Santa Teresa · Hotel
Esencia Hotel & Villas
Esencia Hotel & Villas is a mid-size hotel in Santa Teresa with 10 private villas and 8 pool-view rooms set around a large pool and…
Santa Teresa Guide Editors
The editors research Santa Teresa and Mal País using official sources, each place's own information and recent listings, and recheck every page at least once a year. We don't accept payment to be listed or ranked.
Articles
Santa Teresa · Hotel
Zula Inn Aparthotel
Zula Inn Aparthotel is a small, family-run place in Santa Teresa about 1 km north of the Playa Carmen crossroads, with self-contained 1 and…
Santa Teresa · Surf camp
Blue Surf Sanctuary
Blue Surf Sanctuary is a small surf lodge in the north end of Santa Teresa, near the Suck Rock break. It has 4 private bungalows around a…
Santa Teresa · Villas
Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas
Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas, formerly Nautilus Boutique Hotel, is a small complex of self-catering villas a short walk from the beach in…
Guide
Shopping in Santa Teresa: groceries, surf gear, boutiques and banks
Santa Teresa has no malls, just small supermarkets, surf shops and boutiques strung along the main road, plus 2 banks with ATMs. For bigger…
Santa Teresa · Restaurant
Zula Restaurant
Zula is a family-run restaurant in Santa Teresa that has served Israeli and Costa Rican food since 2004. It's the town's longest-running…
Santa Teresa · Restaurant
SOMA Chefs (James Kelly Cuisine)
SOMA Chefs, now run under the name James Kelly Cuisine, is a private chef and event catering service led by Chef James Kelly, who has…
Guide
Horseback riding in Santa Teresa, Mal País and Montezuma
The main riding spot near Santa Teresa is Hacienda Ario, a family cattle ranch just north of Manzanillo that runs beach and hilltop rides…
Santa Teresa · Villas
Villas Solar
Villas Solar is a small group of 4 self-catering villas in the center of Santa Teresa, about a 3-minute walk from the beach. Each villa has…
Santa Teresa · Boutique hotel
Hotel Manalá
Hotel Manalá is a small boutique hotel in north Santa Teresa with 8 private bungalows spread through tropical gardens around a large pool.…
Santa Teresa · Boutique hotel
Playa Cielo Beachfront
Playa Cielo Beachfront is a small boutique hotel right on the beach in Santa Teresa, with a handful of studios and a 2-bedroom family villa…
Montezuma and Cabuya · Waterfall
Montezuma Waterfalls
The Montezuma waterfalls are a set of falls on the river just outside Montezuma village, about 45 minutes' drive from Santa Teresa. The big…
Santa Teresa · Beach
Playa Santa Teresa
Playa Santa Teresa is the long sand beach running north from Playa Carmen, and it's the reason most people come: consistent waves, a wide…
Guide
The best time to visit Santa Teresa, month by month
For sunshine and easy beach days, visit in the dry season from December to April, when it barely rains but the town is busy and dusty. For…
Guide
Day trips from Santa Teresa: Montezuma, Cabo Blanco, Tortuga and more
The best day trips from Santa Teresa are Montezuma village and its waterfall, a hike in Cabo Blanco reserve (closed Monday and Tuesday), a…
Guide
Working remotely in Santa Teresa: internet, coworking and coliving
Santa Teresa works well for remote workers who can live with the odd power cut: fiber internet reaches much of town, coliving spaces such…
Guide
Mal País vs Santa Teresa vs Playa Hermosa: which to choose
Choose north Santa Teresa if you want to walk to restaurants, bars and surf; Playa Carmen and south Santa Teresa for a central, practical…
Guide
Santa Teresa's roads, dust and rainy season: what to expect
Much of the road network around Santa Teresa and Mal País is still gravel or dirt. In the dry season that means thick dust; in the green…
Guide
Santa Teresa travel tips: money, safety, health and packing
Bring a card and some cash, since there's a bank in Santa Teresa but ATMs can run dry on busy weekends. The main risks are rip currents…
Santa Teresa · Hotel
Dreamcatcher Hotel
Dreamcatcher Hotel (sometimes listed by its Spanish name, Hotel Atrapasueños) is a boutique hotel in Santa Teresa with rooms, kitchen…
Santa Teresa · Hotel
Canaima Chill House
Canaima Chill House is a quiet boutique hotel of 8 suites in the jungle on the hill above north Santa Teresa, about 400 m up the road from…
Santa Teresa · Hotel
Funky Monkey Lodge
Funky Monkey Lodge is a relaxed surf and yoga lodge in the heart of Santa Teresa, a short walk from the beach, with options from small…
Mal País · Hotel
Hotel Ritmo Tropical
Hotel Ritmo Tropical is a small, family-owned hotel in Mal País, a short walk from Playa Carmen and the main junction. It has about 10…
Santa Teresa · Hotel
Hotel Tropico Latino
Hotel Tropico Latino is a long-running beachfront hotel in the southern part of Santa Teresa, set in gardens under old trees with direct…
Guide
Shuttles and taxis in Santa Teresa: getting here and getting around
Shared shuttles run to Santa Teresa and Mal País from San José, La Fortuna and Monteverde, taking about 5 to 6 hours. Private shuttles go…
Guide
Driving to Santa Teresa: routes, roads and renting a car
From San José, drive to Puntarenas, take the car ferry to Paquera, then follow Route 160 through Tambor and Cóbano to the coast, about an…
Guide
Ferry to Santa Teresa: Puntarenas to Paquera or Playa Naranjo
The car ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera, run by Naviera Tambor, is the main gateway to Santa Teresa, with 8 sailings a day each way and a…
Guide
Flights to Santa Teresa: flying from San José to Cóbano
The fastest way to Santa Teresa is a short domestic flight from San José (SJO) to the Cóbano airstrip (ACO), about 10 km from town. SANSA…
Guide
Jacó to Montezuma water taxi: the boat shortcut to Santa Teresa
A water taxi run by Zuma Tours crosses the Gulf of Nicoya between Jacó and Montezuma in about an hour, with shuttle connections on to Santa…
Guide
Public bus to Santa Teresa: from San José and around the peninsula
Public buses run from San José to Santa Teresa and Mal País, crossing on the Puntarenas to Paquera ferry, and the trip takes about 6 hours…