Playa Carmen
Transport, shopsThe crossroads at the north of town.
Town guide
Things to do in Santa Teresa
A Pacific surf town at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula: consistent waves, long beaches, yoga studios, beach bars and big sunsets, with Montezuma's waterfalls and the Cabo Blanco reserve nearby.
16
Hostels in the city
9.1
Average, from 5,825 reviews
365
Days of surf a year
4–7
Days
Surf, yoga and sunsets
Santa Teresa is a long, dusty road of surf shops, cafes, hostels and yoga studios behind a series of beaches on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. It started as a remote surf spot and is now one of the most popular, and expensive, beach towns in Costa Rica, with many people staying for weeks or months.
The surf is consistent all year, with waves for beginners and experts, and lessons and board hire everywhere. Playa Santa Teresa, Playa Carmen and Playa Hermosa are the main beaches, and the sunsets draw crowds every evening.
Nearby, the village of Montezuma has waterfalls you can swim in, and Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve, the oldest protected area in the country, has forest trails down to a beach. Santa Teresa is not cheap, and the main road is dusty in the dry season and muddy in the wet. Give it four days to a week.
Where to base yourself
Playa Carmen for transport and shops, the middle of Santa Teresa for surf and bars, or Mal País for quiet.
Santa Teresa
Surf, barsThe middle of the beach road.
Mal País
QuietThe southern end, near the tide pools.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 8 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Santa Teresa
Take a surf lesson or hire a board at Playa Santa Teresa or Playa Carmen, and watch the sunset from the beach every evening. Join a yoga class, many of which are drop-in.
Visit Montezuma, about 40 minutes away, to swim at its waterfalls, and hike in Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve to a quiet beach. Take a boat trip to Isla Tortuga for snorkelling and beaches.
Go horse riding on the beach, explore the tide pools at Mal País, and hire a quad bike or scooter to explore the coast.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
All beaches in Costa Rica are public, so every beach in Santa Teresa is free, and so are the sunsets. The tide pools at Mal País cost nothing.
The Montezuma Waterfalls are free to reach on foot, though parking costs money.
Cabo Blanco charges entry.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Santa Teresa has many international restaurants, cafes and healthy food, at high prices. For cheaper meals, look for sodas serving casados, from €6 to €10, and the supermarkets for self-catering.
Fresh fish, poke bowls and smoothies are everywhere.
Restaurant bills add 13 per cent tax and a 10 per cent service charge, so check whether menu prices include them; an extra tip is optional.
Nightlife
Going out
Santa Teresa has a lively nightlife for a small town, with beach bars, live music and weekly parties at a few venues. Sunset drinks are a ritual.
The long-staying surf crowd keeps it social.
Cocktails cost €6 to €10.
Getting around
Getting around
Shuttles run to Santa Teresa from San José, La Fortuna and Liberia, usually with a ferry crossing from Puntarenas to Paquera, for €45 to €70. Public buses and the ferry are cheaper but take most of a day. Small planes fly to Tambor, about 40 minutes away.
In town, people walk, cycle, or hire scooters and quad bikes. The main road is dusty or muddy.
A 4WD is useful in the rainy season.
Costs
What Santa Teresa costs
Santa Teresa is one of the most expensive places in Costa Rica. Dorm beds start at around €18 to €30 a night. Restaurant mains cost €12 to €25.
Surf lessons cost about €45 to €65, and board hire about €12 to €20 a day.
US dollars are accepted everywhere alongside colones.
Safety
Safety and scams
Santa Teresa is generally safe, but theft from rooms, cars and the beach is common. Lock up, use safes and never leave belongings on the sand.
Rip currents are strong and there are few lifeguards; surf and swim where others are, and ask locally.
Quad bike accidents happen often on the dusty road; wear a helmet. In an emergency, call 911.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Surf season and the dry season.
December to April
Dry season
Santa Teresa
Sun, offshore winds and busy beaches.
May to November
Green season swells
Santa Teresa
Bigger waves for experienced surfers.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Santa Teresa, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
House of Somos, Santa Teresa
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Lost Boyz
Dorms from €12 a night
See dates and book
Akih Pods Hostel
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Surf Paradise
Rooms from €1 a night
See dates and book
Zeneidas Surf Garden
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Hostel La Posada
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
Pura Vida MINI Hostel - Santa Teresa
Dorms from €13 a night
See dates and book
Sustainable
Don Jon*s Lodge
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
When to go
December to April is the dry season, sunny and busy. The green season, from May to November, brings afternoon rain and bigger swells; September and October are the wettest months, and some places close.
Jan
Dry season
Feb
Driest
Mar
Dry
Apr
Hot, Semana Santa
May
Green season
Jun
Swells build
Jul
Short dry spell
Aug
Green
Sep
Wet
Oct
Wettest, some closures
Nov
Rain easing
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Hot all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Santa Teresa prices.
Treat these as a guide. Surf lessons and board hire cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Santa Teresa questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Santa Teresa good for beginner surfers?
Yes. There are many surf schools and gentler waves at some beaches and tides.
How do I get to Santa Teresa?
By shuttle and ferry from San José or La Fortuna, or by small plane to Tambor.
Is Santa Teresa expensive?
Yes, one of the most expensive places in Costa Rica.
How many days do you need in Santa Teresa?
Four days to a week.
Is Santa Teresa safe?
Generally, but theft is common. Lock up and watch for rip currents.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April for sun, or the green season for bigger waves and fewer people.
Can I visit Montezuma from Santa Teresa?
Yes, it is about 40 minutes away.
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