Intruduction to Santa Teresa Beach Area
Santa Teresa Costa Rica offers an abundance of experiences beyond its stunning beaches and constant waves.
Enjoy adventures of a lifetime with boat tour through the Pacific Ocean and hiking through rain forests, surrounded by fascinating wildlife like monkeys, toucans and more exotic creatures.
Take advantage of thrilling activities such as fishing, surfing, yoga, and stand up paddle, among many others activities to do in Santa Teresa Beach.
In Santa Teresa, you will also find women’s retreats, meditation circles, cute coffee shops and friendly servers in restaurants.
There are also a few beach front bars and of course lots of surf spots!
The typical dinner timer is right after sunset time (around 6PM). Restaurants close up kitchen around 9PM.
The beach will always remain the main attraction of Santa Teresa, for its waves, for its fabulous tide pools and for its breath taking Pacific Sunset.
Different ways to arrive in Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa Beach is located in the West South of Costa Rica, in Nicoya Peninsula. Santa Teresa is part of Puntarenas Province.
To reach Santa Teresa from International Costa Rica Airports, the options are > rental cars, shared shuttles and domestic flights.
The distance between the capital city of San José and Santa Teresa Beach is approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi). To travel by ground transportation, takes about six hours, while domestic flight from San Jose takes 35 minutes.
Commercial flight from San Jose to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Since 15th November 2023, commercial flights from San Jose to Santa Teresa are landing in the new airport of Cóbano, at a price of $131. This aiport is located just 25 min away from Santa Teresa Beach.
There are two airline carriers that provide flights from/to Cobano Aiport: Sansa Airlines and Green Airlines.
More information about Domestic Flight here: How to arrive to Santa Teresa by Plane
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The trendy town of Santa Teresa Beach
The town goes on a long 4.2km-street as its backbone.
There’s no traditional downtown area in Santa Teresa, only one road -go and back- paralel to the beach
The bustling core spans out from the intersection of “El Cruce” on Playa Carmen to the once-super-popular discotheque “La Lora”.
We created an interactive Google Map of Santa Teresa Beach, where you can find everything that’s happening.
Stay
This Costa Rican destination boasts a plethora of choices when it comes to places to stay – from affordable cute hotel to fancy villas with breathtaking views of the ocean.
Visitors can choose to stay in the hustle and bustle of the main street or up high on the mountain for a serene and peaceful retreat.
For more information and expert recommendations on where to stay in Santa Teresa Beach in 2024, here
How to move around Santa Teresa
In order to move around Santa Teresa Beach, a 4-wheel drive, sport utility vehicle, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or Side/by/side (Rhino) may be the ideal choice to suit your specific travel requirements.
If you plan to stay in hotel or Airbnb located in the mountains of Santa Teresa, the best to navigate any terrain is a powerful 4WD. For a day of surfing, the ATV is the recommended option as it allows for easy access to different spots, and you can even attach a surf rack to it.
During the rainy season in Santa Teresa Beach, a roof is advisable and both the Rhino and SUV are excellent choices.
Our team shares a passion for vehicles, and we strongly recommend being prepared to embrace the exhilaration of the journey. The Rhino is the most popular vehicle in this region as it seats up to five passengers comfortably and is perfect for exploring the area with your loved ones. Remember all the time to keep it at 25km/hour.
For more information, kindly refer to the article: Ways to move around Santa Teresa.
ATV
ATVs or All-Terrain Vehicles are a great way to explore the outdoors in Santa Teresa.
However, ATVs come with their own set of pros and cons. The most important drawback to consider is that if you want to drink, you can not drive. These vehicles are powerful and bad use of them can cause a terrible accident. The ATV can reach more than 50ml/hr but being in a one-road town, we need everybody to drive 25km/hr. Kids, animals, and people are on the same street. Please read here all the considerations for ATVs. On the other hand, for responsible riders discovering Santa Teresa in an ATV can be supreme. Enjoy your slow-motion ride while discovering Santa Teresa Gems.
Side-by-Side
The Honda Pioneer and the Yamaha Rhino are powerful and versatile side-by-side vehicles, perfect for any outdoor enthusiast. With its impressive cargo capacity and comfortable seating for five passengers, advanced suspension system, and powerful engine. It can take you anywhere you want to go with confidence. As everybody can assume, all this comfort has a price and it is not for all budgets.
Beach and Surf
Located along the Pacific West Coast of Costa Rica, Playa Santa Teresa beach has become world-famous for its breathtaking coastline and constant surf break.
The beach itself is long and spacious, providing plenty of room for walking, running, sunbathing, swimming, and playing in the sand.
Santa Teresa boasts from South to North: Playa Carmen, Playa Banana Beach, Playa Santa Teresa, and Playa Villa Paraiso, Suckrock
Swimming in Santa Teresa Beach
In general, swimming in Santa Teresa area is not for everyone. Acording on skills levels some tides will be better than others.
Be aware that the currents can be strong and unpredictable.
Thanks to all the effort that Lifeguards Santa Teresa do every day. Swimming in front of them makes everything smooth and easier. Remember to stay close to the shore and pay attention to their signs.
If you’re not a confident swimmer, another option is to stick to the Natural Pools of Mal Pais area, which is also perfect for families with kids to enjoy.
Wildlife and Nature around Santa Teresa Beach
In the immediate area, there are two national reserves that are perfect for animal lovers and hiking enthusiasts alike: Curu National Reserve and Cabo Blanco National Park.
Friendly Reminder
In Santa Teresa, the town has grown significantly in the last 5 years, but unfortunately, the infrastructure has not kept up with the pace. As a result, every decision we make has a significant impact on the environment. To help preserve our environment, it is essential to avoid buying unnecessary items, reduce the use of plastics, reuse towels for longer periods, opt for eco-friendly products, consume more fruits and vegetables to minimize the amount of garbage.
Santa Teresa offers an excellent opportunity to be more conscious of the environment, and the rewards from Mother Earth are immense.
Why Santa Teresa Beach is so special?
With consistent waves, warm water, breath taking sunsets, and tasty eats, there’s no wonder why Santa Teresa is so famous.
