Surf Travel Guide: Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Twenty years ago Santa Teresa was a dirt road, a handful of fishing shacks and a point break the rest of Costa Rica had barely heard of. Today it is one of the most searched surf towns in Central America, a strip of beach bars, yoga shalas and surf camps along the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. The waves that built that reputation have not changed, and on most days this is still one of the easiest places in Costa Rica to find a peak that fits your level.

Why Santa Teresa?

Santa Teresa and its neighbor Malpais sit on an open stretch of Pacific coastline with almost no offshore islands to block incoming swell, so the beach breaks here stay busy most of the year. That consistency, plus a laid back wellness and surf culture that has grown around it, is what turned a sleepy fishing village into one of the most talked about beach towns in the country.

→ The coast here can be surfable on roughly 90 percent of days during the green season, according to regional swell data, with the dry season still rideable on most days but calmer and more forgiving.

↪ That range is exactly why Santa Teresa works for a mixed group: a beginner can spend a week on the inside sections at Playa Carmen while a more experienced surfer paddles out to the points at Malpais.

Getting There and Getting Around

Santa Teresa sits at the end of a long drive, which is part of what has kept it from feeling overrun.

Fly into Tambor Airport (TMU), about 35 to 45 minutes by road from Santa Teresa, with domestic flights available from San Jose.
→ A shared shuttle combined with the Puntarenas to Paquera ferry takes around 5 hours from San Jose and costs roughly $75 to $107 per person.
↪ Renting a car gives the most flexibility, from around $33 a day, but expect the final stretch into town to turn from pavement to rough dirt and gravel, so take it slow and avoid driving after dark.

When to Surf

Santa Teresa is one of the more consistent beach break stretches on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, but the two seasons feel noticeably different.

Surf season: The green season, roughly May through November, brings the most consistent and powerful swell. The dry season, December through April, is calmer and generally more beginner friendly, with smaller, more manageable waves on most days.

Swell and wind: The coast picks up southwest and west northwest groundswell, and mornings are typically the cleanest, with offshore wind out of the northeast before the sea breeze fills in later in the day. Water stays warm year round, around 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, so most surfers need nothing more than a rash guard.

Safety notes: Costa Rica's dirt and gravel back roads see a disproportionate number of motorbike and ATV accidents among tourists, and national road safety data has flagged this as a real risk, so take care if you rent a scooter to get between breaks. In the water, Playa Carmen has a reputation for milder rip currents than other Costa Rican beach breaks, but the reef at Barrigona and Sunset Reef is sharp and shallow and deserves respect.

Surf Breaks

Playa Santa Teresa (La Lora): The main beach break in town, peaky and fun at smaller size.
Wave: Fast and hollow at low tide, especially from 5 to 8 feet.
Level: Intermediate to advanced once the swell builds.
Playa Carmen: The border between Santa Teresa and Malpais, with a long sandy bottom right and a shorter left.
Wave: Forgiving and longboard friendly at smaller size, heavier and more serious overhead.
Level: Beginner friendly in small swell, advanced when it is big.
Playa Hermosa de Santa Teresa: A long, open sandy beach where most of the local surf schools run lessons.
Wave: Easy, mushy lefts and rights.
Level: Beginner to intermediate.
Punta Barrigona: A reef point further into Malpais that only wakes up with real size.
Wave: A long, wrapping left that needs at least 6 feet of swell to work.
Level: Advanced, due to the shallow reef.

Photographing Santa Teresa

Sunset sessions at Playa Carmen, longboarders cross-stepping at La Lora and the long lefts at Barrigona make this one of the more photogenic stretches of coast in Costa Rica. If you are shooting it, upload your gallery to Surf Snaps, where there is no subscription, no listing fee and no storage bill, just a 10% revenue share paid monthly whenever a photo actually sells. If you were the one surfing it, search Surf Snaps by sport, place and date to find and buy your own session.

Where to Stay

→ Santa Teresa has grown fast, so the range runs from simple surf hostels to some of the more talked about boutique resorts on this coast.

Budget ($)

Lost Boyz, Santa Teresa
A laid back surf hostel in the center of town, listed among the cheapest beds on the peninsula. Rates have been seen from approx. $8/night for a dorm bed, seen October 2026, per hostelz.com; treat this as a lowest seen rate rather than a guaranteed nightly price.

Mid-Range ($$)

Hotel Tropico Latino, Santa Teresa beachfront
An oceanfront hotel with gardens and a well known on-site yoga program, a short walk from the main peaks. Approx. $107/night, seen October 2026, per hotels.com.

Beachfront/Luxury ($$$)

Florblanca Resort, Playa Santa Teresa
A well known luxury villa resort directly on the beach, with a large spa and restaurant. Approx. $621/night, seen October 2026, per kayak.com.

Food and Drink

Breakfast and casados: Soda Tiquicia, Santa Teresa
→ A classic Costa Rican soda serving fish and pork casados and fresh fruit smoothies; a current, sourced dollar price for a specific dish was not available at the time of writing.
Fresh ceviche: La Cevicheria, Santa Teresa
→ Mixed ceviche with tuna, octopus, shrimp and calamari; a current, sourced dollar price was not available at the time of writing.
Grilled chicken: Chicken Joe's, Santa Teresa
→ Half a chicken with yucca fries and two sides; a current, sourced dollar price was not available at the time of writing.

FAQ: Surfing at Santa Teresa and Malpais

Is Santa Teresa good for beginner surfers?

Yes, especially at Playa Carmen and Playa Hermosa de Santa Teresa in smaller swell, where several surf schools run lessons on soft, sandy beach breaks. Those same spots turn more serious once the swell gets overhead, so check conditions before paddling out alone.

What is the best time of year to surf Santa Teresa?

The green season, roughly May through November, is rated the more consistent window for swell, while the dry season from December through April is calmer and generally friendlier for newer surfers.

Do I need a wetsuit in Santa Teresa?

No. Water temperature stays around 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit year round, so most surfers wear boardshorts or a rash guard rather than a wetsuit.

Is it safe to rent a scooter or ATV in Santa Teresa?

Take real care. Costa Rica's road safety statistics show motorcyclists make up a large share of road deaths nationally, and Santa Teresa's dusty, rutted back roads are a known risk for visiting riders, so wear a proper helmet and go slowly, especially after dark.

Where can I find photos of my Santa Teresa session?

Search Surf Snaps by sport, place, and date on the explore page to find galleries from your session.

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Keep exploring with the rest of this series and our other surf travel guides.