Cielo del Mar

Cielo del Mar, a garden hotel close to the ocean in Mal País

Cielo del Mar is a small boutique hotel in Mal País, on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula, a short walk from the ocean. Its rooms are spread among several buildings in fragrant tropical gardens, and the whole place is decorated with an African touch. It suits couples and friends who want a calm, characterful base for surfing and exploring.

Why we choose it

• Character in every corner. African-inspired decoration, masks and colour give the hotel a style you will not find elsewhere on this coast.
• Close to the sea. The ocean is a short walk away, and the rooms are set back in the gardens, so it stays quiet at night.
• A pool to come back to. Lounge chairs and hanging daybeds by the pool, and a heated jacuzzi over the gardens, are the reward after a day of surfing.

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Rooms and views

The rooms come in four types: Standard, Deluxe, Junior Suites and one Suite. Each has air conditioning, hot water, a private bathroom, a secluded porch, a safe and a mini-bar, and some look out to the ocean over the treetops.

Because the rooms are spread through the gardens rather than in one block, every porch feels like your own.

On the property

The pool area is the centre of the hotel, with daybeds in the shade and the heated jacuzzi overlooking the gardens. In the evening the pool is lit, and the African masks around it throw long shadows, which makes for a lovely setting for a drink.

The restaurant has views out to the sea and a varied menu, and the lounge is the spot to relax after dinner.

Location and getting there

The hotel is in Mal País, known for its surf and its easygoing pace. From here we arrange canopy tours, ATV rides, a day at Cabo Blanco National Park, and trips to the beaches and waterfall of Montezuma.

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