We arrived in Santa Teresa late in the day, after sundown. But that narrow street which serves as the “main road” of the town looked vibrant. Surfers had returned from their surf sessions and other people had come on to the street after watching an amazing beach sunset. Restaurants were bustling and a popular cafe had queue outside their door! The night was just getting started. No wonder why Santa Teresa is considered a “cool” beach destination among travelers, despite being located in a remote part of the Nicoya peninsula in Costa Rica.
But there are good enough reasons why people flock to this part of the country. The top among them is that you will find quite a few charming beaches in and around Santa Teresa. Elegant white waves, little tide pools and long stretches of soft light sand beaches lined by lush vegetation attract packs of beach lovers from around the world, as well as from other parts of Costa Rica.
Read on to learn more about the best things to do in Santa Teresa, and all the other little details that you need to know to plan your own trip.
For ideas on different Costa Rica itineraries, check out our Itinerary Corner.
10 Things to Do in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Whether you want to sign up for a surf and yoga retreat, or simply experience idle beach days ending in gorgeous sunsets, there are plenty of things to do in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.
For planning your perfect vacation, check out all the activities that you can pursue in Costa Rica.
Surfing
Several beaches of Costa Rica are known for great surfing. Santa Teresa is one of those beach towns with excellent surf breaks. In fact, there are multiple beaches in and around town that offer great surfing opportunities, for both beginners and experienced surfers. So, if you intend to learn surfing or hone your surfing skills, just bring your surfboard or rent one when you visit Santa Teresa.
Yoga
Santa Teresa is also popular among the practitioners of Yoga, another activity that requires great coordination of mind and body, just like surfing. In fact, you may find hostels or hotels that offer Yoga and Meditation classes for its resident guests. You could also sign up for a program or group classes.
Explore Beaches
Of course, the star attraction of Santa Teresa is its stunning beaches. Between the 11 km (7 miles) stretch between Carmen and Manzanillo, there are 4 gorgeous beaches that you must visit.
Playa Carmen is the first beach you will encounter after arriving in Santa Teresa. About 3 km (2 miles) north, lies the famous Santa Teresa beach. The area between these two beaches is the busiest part of Santa Teresa town.
As you move further north, there are two other beaches that we liked – Playa Hermosa (not to be confused with the one in Uvita or the one near Coco) and Playa Manzanillo (different from the one on the Caribbean side). Note that, the roads for going to Manzanillo are not really in great shape. However, if you need to choose the less tricky one, take the road via inland, not the one next to the beach. We did drive on both (without 4X4) and would not really recommend the beach road – on Google Maps, it is called Playa Hermosa-Manzanillo Beach Road.
Malpais
Just 10 -15 drive south of Santa Teresa will take you to the quiet fishing village of Malpais. Compared to the busy areas of Carmen and Santa Teresa, the character of Malpais is a sharp contrast.
We loved exploring the main as well as the secret beaches of Malpais, and particularly enjoyed the sunsets when there were hardly any people around.
So, during your Santa Teresa getaway, if you want to sneak in some quiet time, far away from the crowds, visit Malpais. In fact, if you prefer staying in calmer areas, choose your accommodation in Malpais even for exploring Santa Teresa.
To know more about this beautiful beach town, read our Malpais destination guide.
ATV Rides
The narrow main road and dusty off-roads of Santa Teresa and around allow opportunities of fun rides on ATV. Rent an ATV for exploring the remote beaches, hidden waterfalls and nearby towns.
Due to the narrow main road of Santa Teresa, even for moving around in town, it is more convenient on an ATV than by car. So, if you are staying for a longer duration, you may consider renting the ATV for multi-days. Trips to grocery shops, supermarkets and restaurants will be easier.
Montezuma Waterfalls
If you are renting an ATV, or even otherwise, one of the must visit places near Santa Teresa is the Montezuma Waterfalls. There are actually 3 waterfalls – upper, middle and lower, with the lower being the most attractive.
But not just the waterfalls are attractions, the way to reach them is also quite thrilling. It requires walking on hanging bridges, hiking on rugged jungle terrains and scrambling on rocks, at times barely clinging on to a rope. Of course Montezuma Waterfalls made it to our list of the best waterfalls to visit in Costa Rica.
Check out our Montezuma Waterfalls guide for details about how you can plan your own visit, how to prepare for and what to expect from this adventurous waterfall hike.
Montezuma
If you are visiting Montezuma Waterfalls, you may take some time to check out the town too, Montezuma. It is a charming little beach town where development still has not conquered over nature. Enjoy the incredible beaches, observe the monkeys, iguanas and birds casually hanging out in the trees and grab a good bite at one of the restaurants.
Check out our Montezuma guide for picking the best activities, attractions and places to eat.
Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve
If you want to mix up your beach days of Santa Teresa with some long hikes in the forest, visit the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve. Founded in 1963, it is Costa Rica’s first nature reserve.
You can walk on the shorter trails or hike the full circuit of 10 km (6.2 miles) that also leads you to the secluded pebble beach Cabo Blanco. Along the way, you will pass through primary and secondary forests, and are likely to spot interesting animals and birds if you are observant.
Read our Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve guide for details you need to know for planning your own visit.
Cabuya
Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve is located on the edge of Cabuya, the last town of the Nicoya peninsula. So, when you visit the reserve, you might as well take a quick tour of the town. Hanging out at little known beaches, visiting an island cemetery in the ocean and posing next to decades old giant fig tree are some of the things you can do in this quiet little town.
To know more about this town and its attractions, read our Cabuya destination guide.
Isla Tortuga Snorkeling Tour
Isla Tortuga or Tortuga Island is located on the Gulf of Nicoya. Day trip to Tortuga Islands for snorkeling and beach time is a very popular tour from Central Valley (San Jose and around). However, due to the proximity to the gulf, you can also take a day trip to Isla Tortuga from the Nicoya peninsula towns, with the boat departing from Montezuma beach. The tours usually include transportation, guide, tropical fruits, lunch, soft beverages, beer, snorkeling gear, permits and insurance. This is a full day tour.
Best Time to Visit Santa Teresa
You can visit Santa Teresa at any time of the year. There are two distinct seasons – rainy, between May and November, and dry, between December and April.
During rainy season, expect greener, denser vegetation, muddy roads, dramatic sunsets (if not raining) and lesser crowds. The heaviest rainfall happens between September and November, before the onset of the dry season. If you are looking to maximize sun time at Santa Teresa, then plan to visit during the dry season. During this time, the days are bright and sunny, the weather warmer and the air dusty due to the constant zipping of ATVs on dirt roads.
How to Reach Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa is located in the Nicoya peninsula across the Gulf of Nicoya from mainland Costa Rica.
So, if you need to travel from San Jose airport or other regions of the Central Valley, the most convenient way to reach Santa Teresa is to take the Paquera-Puntarenas Ferry.
But for traveling from Liberia airport to Santa Teresa, you can simply drive down Ruta 21. The drive takes around 4 hours. No, you do not need a 4X4 vehicle to reach Santa Teresa, but having one will help for getting around in Santa Teresa.
Check out these articles for details about how to reach Santa Teresa:
- Paquera-Puntarenas Ferry: How to take the ferry, with or without car
- Liberia to Santa Teresa: Different options of traveling from Liberia to Santa Teresa
Where to stay in Santa Teresa
There are some nice accommodation options in Santa Teresa. From luxury villas to adults only boutique hotels to branded hostels, there are plenty of options to choose from. It is an up-and-coming destination, so we found more midrange and luxury stays than budget options.
- Hotel Nantipa – A Tico Beach Experience: A luxury beachfront boutique hotel with nice well-equipped rooms, garden, terrace and onsite restaurant and bar. Book your stay here.
- Vista del Alma Boutique – Adults Only: As the name suggests, adults only luxury villas with beautiful views and options of private pools. Book your stay here.
- Santa Teresa Surf Vistas Villa: Villas with views of ocean, mountains or gardens. Mid-range accommodation up in the mountain, offering outdoor pool, barbecue and sun terrace. Book your stay here.
- Fuego Lodge: Another mid-range option close to the beach, offering rooms, suites and studios, and outdoor pool and a nice garden setting. Book your stay here.
- Hotel Santa Teresa: Located at a walking distance from Playa Carmen, this is another mid-range hotel with modern rooms, outdoor pool, sun terraces and a seasonal snacks bar. Book your stay here.
Where to eat in Santa Teresa
Although a small beach town, Santa Teresa is a gastronomic delight when it comes to best places to eat. There are many specialty restaurants and trendy cafes to grab a good bite. These are some of our favorites:
- The Bakery: Delicious baked goods, from breads to desserts. Our little tip to beat the forever long queue to enter – go during the early morning hour or late at night.
- Zula Restaurant: Israeli restaurant serving lip-smacking Middle Eastern delicacies alongside local Costa Rican dishes. We undoubtedly had our best meal of Santa Teresa at this restaurant!
- El Tercer Ojo: Great presentation of tasty Caribbean and Latin food, and a quirky interior decor to go with it.
- La Cevicheria: A simple place serving the best ceviches!
- L’arte del Gelato: A hole-in-the-wall cute ice-cream parlor for a variety of gelatos.
Final Thoughts on Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
The beauty of Santa Teresa is rugged but popular. The charming beaches come with dusty and unpaved main road of the town. The constantly growing recognition of combining surfing and yoga practice in natural setting brings lots of tourists. The increasing footfall allows for the development of expensive accommodation options, despite the lack of good infrastructure in town.
So, when you visit Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, set your expectations right. You may have to pay high price tags for a comfortable vacation, or get acquainted to a lot of dirt, dust and crowd. But despite all of that, we would say Santa Teresa is still worth a visit. It is indeed beautiful and the remoteness of the place just adds to its charm.
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Awesome! Went surfing there 2 years ago, had problems getting past the breakers, not sure if the craters are still in the sand from my wipe outs. Hope to go again in late June.
Haha, hope you have a great time Joe in Santa Teresa in June and hone your surfing skills further 🙂