SANTA TERESA, COSTA RICA: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE LAIDBACK SURF TOWN

Everyone always asks where they can find the next Tulum. Well, the little surf town of Santa Teresa in north Costa Rica might be the place. Located on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, this hard-to-reach destination flies under the radar with most tourists, but for those that make the journey, all the feels of a rustic Tulum await. Life here is laid back and carefree, revolving around surf culture and wellness. There’s one main road in town lined with yoga studios, boho boutiques, wellness cafes and surf schools. It runs parallel to the coast with several dirt paths that provide access to the beach. Below is my complete travel guide to Santa Teresa that includes the best places to visit, day trips, hikes, hotels, restaurants, cafes, travel tips and more.

This post contains affiliate links. When you click these links I may get a small commission that won’t cost you anything, but it does help me run this website.

Santa Teresa is a small surf town on the the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula.

SANTA TERESA TRAVEL TIPS

• WHAT IS A SODA? – A soda is a small mom & pop diner that serves local Costa Rican cuisine.
• DUST – Pack a bandana and sunglasses if you plane to bicycle or ride an ATV while in Santa Teresa. Dust will fly into your eyes while rolling through town.
• TIPPING ETIQUETTE – While tipping is not mandatory, most restaurant do add a 10% service fee to bills.
• ESIM – Most hotels and restaurants offer free wi-fi, but for 24/7 connection it’s best to invest in an eSIM for your cell phone. They are affordable and convenient.
• CURRENCY – The official currency of Costa Rica is the colón. While several shops and restaurants take credit card, I recommend also carrying some cash for smaller purchases.

The main road in town runs parallel to the coastline with dirt roads that lead to the beach.

Most people get around town by ATV, bicycle or motorcycle.

WHEN TO VISIT SANTA TERESA

• DECEMBER-APRIL – Dry season is a fabulous time to visit Sant Teresa, it’s also the busiest. The surf is excellent December to April with sunny weather and a low chance of rain.
• NOVEMBER & MAY – The shoulder months see fewer crowds than high season, but weather can be hit or miss.
• JUNE-OCTOBER – Wet season is a gorgeous time to visit. It rains a lot, but everything is incredibly lush and green. Note that a “little summer” passes at some point between July and August that offers a few weeks of relief from the rain.

HOW MANY DAYS IN SANTA TERESA

FOUR DAYS. Length of stay really depends on how much you want to surf and relax on the beach. Four days is a good amount of time to do both, as well as explore town, eat at the best restaurants, visit a few beach clubs and squeeze in a day trip.

Santa Teresa revolves around the local surf culture.

THINGS TO DO IN SANTA TERESA

BEACH CLUBS

Spend the afternoon at one of the local beach clubs – sunbathe on a lounger, sip a cocktail and enjoy the local surf. A few of the most popular beach clubs include Banana Beach, Blue Mist, Rocamar and Uma.

SHOPPING

Boho boutiques and surf shops are scattered along the main road in Santa Teresa including Pawo, Somos, You Me and the Sea and Green Folk.

SURF

The surf culture thrives in Santa Teresa. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a lesson or an advanced surfer, this stretch of the Pacific coastline offers a beach for all levels of experience: Playa Carmen (southern) and Playa Hermosa (northern) for beginners and La Lora (central) and Playa Santa Teresa (central) for intermediate.

YOGA

Start the day with a hotel yoga class. Or if your hotel doesn’t offer yoga, drop into one of the studios in Santa Teresa. There’s a big wellness scene is town, and this is an excellent place to practice yoga.

DAY TRIPS FROM SANTA TERESA

CABO BLANCO NATURE RESERVE

The country’s first nature reserve is located on the Nicoya Peninsula, very close to Santa Teresa. It protects approximately 1,788 hectares of ocean and 1,270 hectares of land, home to 150 species of trees and 240 species of birds, as well as howler monkeys and white-faced capuchin monkeys. There are several trails within the nature reserve for visitors to hike and trek.

CURU WILDLIFE REGUGE

Also located on the Nicoya Peninsula, this wildlife refuge is a privately owned sanctuary that protects everything from dry forests to the offshore reef system. Visitors enjoy a variety of hiking trails where howler and white-faced capuchin monkey sightings aren’t uncommon.

MONTEZUMA FALLS

This lovely waterfall is a short hike reachable from the little town of Montezuma, a windy 30-minute drive from Santa Teresa. It’s actually a trio of waterfalls with a swimming hole, the lower 20-meter waterfall being the easiest to access. For adventurers willing to hike a bit further, there is a set of tiered falls with a swimming hole and cliff jumping a bit further up. Montezuma isn’t the most epic waterfall destination in Costa Rica, but it’s a wonderful little day trip from Santa Teresa.

ROMELIA WILDLIFE REFUGE

Another day trip destination located near the town of Montezuma that protects a variety of ecosystems located within the reserve. It’s home to several species of turtle, as well as sloths, howler monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, ocelots and birds. Visitors can hike the pristine forest land, as well as visit remote beaches like Playa Grande.

TORTUGA ISLAND

Isla Tortuga is actually two small islands (Tolinga Island and Alcatraz Island) located off the coast of the Nicoya Peninsula. The islands are a popular day trip destination for snorkeling, swimming and even hiking on the island. We visited by private boat with Zuma Tours, and they were flexible and fabulous.

BEST SANTA TERESA HOTEL

HOTEL FERMATA

Hotel Fermata is the only upscale luxury option hotel in Santa Teresa, and it’s amazing. The 35-room retreat feels brand-new because it is new. The beachfront property opened in late 2025. Located at the end of a dirt road that leads to Playa Santa Teresa, the hotel’s main gathering area is a convergence of the lobby, bar and restaurant in an open, airy and highly aesthetic space. It’s an absolute vibe. And rooms, casitas and villas are lovely – designed primarily in white with pops of beige. Lots of little alcoves, outdoor brick showers and very comfortable beds and linens. This is hands-down the best place to stay in Santa Teresa.

The pool situation at Hotel Fermata is highly aesthetic.

WHERE TO EAT IN SANTA TERESA

• Al Chile Viola – Italian
• Ani’s Bowls – Healthy
• The Bakery – Baked Goods
• Cafe Social – Healthy
• Earth Cafe – Healthy
• Eat Street – Food Court
• El Patio – Breakfast, Healthy
• Fermata Restaurant – Mediterranean
• Gaucha – Ice Cream
• Gula – Cafe
• Katana – Japanese
• Koji Restaurant – Japanese
• La Cevicheria – Latin American Seafood
• Satori Sushi – Japanese
• Somos Restaurant – International
• UMA – Mediterranean

My go-to breakfast every morning at Fermata Kitchen was huevos rancheros, a biscuit w/honey and a passion fruit mango smoothie

GET AROUND SANTA TERESA

• ATV – ATV is one of the most common modes of transportation in Santa Teresa. There are rental shops throughout town, and most hotels can arrange a rental.
• BICYCLE – Bicycle is another way to move around town. The main road that runs through Santa Teresa is paved and pretty flat, ideal for exploring on bicycle.
• MOTORCYCLE – Motorcycle is another popular way to get around Santa Teresa.
• TAXI – Taxis aren’t the cheapest way to get around, but are available for visitors who don’t want to rent an ATV, bicycle or motorcycle.
• WALKING – The main stretch of road that runs through Santa Teresa is approximately four kilometers. There are no sidewalks, but the town is very pedestrian friendly with surfers and tourists moving about town on food.

GET TO SANTA TERESA

• CAR – The easiest journey to Santa Teresa by car as it’s connected to the rest of the country by road. The journey is long and the roads can be bumpy, but a week in Santa Teresa is worth the effort.
• FLIGHT – The Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport (LIR) in Liberia is the closest airport to Santa Teresa. That said, it’s still a four hour drive to reach the surf town unless you charter a small plane to make the 30-minute journey to Tambor Aiport (TMU).