Our Town

Beautiful beaches, great surf conditions, wide variety of yoga services, tropical gardens and nice vibe make it a favorite among the off the beaten path destinations.

Santa Teresa beach is located 150 Km west of San Jose, in the Nicoya Peninsula, part of Puntarenas province.

Santa Teresa is a booming travel destination in Costa Rica which attracts especially surfers and the younger crowds to its scenic beaches and great surf.

A broad strip of forest frames the beach of Santa Teresa and an absence of high-rise buildings maintains the pristine image of the coastline with its long sweep of white sand beach washed by the pacific surf and backed by jungle covered hills.

Behind the beach forest lies Santa Teresa’s main drag which runs parallel to the coast on a potholed and dusty dirt road.

The past few years the village has seen a huge spike in devolopment and constructions now spread up the hills inland from the coast.

Quite a tourist who had just been on a surf vacation in Costa Rica decided to make Santa Teresa his home. The multicultural new residents have created a panoply of restaurants, venues, and hotels in Santa Teresa, with lodging options from low-key surf hostels to some of the most luxurious hotels in Costa Rica.

For many people surfing is the main pursuit and many visitors receive their first surf lesson in Santa Teresa. Apart from challenging surf spots for experts there are also the easy-going breaks of Playa Carmen for novice surfers. Many hotels offer surf instruction and surf camps in Santa Teresa.

There is however still more to do than surfing. Playa Santa Teresa and Playa Carmen rank among the most beautiful beaches of Costa Rica. You can make long hikes along the picturesque coastline, bathe in tidal pools or find a place under a palm tree for loafing and reading a book.

Many activities are available in the neighboring community of Mal Pais. From its small fishing port you can embark on a tour by boat to go snorkeling or fishing. Other options are stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, horseback riding or ziplining on the canopy tour next to the Cabo Blanco Reserve.

When it comes time for sunset the entire town seems to gather on the beach to enjoy the cool breezes, watch the surfers, and make plans for the evening. Santa Teresa offers plenty of nightlife, especially during high season, from December to March. Extreme party time, with international DJs and many events, is during the Christmas/New Year holidays.

You can also explore nearby attractions as the waterfalls in Montezuma, or make a boat and snorkeling tour to the Tortuga Islands. Nature lovers should not miss a visit of Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica’s oldest Nature Reserve.

For a more local flair you can visit the typical dancehall, “La Lora” which often has a Costa Rican live band playing Salsa and Cumbia.

Interestingly, Santa Teresa and Mal Pais have been the first communities in Costa Rica to receive glass fibre cables for telecommunications. High speed internet is available with up to 100Mbps. All hotels in Santa Teresa and nearly all restaurants offer free Wifi for their guests.

Locals refer to the road intersection at Playa Carmen as “El Cruze”. It marks the border between the community of Mal Pais to the south, while Santa Teresa extends to the north. In high season this road intersection is sometimes crammed with vehicles. It is Santa Teresa’s main commercial area with two banks, the pharmacy, car rental agencies, doctors, shops and restaurants.

A public road leads down to the beach of Playa Carmen with its parking lot and palm trees providing shady areas. To the south you gaze upon the rocky shoreline of Mal Pais, backed by the verdant hills of Cabo Blanco at the very tip of the Nicoya Peninsula.

Playa Carmen is popular with sun bathers and surfers who can ride a long beach break here. You can even surf at night, when the waves are lit by flash lights. Swimming, however, on Playa Carmen and Playa Santa Teresa, is not recommended as the surf can be overwhelming.The actual Playa Santa Teresa is situated around 3 km north of Playa Carmen, past the soccer field.

In recent years this area has become more and more popular and many new hotels and restaurants have popped up. The beach here is a broad and long expanse of white sand edged by jungle. The surf on Playa Santa Teresa is more challenging and presents both point and beach breaks. A local landmark is the discotheque of “La Lora” with its dance and music events. Here a road descends to a small parking lot on the beach, which is a popular surfer hangout.