Santa Teresa, Costa Rica: A Local's Guide
Santa Teresa is a surf town on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula: one dirt-and-patchwork road, jungle on one side, ocean on the other, and a rhythm set almost entirely by the tide. Here is what it is actually like to be here.
The beaches, north to south
Playa Hermosa
The northern stretch. Incredible surf, family oriented, fewer cafes and restaurants, but a growing area with great food, a strong local community, and waves that work for a range of levels.
Playa Santa Teresa
The centre of the area and the most built up — cafes, restaurants, bars, gyms, and wellness spots line the road. The beach breaks run from Rocamar down to Playa Carmen, with different peaks for different surfers.
Playa Carmen
Where you drop down from the mountain. A little quieter, with more gentle waves and a relaxed pace.
Mal País
Home of the tide pools, the fishing market, secluded beaches, and reefs for surfers who know what they are doing.
When to come
December to April is the dry season: sun almost every day, offshore mornings, and the busiest streets of the year. It is the easy choice, and prices reflect that.
May to July is green season in its best form — showers usually arrive late in the day, the jungle turns luminous, and the waves get bigger and more consistent as the southern swells kick in.
August to November brings more rain and the biggest swells of the year. Fewer people, lush everything, and a town that feels like it belongs to the locals again.
Eating your way through town
There is a genuinely absurd amount of good food for a town this size — open-air sodas serving casado plates, ceviche counters, wood-fired pizza, and beach clubs that hand you a plate of fresh fish as the sun drops.
A few places we send people: La Choza for solid local plates, Zula for something a little more refined, Frank's Place when you want fresh seafood, and Chicken Joe's for a casual feed after a surf. For breakfast, Horizon does a good spread and is a calm way to start the day.
Our full list of where we actually eat, drink and go on days off lives in the guide book we share with our Surf + Stay guests.
A taste of what to do
Beyond surfing, the good stuff is low-key and close. Wander the Mal País tide pools at low tide, take an ATV run to waterfalls and hidden beaches, watch the sunset from somewhere up high, or just do very little by the pool with a coconut in hand.
We keep the full map of our favourite spots — restaurants, cafés, sunset bars, tide pools, and day-trip routes — in the private guide book for our guests.
How the day goes
Howler monkeys start before the sun. People surf early, eat, sleep through the hottest part of the afternoon, then everybody drifts back to the beach for sunset — barefoot, boards under arms, someone always playing football on the sand.
Sunset here is genuinely a town-wide event. Nobody schedules anything over it.
Practical things nobody tells you
The road
Mostly paved now, with some unpaved sections, and still dusty. ATVs, scooters, motorbikes, and cars are all common ways to get around.
Cash and cards
Most places take cards, but carry change for fruit stands and smaller sodas.
Rip currents
Real, and part of a beach break. Ask before you paddle out somewhere new, and swim near other people.
Sun
You are nine degrees off the equator. Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and a rash guard are not optional.
Frequently asked
Is Santa Teresa good for beginners?
Yes. It is a sand-bottom beach break with warm water and lots of space, which makes it one of the friendliest places in Costa Rica to learn.
What is the best month to visit Santa Teresa?
December to April for reliable sun, May to July for a green, quieter town with strong consistent surf. Both work — they are just different trips.
How many days do you need in Santa Teresa?
Five to seven. Enough to surf several times, adjust to the pace, and see the waterfalls, tide pools and neighbouring towns without rushing.
Ready when you are
Come surf with us in Santa Teresa.
Small groups, local coaches, and Surf + Stay weeks at The Baya House.
