Welcome to Santa Teresa!
Once a sleepy surf town, Santa Teresa has become a popular tourist destination for surfers and non-surfers alike. In 2016, New York Times Style Magazine called Santa Teresa the Next Tulum. Travelers of all ages, from backpackers to families to retirees, come to Santa Teresa to enjoy this tropical paradise. Even if you don’t surf, you’ll find plenty to do in and around town. Santa Teresa is truly a magical place. Most of the people who now live here, originally came on vacation, fell in love, and decided to settle here.
On the Pacific Ocean, in the southwest corner of the Nicoya Peninsula, Santa Teresa and Malpais (the adjoining town just south of Santa Teresa) lie on the beach, and extend up into the hills, where there are breathtaking views of the ocean and town. The main road runs through town, parallel to the beach, with shops, restaurants, and groceries on both sides of the road. The Nicoya Peninsula is one of the worlds few Blue Zones. Residents of Blue Zones tend to live healthier, longer, and happier lives. Is it any wonder people love living in Santa Teresa?
Santa Teresa has attracted many world class chefs, and there is a wide variety of high quality restaurants. You can find anything from Italian food, Asian Cuisine, Mexican Food, Sushi, and much more. Private chefs can also come to your villa and prepare an unforgettable meal for you.
Besides surfing, there are many other trips and activities in and around Santa Teresa. See a list of some of these activities below. We’re eager to help you plan your vacation!
TORTUGA ISLAND TOUR
A day trip to Tortuga Island: Get picked up from the villa in the morning, get driven to Montezuma, and then get on a boat to this turtle-shaped island. On the way you can go snorkeling. You may even see some whales! Lunch is included. Once you get to Tortuga Island, you can choose to relax, or partake in some of the water activities available. Get back home before sunset. This is a lot of fun, make sure to bring sunscreen.
UNFORGETTABLE SUNSETS
End each day experiencing some of the most beautiful sunsets you'll ever see. No two are the same, and the colors and hues change from minute to minute. Whether you had an action packed day, or just relaxed on the beach, this is the perfect cap to your day. The sun sets fast, so make sure to get the beach at least fifteen minutes before sunset. Pro tip: the sunsets can be even more magnificent in the green season.
SURF WORLD CLASS WAVES
Santa Teresa is known throughout the world as one of the best surf destinations in Costa Rica. The beaches of Playa Mal Pais, Playa Carmen, Playa Santa Teresa, and Playa Hermosa offer different styles, speed, and sizes of waves. If you're an experienced surfer, you'll absolutely love the consistency. If you've never surfed before, you'll enjoy top notch surf instructors.
ENJOY QUALITY BEACH TIME
We can't discuss Santa Teresa without discussing the beaches. From the Secret Beach in Mal Pais, all the way to Hermosa and Manzanillo, there are kilometers of beautiful beaches to visit. Whether you want to soak in the sun, find an isolated section of the beach, or sit under an umbrella and enjoy a tropical drink, you'll be able to find a section of the beach that will fill your needs. There are even areas where tide pools are created in low tide.
EXPLORE ON AN ATV
Everyone who comes to Santa Teresa enjoys exploring with ATVs. There's something so enjoyable about driving around the rural areas, just to see what's there. There are also guided tours, and people also rent ATVs just to get around town. One popular option is to rent ATVs and take a day trip to Montezuma, check out the waterfalls and the town. Many people go north of Santa Teresa to some secluded beaches as well.
YOGA
In Santa Teresa, Yoga is not just an excercise regiment, but a way of life. There are many yoga studios and world-class yoga instructors in town. Yoga Instructors come here to further their education.
You can find multiple yoga classes at all skill levels throughout the day. Sunset Yoga Classes are especially memorable. We can also bring a yoga instructor to the villa for private classes.
MONTEZUMA WATERFALLS
Located across the peninsula, Montezuma is a popular day trip from Santa Teresa. The highlight of the trip are the Montezuma Waterfalls. Three waterfalls, one bigger than the next. Choose to go from the top or bottom. Either way includes a hike. When starting from the top, Sun Trail Tours maintains a path to make hiking to the waterfall easier, including steps leading down to the bottom waterfall. Make sure to visit the town of Montezuma as well to turn this into a complete day trip.
GET MARRIED IN SANTA TERESA
Whether you've always dreamed of a destination wedding, you've decided to elope while on vacation, or you want to renew your vows, Santa Teresa is the perfect place to get married. We work in conjunction with Banana Beach Restaurant to help you plan the perfect beachfront wedding. We've had years of experience planning weddings. Let us make yours unforgettable,
SEE EXOTIC WILDLIFE
Costa Rica's national parks are world famous. roughly 25% of Costa Rica is protected jungle. Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve is the oldest protected area of Costa Rica, and is right below Santa Teresa (the entrance is in Cabuya). Short and Long hikes are available. less than an hour drive away is the Curu Wildlife Reserve. Guided can take your around and show you the tropical birds and animals.
FISHING TRIPS
If you love fishing, you'll want to make sure to go on at least one fishing trip while you're in Santa Teresa. You can choose a full day deep-sea fishing trip (including fruits, drinks, and beer), or 3 hour costal fishing trip. Fish in the area include Tuna, Dorado, Wahoo, Marlin, Sailfish, Grouper, Snapper, and more. Other fun options include Kayak fishing and fishing on the shore.
CANOPY TOUR
Originally developed by scientists to travel among the trees in the jungle, Canopy Tours, also known as zip-lining, are now available all over Costa Rica. Here in Santa Teresa, you have the option of the canopy tour in Mal Pais, or in Montezuma. The Mal Pais Canopy Tour has 8 cables, suspension bridge, tarzan swing, and ziplining on a surfboard. The Montezuma Tour has 9 cables, 13 platforms, and includes a stop at the waterfalls.
HORSEBACK RIDING
You and your group can go on a horseback riding tour. Your guide will take by horseback to different parts of Santa Teresa and Malpais. Some tours go up in the hills overlooking Santa Teresa, and other tours go along the beach. The tours start in the afternoon, and you'll see some amazing sunsets while you're riding the horse down the beach. Lots of fun for the whole family.
MASSAGES AND SPAS
There are many massage therapists, with all different styles and techniques in town. You can go to their spa, or have them come to the villa. Couples Massages are a great way to spend the afternoon. If you've excerted yourself a lot, a massage will be the perfect thing to rejuvinate and relax. The Spas in town offer hairstyling, waxing, manicures, pedicures, and more.
BANANA BEACH
Banana Beach Restaurant is a great beachfront restaurant. Open all day, it is a great place to enjoy a drink on the beach or meal. You'll love the vibes. They also have many events throughout the week, such as surf air shows, live music, and more. You can see more information about the restaurant here.
GYM
Here in Santa Teresa we are lucky to have a group of dedicated lifeguards up and down the beach. The lifeguards run a gym that is open to the public. The gym is open daily and has free weights, kettlebells, medicine balls, and other types of exercise equipment. Get in a workout and support our lifeguards at the same time. Donations to our lifeguards are always appreciated. See more information here.