A Santa Teresa Guide
What to do in my favorite place on earth!
Costa Rica is one of my favorite places in the world, and I’d spend a lot more of my time there if I could. It’s the only place where I’ve managed to truly relax and forget time and all of my real world problems. Santa Teresa specifically is the kind of place that feels like a secret whispered by nature itself. Mark and I joke that if all humans on Earth spent 24 hours here, there would be no war or violence. Santa Teresa is healing.
Nestled in one of the world’s rare Blue Zones — regions where people consistently live longer, healthier lives (often surpassing 100 years) thanks to a harmonious blend of lifestyle, diet, and connection to nature, ST is a sanctuary of balance and beauty. Its remote, relatively hard-to-reach location keeps it blissfully untamed, with expansive beaches that seem to stretch on forever, inviting you to lose track of time and walk for miles and miles through the shell-flecked sand.
It’s one of those places that hasn’t that much post-COVID. Sure, it has a new “airport” 20 minutes away, but it’s just a landing strip with a waiting room and zero security. The only planes allowed to land are domestic airline Cessnas seating maybe 10 people, and when you board they hand you a beer and some earplugs for the 25 minute unpressurized flight. It’s a hoot, and I love every second of it.
Sure, it has one paved road now, but it only stretches one kilometer, and to get anywhere, you’ll have to navigate potholes so massive you’ll wonder if you’re on Disney Animal Kingdom safari ride. ST’s essence and spirit remains the same. It’s so laid back that you don’t need to wear shoes from the moment you arrive, and most people don’t. Everyone is barefoot in the grocery store, and dinner attire is sports bras and bike shorts. It’s paradise.
Each evening, the sky transforms into the most magical sunset you could possibly witness. Biodiversity thrives! Howler monkeys swing through lush treetops, colorful prehistoric looking birds dart between branches and bushes, and tropical flowers thrive everywhere you look. You’re in a rainforest, and you’re reminded of that every single second.
And then there’s the coffee and delicious food! Simple, fresh, and mostly local ingredients. It’s better than it needs to be, but then again, Santa Teresa is heaven, so it tracks.
Here are my recommendations on where to stay, eat, shop, and take in the best sunsets that Santa Teresa has to offer.
Where to stay
If you want a true hotel experience in Santa Teresa, this is the place to stay. It’s the only luxury hotel on the beach, and the rooms are gorgeous and well appointed. I urge you to splurge on a room with a plunge pool, and ask specifically for room 11. This was the room we stayed in, and not only did the backyard have a fantastic, massive tree, but also a very cute and kind tropical bird resident. The staff here is also wonderful, but warning that the food is overpriced and not the best. You’re better off eating off property. My only real complaint!
Personal Plug! Booking Nantipa through me gets you the following incredible perks:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily full breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the hotel restaurant
$100USD equivalent in local currency Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay
Bookings in Villas will receive an additional $100 Food & Beverage credit
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
This is technically a hostel, but they have plenty of gorgeous private rooms, or you could choose to stay in one of their converted airstreams. This is a wonderful affordable option for solo travelers, friend trips, and couples alike, and their on-site restaurant is fantastic. I truly think it’s the best restaurant in ST. Somos also has a lot of on-site activities, including yoga and pilates classes, surfing school, and nightly DJs/entertainment.
There are a TON of truly stunning Airbnb options in ST. I’ve linked to some of my favorites above. These are perfect for longer term stays, or for groups that want to save $$ and sprawl out. Most have their own private pools and outdoor showers!
When to go
The best time to go is during dry season, December through April. November is a toss up — sometimes, it can be dryer, but sometimes, it can be extremely wet. This time around, we went for Thanksgiving and experienced some rain, but nothing too crazy… it mostly just rained overnight. Many businesses close in October, the rainiest month.
Where to eat
Somos Restaurant - Co-located with the hostel. We ate here for dinner and breakfast, and both were absolutely fantastic. Such good vibes, fresh food, and great music.
El Somos Cafe - Also owned by Somos, this is the best coffee spot in town. Located down the street from their hostel, right by Nantipa. We had some of the best coffee and pastries of our life here. The croissants are always fresh and hot out of the oven, and the staff is unbelievably kind/hot. Such a vibey spot!
Convivio - If you’re in the market for a “fancy dinner” while you’re in town, look no further. Some dude named Gary catches all of the fish served in the restaurant off of his kayak in Malpais. Thx, Gary!
Ani’s Bowls and Salads - The best healthy breakfast and lunch spot in town. They have the best acai nice cream bowls I’ve ever had, and I’ll be dreaming about them until my next visit. Excellent salads, cookies, and sandwiches too. A must.
Katana - A nice Asian spot with an overwhelmingly large menu, spanning from pad thai to butter chicken. Stick to their sushi, it’s solid. Skip everything else.
The Bakery - A ST breakfast institution with excellent pastries and coffee. It can get crowded around brunch, so go earlier. Also open for lunch!
Eat Street - An outdoor food market with several options. Great for kids/families/bigger groups and there’s truly something for everyone (healthy bowls, burgers, nachos, mexican food, asian food, etc…). Open all day.
Things to do
Tuesday dance night/bonfires at Ranchos Ituana - We stumbled upon this accidentally while taking a nighttime beach walk, but Ranchos Ituana had an unbelievable house disco DJ spinning, and a roaring bonfire. There was a mini dance floor and it was such a vibe. It’s also a Brazilian restaurant, so they had a really good caipirinha and brigadeiro situation.
Take a night beach walk/stargaze - Of course you can take a day beach walk, and you should take many, but don’t forget to go on the beach when it’s pitch black out. You’ll see some absolutely fantastic stars, Venus might make an appearance, and there will be some insane hermit crab traffic.
Montezuma waterfalls - Text Crazy Carlos to take you on a hike. He waylaid us in the parking lot and we were very skeptical of him and his services at first, but he glued himself to us and turned out to be fantastic. You kind of need someone to guide you, or else you won’t know where to step and the rocks are very slippery and unpredictable. Bring water shoes and bring cash to pay him ($20-40 per person will do). He will tell you about his crazy life stories and his divorce and how he has guided Gisele and Tom Brady. He will be your paparazzi, whether you like it or not. There’s quite a lot of reddit lore on him, deservedly so.
Visit the Malpais tide pools - Go at low tide and enjoy. It’s extremely peaceful, and never too crowded. Taking a dip here saved me during a migraine episode, I swear!
Ziplining - A Costa Rica must! You can do this in nearby Mal Pais. Zipping through the forest canopy is an unmatched feeling.
Surf lessons - Del Soul surf school is considered the best. ST is a great place for learning how to surf, as the waves are gentle and everyone is friendly/not too competitive.
Yoga - Don John’s has daily yoga classes! I’m not the biggest Yogi, but I’ve heard these are great.
Shop at Ohana Beach Store - There’s no need to shop in ST (there’s truly not much to buy), but if you want to get a souvenir, stop here. The Italian owner is so nice, and has the cutest shop dachshund named Giancarlo. He carries some great brands (Duvin!).
Best Beaches
Playa Santa Teresa - The best place to people watch and take in the sunset and surfers.
Playa Carmen - Another excellent beach for people watching and surfing. Gorgeous views of the houses in the hills.
Playa Hermosa - This is the beach that most of the surf schools use for instruction because it’s gentle and hazard free for beginners. It’s gorgeous.
Packing list
You truly don’t need to bring anything fancy, and in fact, I highly encourage you don’t. Dirt roads mean you’ll constantly be dusty, and whatever you bring will get at least a little dirty. I mostly stuck to swimsuits and athleisure. Casual dresses are a good option for dinners out when you want to feel more put together. Pack only flat shoes; you’ll look like an absolute fool here wearing heels. The sun is STRONG. Bring sun protection. I wear UPF shirts and zinc here, and sometimes you’ll see surfers in UPF leggings because the UV index is between an 8-12 every day. Bring water shoes too, especially if you plan on checking out the waterfalls.
Ok, that’s it! I plan on updating this guide + visiting more often. If you’ve been to Santa Teresa, let me know your favorites!
Thought it was worth sharing
’s ST posts as well, as she spent a lot of time down there during COVID.
xx,
Bella
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