest airport to Mal Pais is Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), also in Costa Rica, 112 km (70 miles) away.

  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (ft)
  • Live Wind Speed (mph)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (ft)
  • Wind Speed (mph)
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Please note that some surf spot locations are approximate to protect their exact location while others are not shown at close zoom level.
Mal Pais Surf Forecasts:
Todays Surf Summary
Sunday, 5 January 2025, 01:46 Local Time
Sunday 05
3AM6AM9AM12PM
Wave (ft)
2.5
SSW
2
SSW
2
SSW
2
SSW
Period (s) 14 13 13 13
Wind (mph)
5
5
5
5
Wind State cross-
off
off off cross-
on

Swell History at Mal Pais

Surf stats for Mal Pais, see the swell variation by month or season on the history page here.

Wind History at Mal Pais

Wind stats for Mal Pais, see the variation in direction and stength by month or season on the history page here.

Other Nearby Breaks Closest To:

Discover surf breaks near Mal Pais. Click below to view there surf guides.


Wave Buoys Nearest To Mal Pais:

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