Roca Mar

Mal País & Santa Teresa


Tucked away at the Blue Surf Sanctuary hotel at the northern end of town, this pretty perfect beach lounge attracts a local expat crowd. Beanbags are stuck in the sand, and hammocks are slung in the trees – all perfectly positioned for sunset. There's an official Sunset Party on Sunday evenings – a family-friendly event with live music and fire dancers.

Closes seasonally September to November.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Mal País & Santa Teresa attractions

1. Playa Hermosa

0.19 MILES

Somewhere north of town, Playa Santa Teresa ends and Playa Hermosa starts. This gorgeous beach deserves its hermosa (beautiful) moniker and then some. It…

2. Playa Santa Teresa

0.85 MILES

Playa Santa Teresa is a long, stunning beach that's famous for its fast and powerful beach break. The waves are pretty consistent and can be surfed at…

3. Playa Manzanillo

1.58 MILES

About 8km north of the Playa El Carmen intersection (past Playa Hermosa), Playa Manzanillo is a combination of sand and rock that’s best surfed when the…

4. Playa El Carmen

2.09 MILES

Playa El Carmen, downhill from the main T-intersection coming into town, is a good beach break that can be surfed anytime. The beach is wide and sandy and…

5. Montezuma Gardens

6.75 MILES

About 1.5km south of town, alongside the waterfall trail, you can tour this lush mariposario (butterfly garden) and nursery where the mysterious…

6. Montezuma Waterfalls

6.91 MILES

A 40-minute river hike leads to a waterfall with a delicious swimming hole. Further along, a second set of falls offers a good 12m leap into deep water…

7. Montezuma Bay

7.22 MILES

This pretty little beach is the centerpiece of Montezuma, as fishers, ferries and tourists come and go. Unfortunately, it's not really recommended for…

8. Church

7.26 MILES

This local landmark is on the north side of the soccer field.