I was impressed by how beautiful the grounds and facilities were. The staff was very friendly.

Not your average hotel , The owner richard put alot of thought into the design and construction.And it shows in all the details . Situated right on the beach. Near the center of town but very private. It is an oasis from the hub bub of the town but you can walk out the gate and be right where everythng is. Check the website.I stayed in the casita with my one son and it was great. I spent alot of time on the grounds relaxing and reading in between surf sessions. The sunsets are breathtaking. I reccomend you rent an ATV and see the surrounding area. You do not need a car if you stay here.

We stayed at the Casa Azul for 3 nights and it was the best nights of our trip. We rented the little house where you have access to a kitchen, one full bathroom and has 2 queen beds.

The location of Casa Azul is perfect since you are so close to all the restaurants and shops plus you are at a few feet of the beach. We could surf early in the morning and enjoy the pool (which has a beautiful view of the sunset).

The owner was very kind and was certainly always there when needed! I strongly recommend that you stay there, it will make your vacation perfect!

Had a great time staying here with my brother for just over a week. It is the perfect location in Mal Pais, right on the water with a lovely pool out front, and next door to tons of restaurants and bars. As there are some petty theft issues in this area, the rooms compensate with solid security features and a solid safe to keep extra valuables. Overall I had a great time staying here and would highly recommend.

If you're traveling to the beach in Costa Rica, it simply doesn't get any better than Hotel Casa Azul. It is one of the ONLY properties in the Santa Teresa/Mal Pais area that is RIGHT ON THE BEACH. It is also the best-located property with regard to the heart of the town -- within 100 meters of all the best restaurants, shops, and supermarket. Casa Azul truly is heaven on earth -- the landscaping is beautiful, the rooms of the house are immaculate and well-furnished, and the amenities -- the plentiful hammocks, crystal clear pool, kitchen -- are incredible. But the heart of the place is Richard, the ex-pat owner who serves up a charming blend of Midwestern hospitality and surfer chill. If you're looking for a relaxing getaway from it all and the best deal I've ever found, Casa Azul is definitely the place for you.

I've traveled all over the world, and Richard is hands down the very best host I've ever had the pleasure of staying with. Richard provided incredible day-trip recommendations (he directed us on a beautiful day trip to Montezuma Falls on a back road through a nature preserve) and was incredibly helpful when dealing with logistics (he did all our Spanish communication and saved us a hike up a steep hill to a restaurant that was completely booked). Richard knows everyone in town, gives spot-on recommendations for anything from airport transfers to restaurants to safety, and has the single best property that we saw during our stay in the Playa Carmen/Santa Teresa/Mal Pais area. I had no idea when booking this place, but I guarantee a lot of people are unpleasantly surprised after booking their hotels in this area to find that they're on a deserted stretch of road, a long walk from the beach, on a hill, or just in generally dingy accommodations. I obviously lucked out, having done my homework on TripAdvisor, so I guarantee that if you book Hotel Casa Azul, you'll be the one with the last laugh.

The landscaping is beautiful - amazing tropical plants, tons of resident lizards, and the best-located hammocks you could ask for. Richard is incredibly generous with his house, his food, his time, and his resources, and we were so grateful to have picked Casa Azul. You would be crazy not to stay here. We cannot wait to go back!

On a side note -- DEFINITELY take a day trip to Montezuma Falls, great bread and pastries right across the road from Casa Azul at the bakery (but skip the pizza!), and stop by Las Piedras for really good grilled meat.