Located just north of the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, Santa Teresa is home to a series of big, beautiful beaches that offer some of the most consistent surfing in Costa Rica. Yet due to its remote location at the end of a series of bumpy dirt roads, Santa Teresa still feels mellow and low-key.
Unlike many beaches in the northern Nicoya, which have become cluttered with condos and mega-resorts, the vibe here remains rugged, rustic and natural. But Santa Teresa is no longer flying under the radar. The town is now a top destination for trend-setting surfers and backpackers, and a handful of celebrity homeowners—Gisele Bündchen, Mel Gibson—ensure that Santa Teresa regularly lands in the tabloids.
The downside: Santa Teresa is no longer a secret. The upside: It’s no longer a barren outpost. These days there are a number of charming hotels, excellent restaurants and great yoga studios. For the moment, Santa Teresa exists in a Goldilocks state of development: not too little, not too much.
★ = Recommended
$ = Good Value
🐸 = Sustainable
Santa Teresa Hotels – Luxury
★ Horizon Hotel & Yoga Center
★🐸 Florblanca
★ Casas de Soleil
★ Villas Hermosas
★ Latitude 10
★ Shaka Beach Retreat
Playa Cielo
Casa Chameleon
Pranamar Villas
Selva Resort
Villa Makai Santa Teresa
Villas Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa Hotels – Moderately Priced
★ Casa MarBella
★ Fuego Lodge
★ Casa Cecilia
★ Otro Lado Lodge
★ Surf Villa Vistas
Hotel Buenos Aires
Makanas
Star Mountain Jungle Lodge
Hotel The Place
Hotel Casa Azul
Hotel Oasis
Manala Hotel
Hotel Vista Naranja
Canaima Chill House
Hotel Moana
Hotel Tropico Latino
Hotel Vista de Olas
Nautilus Boutique Hotel
Funky Monkey
Villa Cacao
Santa Teresa Hotels – Budget
Hotel Meli Melo
Blue Jay Lodge
Ecopacific Lodge Santa Teresa
Hotel Raratonga
Cuesta Arriba
Don Jon’s Hostel
Selina Santa Teresa South
El Rey Patricio
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