Santa Teresa · Costa Rica
A week in our life. Surf where the waves are working, eat where we eat, and move with the tides instead of a timetable.
Next Surf Trip
12–18 December 2026
Signature Stay · 6 nights · ATV jungle day + snorkelling trip
Find out more
Why this trip is different
Surf & Stay is what happened when the three of us asked: what if more people could experience Santa Teresa the way we do?
Isaac grew up on this beach. Sarah arrived from Australia and something shifted — life slowed, her senses woke up with the howler monkeys, and she felt alive in the wild jungle. Marylou came on her first solo trip, tried surfing for the first time, and fell in love with both the place and the people.
We built this trip around the feeling we all found here. Aliveness. Freedom to explore. Curiosity about the world and the people in it. Real connection with local culture — family kitchens, local guides, and spots that never make the guidebooks.
There is structure when you want it — surf sessions, beachfront movement classes, an ATV mission through the jungle, a second adventure day out on the water or in the saddle — and open time to wander, reset, or do absolutely nothing. We are around when you need us, and happy to step back when you do not.
Is this for you?
You want to learn to surf, improve your skills, or be guided to the best local breaks
You want time to explore, unwind, and follow your own rhythm — no rigid schedule
You want to slip into the real Santa Teresa and know this trip puts money and energy straight back into the local community
You love waking up to howler monkeys and hearing the ocean with every step
You want to feel playful again — surf, laugh, move, and remember what it feels like to be alive
You would like to connect with good people, and still have time to yourself
Small groups, capped at ten. All levels welcome, no experience needed.
Meet your hosts
Local crew, small groups, and the kind of week that feels like staying with friends who happen to know every wave and secret spot in town.
Founder & head coach
Grew up on this beach, surfing before he could drive and fishing with his grandfather for months at sea. He started The Beach Boys because friends kept asking, and kept going because sharing the ocean turned out to be the best job in the world. His energy is contagious, his teaching is patient, and he will absolutely lose his mind cheering when you catch your first green wave.
Co-host
Sarah found herself in Costa Rica all the way from Australia — and something shifted. Life slowed, her senses woke up with the howler monkeys, and she felt alive with the wild jungle. This stay is her way of sharing that same freedom and aliveness with others. A trained Pilates, pranayama and yoga teacher, she leads the movement sessions and holds the week together so everyone feels safe, included, and free to move at their own rhythm.
Co-host
Mary Lou took her first solo trip to Costa Rica, tried surfing for the first time, and fell in love with both. She immediately felt welcomed by Santa Teresa and embraced the slow, simple life. She's the ultimate chiller — as sweet and refreshing as a post-surf piña — and she's on the clock so you can be checked out. Mary Lou's excited to show you the community that keeps pulling her back year after year.
Dates & pricing
Same crew, same house, same stretch of coast. Signature weeks are women only, led by Sarah. Essentials weeks are mixed — all genders welcome. Pick the week that fits you best.
Next trip
6 nights · From $2,695 pp
Women only · A women-only week — safe and supported, in the water and out of it.
6 nights · From $2,095 pp
Everyone welcome · Mixed group — all genders, solo travellers, couples and friends.
7 nights · From $2,895 pp
Women only · A women-only week — safe and supported, in the water and out of it.
Prices are per person in USD. A 50% deposit reserves your spot; the balance is due 30 days before travel. Payment plans available on request.
From our guests
"My time at the Surf & Stay in Santa Teresa was so much more than a vacation, it was an experience I'll never forget. Every day was thoughtfully planned with the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. From the morning and sunset yoga sessions and delicious breakfasts to incredible meals, the boat day, and of course surfing, every detail was organized so we could simply enjoy every moment."
"Even during our free time, the hosts went above and beyond by recommending the best local spots to explore around town. Whether it was restaurants, cafés, beaches, or hidden gems, their suggestions helped us experience Santa Teresa like locals and made every moment of the trip feel intentional."
"What truly made this retreat special was the community. This wasn't your typical surf retreat or place to stay. It brought together an amazing group of women who started as strangers but left feeling like family. There was such a genuine sense of connection, support, and laughter throughout the week."
"The girls running the retreat were absolutely incredible. They were so welcoming from the moment we arrived.. always positive, encouraging, and genuinely fun to be around. Their passion created an environment where everyone felt included, comfortable, and able to be themselves."
"If you're looking for more than just a place to stay, adventure, meaningful connections, and memories that will stay with you long after you leave. I can't recommend this Surf & Stay enough. It completely exceeded my expectations, and I'm already trying to figure out when I can come back."
Chloe
@chloe_wilson3Straight from the week
Surf, food, jungle, and the people you'll spend it with.
Where you stay
A boutique jungle hotel just across the road from the surf. Studios and apartments tucked around a shared pool, wrapped in tropical greenery, a short barefoot walk to the beach.
Air-conditioned rooms, organic bedding, rainfall showers, and quiet corners to nap between sessions. It's the kind of place where mornings start with howler monkeys and evenings end under the palms.
Explore The Baya HouseWhere you stay
Every room is at The Baya House — a boutique jungle stay with a pool, air-con, private bathrooms, and a two-minute barefoot walk to the sand.
Twin share
Share a studio or apartment with one other guest. We'll pair you with someone from the trip if you're travelling solo.
Private
Have the whole room to yourself. Perfect if you want your own space after a day in the water.
Come as a pair or group
Book a room together. The 2-bedroom Papaya apartment is made for two couples or a group of four.
1 double bed + 1 twin bed · Private bathroom
Located on the second level overlooking the pool, each studio is designed for simple, comfortable stays. On every floor, two rooms sit side by side and share a small patio — each with its own set of chairs, calm but connected to the pool area below.
Available as
1 bedroom + sofa bed · Full bathroom · rainfall shower
Baya has two 1-bedroom apartments. One overlooks the pool, the second is tucked away at the front of the hotel. A private balcony with a dining table looks out; inside, a spacious living area with a TV and a sofa that converts into an additional bed, a private bedroom, and a rainfall shower.
Available as
1 double bed + 2 twin beds · Full bathroom
Papaya features one double bed and two twin beds, a full kitchen with brand-new appliances and a full stove with oven, a comfortable living area with a couch, and a full bathroom. Located at pool level, the shared pool is just steps away. Its own private patio has a four-person dining table — ideal for relaxed meals and time outdoors.
Available as
Shared spaces
Payment & peace of mind
Exactly how booking works, what your money does, and what happens if life gets in the way.
Your deposit confirms your room and your spot on the trip. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the start date.
Every price you see covers one person for the whole trip. Payment plans are available on request — just ask us on WhatsApp and we'll set one up.
Surf and weather decide the order of our days, not whether they happen. If conditions shift, we move sessions and activities around — nothing is cancelled, the week just reshuffles.
Required for all guests. Make sure your policy covers surfing — we'll ask for the details before the trip starts.
Isaac, Sarah and Marylou run every trip themselves. The person answering your messages is the person meeting you at the beach.
Deposits are non-refundable
We're a small, locally run business and every booking holds a real room and a real place in a tiny group, so deposits can't be refunded.
Cancellations within 30 days
Cancellations made within 30 days of the trip start date are non-refundable, as accommodation, coaching and activities are already locked in for you.
Transfers are welcome
Can't make it? Your booking can be transferred to another guest, subject to our approval — message us and we'll sort it together.
Good to know
How to book
No online checkout. Message us with your dates and who's coming, we'll confirm what's available at The Baya House, and a 50% deposit locks in your room — the balance is due 30 days before the trip. All prices are per person in USD, and payment plans are available on request. Everything after that — flights, ferries, transfers — happens in the same chat.
Book on WhatsAppWe only run a handful of trips a year and keep every group small so it stays personal and fun. Rooms go to whoever messages first.