Is Santa Teresa Costa Rica Worth Visiting: My Honest Review

So, is Santa Teresa Costa Rica worth visiting? Yes.

Santa Teresa is worth visiting if you want surfing, sunsets, beach bars, yoga, good restaurants, nightlife, and a very social backpacker-meets-digital-nomad vibe. It is one of the most fun beach towns I visited in Costa Rica, but I would not recommend it to everyone. It isn’t cheap and it can get pretty crowded at certain times.

Santa Teresa is not the best choice if you are if you’re planning a very cheap trip, although there are hostels, everything is still expensive compared to many other places. If you want more strong local culture, or the most beautiful beach. It is expensive, dusty or muddy depending on the season, difficult to reach, and heavily shaped by foreigners and expats. Some people would even call it whitewashed.

For me, Santa Teresa was worth visiting because of the atmosphere more than the beach itself. The vibe of just letting go and unwinding while hanging out with other people doing the exact same thing.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Santa Teresa was the dust and ATV’s and trucks passing by throwing dirt clouds. A few years ago this use to just be a muddy road, but now it’s paved.

Santa Teresa feels more like a dusty surf outpost that somehow became one of the most popular beach towns in Central America. The entire town revolves around one rough road packed with surfers, backpackers, yoga studios, smoothie shops, and enough ATVs to make you think nobody owns a normal car. To be honest, in a place like this, I don’t think you want a normal car. It’s way too rugged.

After spending time here, I realized Santa Teresa is one of those places people either absolutely love or absolutely hate. If you’re looking for an authentic Costa Rican beach town with local culture around every corner, you might leave disappointed. But if your idea of a good trip is surfing, sunsets, meeting travelers from around the world, and living in flip-flops for a week, you’ll probably never want to leave.

I think I’m qualified enough to answer the question: Is Santa Teresa Costa Rica worth visiting?

Planning a broader surf trip? If you want help deciding on staying in Santa Teresa vs. Tamarindo will help you choose the perfect base camp.

Is Santa Teresa Costa Rica Worth Visiting?

I think my opinion on Santa Teresa is probably influenced by where I’m from.

I was born and raised in the Caribbean, so I grew up surrounded by beautiful beaches. Way more beautiful than anything in Costa Rica. Because of that, I don’t automatically get impressed just because a place has palm trees and surfboards.

When I arrived in Santa Teresa, I enjoyed it, but I also couldn’t help comparing it to beaches back home. The beach itself is nice, especially for surfing, but if you’re flying all the way to Costa Rica expecting the most beautiful beach you’ve ever seen, I don’t think Santa Teresa is the place that will blow your mind. It’s mainly for surfing and diving.

What stood out to me wasn’t necessarily the beach. It was the atmosphere. Santa Teresa is about the vibe and how the place makes you feel. People having fun, eating nice food and being super free.

The social scene, the backpackers, the surfers, the people working remotely from cafés all day, and the feeling that everyone was there for the same reason. Santa Teresa feels more like a lifestyle destination than a beach destination.

Who is Santa Teresa Costa Rica for?

Santa Teresa is worth visiting if you want a beach town with an energetic vibe. This is not the place I would choose if I wanted a quiet, local Costa Rican village where nothing much happens. Santa Teresa is for people who want surf lessons in the morning, smoothie bowls after, sunset drinks, and the option to meet other travelers at a bonfire on the beach at night.

I think Santa Teresa is especially worth it for surfers obviously, solo travelers, digital nomads, backpackers, yoga travelers, and anyone who likes that kind of hippie vibe. If you like places like Canggu in Bali, Tulum before it got too crazy, or other surf towns with a strong international crowd, Santa Teresa will probably be somewhere you like.

The main reason to visit Santa Teresa is not because the beach is the most beautiful in Costa Rica. It is because the whole town has a lifestyle around the beach.

Who Santa Teresa is not for

If you’re looking to save a lot of money or planning a budget trip, I wouldn’t recommend it. Because it’s now seen as a prime tourist spot and because there are already so many expats with businesses here, the prices can feel inflated. Food, hotels, tours and even ATV rentals will be on the pricey side.

If you want a high level of luxury and easy transport Santa Teresa is not for you. It takes a bit of effort to get here. But, once you arrive it’ll be okay. trust me.

Santa Teresa also may disappoint you if you are looking for a very traditional Costa Rican feel. There are locals, of course, but the town feels heavily influenced by surfers, expats, remote workers, and foreign-owned businesses. Some people love that. Some people come to Costa Rica and feel like Santa Teresa does not feel Costa Rican enough. I know people don’t really come to Costa Rica for local immersion like some other Latin American countries, but still.

Pros and Cons of Santa Teresa

To give you an honest look before you book your transport, here is exactly what you are signing up for:

• Pro: Elite Surfing. Incredibly consistent swells and breaks for every single skill level.
• Pro: Digital Nomad Infrastructure. Excellent cafes, reliable high-speed Wi-Fi, and highly functional co-working spaces.
• Pro: Exploding Food Scene. A massive variety of global culinary options, from vegan cafes to high-end sushi.
• Pro: Social Vibe. An incredibly safe environment for solo travelers looking to make fast connections.
• Con: Exorbitant Prices. Significantly more expensive than almost any other beach town in the country.
• Con: Brutal Road Conditions. The main road can get congested with traffic because there is just the one road. It can get dusty at times to.
• Con: High Friction Transit. It is notoriously difficult to get to, requiring long drives and a ferry crossing.
• Con: Severely Whitewashed. A distinct lack of traditional Costa Rican culture due to the overwhelming saturation of expats.

How to Get to Santa Teresa

How to Get Around Santa Teresa

Because it’s basically just one long dirt road, you need to rent an ATV, dirt bike or a 4×4. I absolutely do not recommend renting a dirt bike. This is because I have seen people driving behind other people on an ATV or a 4×4, and they just get sprayed with mud and be covered from head to toe in mud. The cost to rent an ATV is $50-70 USD a day in Santa Teresa.

When you’re in Santa Teresa, you’d want to explore the surrounding areas as well, like Montezuma. There are a lot of nature excursions to go on around here. For that you’d also need some kind of all terrain vehicle. Basically, If you go as a group, rent a 4×4, if you are solo traveling you can get an ATV.

If you stay in a walkable area then everything is within 5-10 minutes walking distance. But, I also do not recommend walking in Santa Teresa because you share the same road with dirt bikes, ATVs, trucks, cars, 4x4s and other people walking in the street because there’s no sidewalk.

Is Santa Teresa Safe

Honestly, Santa Teresa feels incredibly safe and I was never worried at all. However, I have heard stories from bar owners and people staying in hostels. But the usual precautions go.

• Never leave items unattended on the beach. Do not place your phone, cash, or camera on a towel and walk into the surf. It will get swiped.
• Leave the luxury items at home. No one in this town cares how fancy you look. Gold, diamonds, and designer clothes are completely useless here. It is a barefoot, sarong-and-swimsuit type of town.
• Nighttime awareness. Avoid walking completely alone on unlit sections of the main road at night, and stay completely off the dark beaches after midnight if you are solo. Invest in a high-quality anti-theft slash-proof bag for peace of mind.

Due to the very friendly nature of people here and the laid back vibe, I would say Santa Teresa is very safe.

When to Visit

Most guidebooks will tell you to visit during the pristine dry season (December to April). but, what they fail to mention is that the town becomes utterly crowded with tourists, prices skyrocket, and getting a seat at a local restaurant becomes a competitive sport.

My insider recommendation is to visit in November. This is the sweet spot at the tail end of the rainy season. The heavy downpours are tapering off, the landscape is intensely lush and green, and the massive tourist crowds haven’t arrived yet. Everything is cheaper and completely uncrowded.

For beginner surfers, this shoulder season is ideal: the swell at Playa Hermosa is much smaller, calmer, and perfectly suited for surf lessons without the terrifying undertows of peak season.

Is Santa Teresa Costa Rica Expensive

To put things into perspective. It costs $14 USD for a breakfast burrito. $9 USD for Greek Yogurt and fruit. A smash burger was $18.50 USD. A veggie salad was $15.00. Think of the prices as the same if you were in North America. It’s expensive by what you’ll expect from a Central American country. But I think by now that everyone knows that Costa Rica isn’t a cheap place to visit.

I didn’t find the prices of tours expensive at all in Santa Teresa. The most expensive tour was fishing at $250. Things like horse back riding are around $36 to $50.

Yes Santa Teresa is very expensive. But, if you plan ahead and get a few supplies in Cabano on your way in, you can save a tone of money. You won’t have to continuously keep buying food and drinks all the time. I recommend sticking to the few moderately priced sodas around instead of spending $25 on a plate of beans and rice.

Santa Teresa is definitely worth it, but I would not come here expecting a cheap Costa Rica beach trip though.

Things to do in Santa Teresa Costa Rica that make it worth visiting

• Surfing: This is the obvious. There are numerous surf for you to learn surfing and rental shops for all the gear you can possibly need. Many surf schools would tell you to do lessons at Playa Hermosa beach. It’s just calmer and more beginner friendly.
• Isla Tortuga Tour with Blue Beach Travel Tours – $110. It’s like an 8 hour day starting from 7am pickup from your place. This is a full day tour that explores the entire island with snorkeling.
• ATV private tour with a local guide – $170. This was really fun because I was able to see the outside area with a local for half the day. You get to visit Cabuya, Montezuma, and hike to the Montezuma falls. This would be much cheaper if you just rent your own ATV and do it yourself. Just do a Montezuma Waterfalls self-guided tour by driving your ATV there and paying the small parking/entrance fee and save a bunch of money.
• Ollies horseback riding – $75. I think this activity was pretty worth it. Riding a horse is pretty amazing in my opinion, especially for someone who’s never ridden a horse before. Its a 3 hour ride from Malpais up to Santa Teresa.
• Yoga Retreats: If you’re a Yogi, Santa Teresa is one of the main hubs for yoga enthusiasts. You can do a number of retreats and yoga classes.
• Snorkeling and Diving: I always say to add some adventure into your travels. You can explore the rich marine life in the nearby reefs. Local operators provide equipment rentals and guided excursions.
• Eat at Restaurants
• Bars and Clubs. This is basically the night life here. Sometimes there are parties in the jungle or on the beach.
• Kika: A lively bar known for its live music nights, especially on Thursdays, attracting both locals and tourists.
• La Lora Amarilla: A popular nightclub offering a mix of electronic and Latin music, with events that keep the party going late into the night.
• Rocamar Beach Lounge: An oceanfront bar perfect for sunset cocktails, often featuring live DJs and a relaxed ambiance.
• Reserva Natural Absoluta Cabo Blanco – This is an easy 5 Km hike to the beach and through the forest. It’s very safe even if you do it solo.
• Fishing out of Mal Pais
• Bioluminescent night kayaking tours

Where to Eat

I am surprised by the large amount of places to eat and various types of cuisines in Santa Teresa. You’d assume that because it’s way out in the jungle in Central America that it’s going to have rackety little sodas selling nachos and juice. Nah. In terms of restaurants, this place it banging. Because of all the Americans living here and rich business people seeing that as an opportunity, it grew the restaurant scene a lot.

Expensive Restaurants

• Katana restaurant – The best bao buns and sushi.
• Kooks Restaurant – Great BBQ.
• Koji – Another great sushi restaurant
• El Facon Restaurant – Grill & Bar with live music and entertainment
• Manzu Restaurant – For eating on the beachfront
• The Somos Restaurant – Very naturey looking restaurant with a tree in the middle of it. One of the highest rated in Santa Teresa but expensive.

Less Expensive Restaurants

• Chicken Joes – Very simple outdoor soda that serves rotisserie chicken ,tacos and ceviche
• Soda Tiquicia – Serves a lot of local dishes
• El Patio Restaurant – Chill cafe vibes and serves breakfast burritos and smoothies.
• Eat Street Restaurant – Good all round breakfast lunch and dinner restaurant.
• Rocamar Restaurant – Another beachfront restaurant that serves basic American food. You can lounge here all day if you like.
• La Dona Restaurant – This is a pizza joint and is actually located in Mal Pais.

Where to stay in Santa Teresa

I always just rent Airbnbs. I would recommend anyone to do the same. Just look for the cheapest one that is situated in an area that is good for you really. You can even rent from one of the other villages further down, the beaches are more beautiful and the price you’d pay is way less than in Santa Teresa. But if you have to stay in Santa Teresa you can check out:

Nido Del Mar – Art-filled Beach House

Casa Marbella

Final Verdict: Is Santa Teresa Costa Rica worth visiting?

Yes, I really think it Santa Teresa is worth visiting once you know exactly what you are getting. If you’re looking for a cheap beach town, this is probably not it. But, the cheap ones won’t be as cool, fun and bustling with things to and places to hang out at.

But if you want a fun surf town with great sunsets, good restaurants, yoga, nightlife, social energy, and that barefoot beach lifestyle, then Santa Teresa is absolutely worth visiting.

For me, Santa Teresa was not special because it had the most beautiful beach. It was pretty rough and best for surfing rather than swimming. It was special because of the atmosphere. It is one of those places where people come for a few days and accidentally stay for weeks. I understand why that happens now.

If you’re thinking of visiting one of the cheapest countries in Central America, my article is a good place to start.