Playa Santa Teresa
Playa Santa Teresa
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,073 reviews
Excellent
754
Very good
220
Average
66
Poor
21
Terrible
12
Brendan F
18 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Highly recommend wearing a helmet if you rent an ATV in Santa Teresa - I saw plenty of people getting tickets for not wearing helmets when riding ATVs (locals and tourists). I’m not the type to wear a helmet and likely wouldn’t have if I rented an ATV; luckily I went during the busiest time of the year and all of the ATVs were rented out, so I didn’t get a ticket. Santa Teresa is the type of place that you will want an ATV or some sort of off road vehicle - the roads are horrible. I enjoyed surfing at the beach; waves were head high in December. There are rip currents, so make sure you know what to do in that situation. Also, don’t leave your belongings unattended on the beach - THEY’RE LIKELY TO GET STOLEN. There is some poverty in Santa Teresa and if the opportunity presents itself someone will take your stuff. Overall, I felt very safe in Santa Teresa, so don’t let that deter you - just be smart. Enjoy the beach!
Written 4 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SunnySallys
London, Canada91 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
Wandering barefoot without a care in the world. A lovely beach oasis with waves amd beautiful surf to explore. Plenty of natural beauty with a gentle mix of beachfront restaurant/hotels.
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amelia
West Molesey, UK3 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
The beach is beautiful, however the sea is extremely dangerous, It seems as though it is quite shallow for a while walking into the water but if one wave catches you and pulls you out it is very difficult to come back to the ground. Do not recommend swimming here even if you are a strong swimmer.
Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D2756XOluisr
5 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
If you don’t surf don’t waste your money and time to visit Santa Teresa. The only thing to do here is surf. Restaurants here are more expensive than in the rest of the country. There are much better places to visit in Costa Rica. There is no town here just a road with businesses.
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gwen S
11 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
Excellent stay! The bungalows were very secluded outside of town! Wonderful place! They took great care of our crew! The staff were Johnny on the spot for every request!
Written 16 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
charlottepowell14
Corvallis, MT55 contributions
Jan 2023 • Friends
I love this beach. It is stunning. It offers some shade in the early morning. The beach itself is a little pebbly or “shelly” in some spots but it still was stunning. For surf, we had to walk quite a ways to the beginner beach to find an area without large rocks sticking out of the ocean, but to me that is what made it so beautiful. I felt really safe here. There was a lot of people wandering the beach.
Written 17 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg K
1 contribution
Jan 2023
I've been surfing for almost 15 years around the world and I'd heard a lot of good things about this place from other surfers, however after having my phone stolen, apologising to an aggro local in the water for getting in his way and then being told to go fu** myself and punched in the head I wouldn't come back here. The sound of ATV's all day ruins the peace and quiet, the poor quality dusty roads mean you're eating your breakfast lunch or dinner with a mouthful of dust and fumes and constant noise. I suspect this place was once idyllic, but that's no longer. and the one long beach doesn't really offer much in the way of variety of breaks. Far better, cleaner, safer, friendlier and easier places to go.
Written 14 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lena H
2 contributions
Mar 2022 • Friends
Dangerous and not for beginners! Swimmers (and surfers) should not overestimate themselves. The sea current and waves are so strong that it is difficult to get back to the beach. (Personal experience in March 2018)
Written 30 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jcsaw203
Tulsa, OK5 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
I’m here now and there are bags of trash everywhere. Like the trash service is on strike or all the trash trucks broke. Friends say it wasn’t like this a couple of months ago when they were here.
Written 22 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rowan H
Cairns, Australia1,355 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
Large white sand beach backing onto jungle. Plenty of space for sun baking. Beach more suitable for surfing rather than swimming but the later is possible. Very minimal vendors to annoy you which is a welcome change. Town around has plenty of restaurants. Road in is a bit terrible though.
Written 3 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola buenas noches! Consulta, se puede trabajar en la playa como terapeuta manual? Tenes alguna limitación para salir con tu camilla y trabajar en la playa? Gracias
Adri K
salta2 contributions
Es muy caro? Cuanto se gastará por día en comidas?
Marcela Ruiz
San Jose, Costa Rica484 contributions
Comparado con otros lugares de costa Rica es accesible, hay variedad de lugares para comer puede encontrar opciones desde 15 dólares aproximadamente, pero hay lugares de todo tipo de precios
Grant D
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua5 contributions
Is it possible to get from Santa Teresa to Montazuma by taxi or shuttle? I have been searching online and can’t find any pricing.
Aleksmod
Montreal, Canada127 contributions
You can take the Santa Teresa - San Jose bus (laterminalcostarica) and then switch to another bus or taxi before the ferry, but renting a quad is easier and more fun)
If you get a quad, make sure to wear glasses and a face scarf (it’s really dusty)
Kandy F
23 contributions
Thinking of visiting punta islita and santa teressa. Is this a easy drive ?
murray a
Victoria Capital Regional District, Canada175 contributions
As of Dec/17,The road to Santa Teresa is paved except for the last 3 km which is awful!Pot holed and dusty. Small cars will bottom out. For Islita take the pavement to Samara and then go south for 20 mins on a dusty pot hole filled road!!It is possible to take the secondary road through Coyote but you better enjoy eating dust!!And a good sense of direction!Lol
katyhosking
Playa Samara, Costa Rica3 contributions
Hi, just read your comments on santa teresa. what beaches would you recomend then ?? we are beginner surfers and want to be able to get good vegan food :) fresh juices etc . thanks !
Francesco Volpi
Costa Masnaga, Italy54 contributions
Hiya. You better head down to Playa Hermosa or Playa del Carmen. The waves are a lot calmer and there aren't many rocks in the water. There are also some supermarkets and cafes right down the road from Playa Carmen.
Fabia Dalina V
Resistencia, Chaco, Argentina105 contributions
Buen día! voy a estar en Costa Rica en agosto, quisiera saber como hago para llegar desde el aeropuerto a Santa Teresa
San V
1 contribution
Si puedes tomar una avioneta para Cobano, es cerca de Santa Teresa, ahi queda el aeropuerto de avionetas, de ahi puedes tomar un taxi a Santa Teresa o que del Hotel te recojan.
Si quisieras ir por tierra, puedes tomar un Taxi del Aeropuerto JuanSanta Maria a la Terminal de Buses a Santa Teresa, sale de esta terminal y te lleva a Puntarenas, ahi toman el Ferry bajan del Ferry y se vuelven a montar en el bus que te lleva a Santa Teresa.
Toda va depender de la hora en que llegues a Costa Rica.
Puedes comprar tiquete s por internet.
Que disfrutes mucho! Es bello, es rural las playas preciosas!
lc1119north
Lake Worth, FL2 contributions
Where is this located? How far from Tamarindo?
bikinimeg
Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands29 contributions
South west tip of Nicoya Peninsula.
froggy2525
Pataskala, OH182 contributions
Looking to travel towards the end of October. Is it too rainy then? Difficult to drive? Are the businesses and restaurants open?
DFF155032
Montreal, Canada36 contributions
October is really not the best time to go. Yes a lot of rain, and sometimes the roads are washed out from the heavy rain. The business are not all open since it is low season.
jagtapl
Buffalo Grove, IL
We are flying to San Jose and has a plan to rent Jeep to drive to Santa Teresa. Does driving during December will be difficult as rain season gets over ?
Lalit
Adprof
Plano, TX28 contributions
Most roads in Costa Rica are paved and decent. The main road "highway" from San Jose all the way to Liberia, Guanacaste is good and paved.
Take the ferry from Punta Arenas to the penisula.
A long portion of the road down the penisula from Nicoya is dirt with potholes (scenic, but bumpy).
The road across the penisula from Montezuma to Santa Teresa is pretty good. The roads around Santa Teresa are dirt and full of potholes. No problem with any small 4x4. I never had to put my Diahatsu Bego in 4x4 when I visited earlier this month.
Warning: Back roads are a different story. There are small rivers to cross in certain places (google maps will still send you that way), so ask a local.
Martha A
4 contributions
We are going to be there July 8-15 at a vacation rental in playa Hermosillo. How far of a drive was it to the waterfall hike in moctezuma? And do you recommend the hike?
Mdawidowicz
Toronto, Canada103 contributions
I would recommend renting an ATV- there is an amazing off road trail - more or less a dirt road that you can take rather than the main road! You can tons of wild life- monkeys, ant eaters, deer. The road starts just after the restaurant Mary's and passes in from of Mel Gibson home. Once you get around the point there are a lot of small beaches that are great for swimming. Make sure to bring appropriate shoes for the hike to the falls. Flip flops are a big no no! There are some great restaurants just after the falls for lunch or dinner. All in all very safe and great area.
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Claim your listingPLAYA SANTA TERESA: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Playa Santa Teresa
- Hotels near Playa Santa Teresa:
- (0.18 km) Hotel Tropico Latino
- (0.17 km) Dreamcatcher Hotel
- (0.13 km) Banana Beach Hotel
- (0.20 km) Playa Cielo
- (0.10 km) Prime Location! Beachfront property
- Restaurants near Playa Santa Teresa:
- (0.03 km) Banana Beach Restaurant
- (0.29 km) Satori Sushi
- (0.21 km) Shambala at Hotel Tropico Latino
- (0.33 km) Zula Restaurant
- (0.32 km) Kooks Smokehouse & Bar
- Attractions near Playa Santa Teresa:
- (0.22 km) Pura Vida Adventures
- (0.21 km) Adrenalina Kite & Surf Camp
- (0.22 km) Shusha Spa & Beauty
- (0.23 km) Sondors
- (0.27 km) La Pesca Fish Market