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Voykit pocket guide · Costa Rica
Santa Teresa
Spend 2–3 days in Santa Teresa for surf, beach walks and a day trip to Cabo Blanco; longer only if you want extensive surf coaching.
Santa Teresa is a small surf town on the Nicoya Peninsula with a 5 km stretch of beaches, basic infrastructure and a range of lodging from hostels to luxury resorts. The main attractions are surf breaks, nearby nature preserves and a relaxed dining scene. A short stay covers the highlights; extra days are only needed for intensive surf lessons or multiple day trips.
- Country
- Costa Rica
- Best months
- Dec–Apr (dry season, consistent swells)
- Avoid
- May–Nov (rainy season, road conditions can worsen)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CRC
- Money
- Currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones.
- Daily spend
- Backpacker $10–$35 (hostel, meals, scooter, surf board rental) · Mid $60–$120 (mid‑range hotel, restaurant meals, ATV rental, surf lesson) · High $210+ (luxury resort, private guide, premium surf coaching) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Kölbi, Claro and Liberty sell SIMs at SJO and in towns; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Medical 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% service is in the bill; extra optional.; Guides: US$5–10 per person per tour.; Shuttle drivers: US$2–5.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; put paper in the bin in many places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | $2–$4 |
| Meal at a sodas (casado) | $5–$8 |
| Beer (local brand) | $2–$3 |
| Surf board rental (24 h) | $10 |
| ATV rental (full day) | $30–$80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TMU · Tambor Airport
- ≈45 min drive to Santa Teresa
Typical fares
- Tambor Airport → Santa Teresa (taxi or shuttle)
- ≈ $30–$45, 45 min (check)
- ATV rental (full day)
- ≈ $30–$80 (check)
- Surf board rental (24 h)
- $10 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Rent an ATV or scooter for side‑street travel; shared e‑bikes (Bimba) work on the paved main road; taxis or rented SUVs for airport transfers.
See and do
Known for
- Surfing (Suck Rock, La Lora)
- Cabo Blanco Nature Preserve
- Beachside restaurants
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cabo Blanco Nature Preserve | ATV from Santa Teresa, about 30 min | ≈1 h round trip |
| Mal País | Walk or scooter along paved road, 5 min | ≈10 min total |
Sleep
- Hostels & budget lodges
- e.g., Cuesta Arriba B&B, Funky Monkey Lodge; $10–$40 per night.
- Mid‑range hotels
- e.g., Luz de Vida Resort, Canaima Chill House; $60–$120 per night.
- Luxury resorts
- e.g., Latitude 10 Exclusive Beach Resort, Red Palm Villas; $210+ per night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis‑koo‑l‑pe |
| Thank you | Graciasgra‑see‑as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwan‑to kwes‑ta |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño?don‑de es‑ta el ba‑nyo |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?pwe‑do pa‑gar con tar‑he‑ta |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: 'Buenas' and a handshake; cheek kiss among friends; avoid: Skipping the greeting
- Conflict: Stay polite and indirect; avoid: Raised voices
- Time: Be on time for tours; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Nature: Stay on trails, keep quiet; avoid: Feeding animals
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads to nearby beaches can still be gravel; drive cautiously.
- ATV rentals peak in high season and can be pricey – check rates.
- Surf lessons often require a credit‑card guarantee – confirm policy.
Santa Teresa is generally safe for tourists; keep valuables hidden, avoid isolated beaches after dark, and watch for strong currents while surfing.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Santa Teresa yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Surfing (Suck Rock, La Lora)
- Cabo Blanco Nature Preserve
- Beachside restaurants
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Bimba e‑bike service: gobimba.com
- Skyway & Sansa airlines (Tambor): skywaycr.com/
- Wikivoyage: Santa Teresa (Costa Rica), revision 5288141 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5288141
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/santa-teresa-costa-rica). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.