Plan in advance! How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions youll make when planning your holiday here! Aleksandra is a writer and editor who recently moved from Hong Kong to London. Home Destinations Nicoya Peninsula ULTIMATE Guide to the Nicoya Peninsula and Best Things to do! Imagine soaring high above the treetops with epic views of the ocean! There are both left and right waves on Guiones, and with 7 kilometers of beach, theres plenty of space for everyone. For more info, check out our guide on the best places to stay in Samara! Its always touristy and becomes a party town at times Santa Teresa tends to attract a very young tourist crowd as the town is full of hostels but there is still plenty of room to find space of your own and some peace. Cost of a Trip to Santa Teresa, CR & the Cheapest Time to Visit Santa Teresa. There are also entrances from the neighbourhoods of Botafogo, Laranjeiras, Catete and Lapa. Its undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips! These are the questions we get all the time about Arenal and Monteverde. The tour lasts from 9 am to 4 pm, and departs fromMontezuma Beach. There are three waterfalls here (lower, middle, and upper). That means with a full crew, its just over $40 USD per person! Also, you can do many unique things to do in Costa Rica. If youre staying close to the beach area, then you can walk to pretty much anywhere you need to go within the town. If you want a more intimate experience,Monkey Adventures Surf SUP Yogaoffers private lessons as well as SUP Yoga and silk classes. The small beach towns are filled with friendly locals and lots of expats. Public buses operate on the hour between Santa Teresa and Cobano and Montezuma and Cobano, stopping several times along the way. On the plus side, this has somewhat slowed Santa Teresas growth in tourism. Expect to pay around $90 USD for these classes. This brings you to the upper waterfalls and a great place to enjoy a swim. This makes it a great place to visit! It's fantastic whilst you're there, but what price do you pay?The obvious price is the financial one. With plenty of things to do and see, from swimming and surfing to hiking and exploring local markets, you're sure to have an amazing time in this tropical paradise. Zillow has 9423 homes for sale. The towns predominant audience is young travellers, boasting a hipster vibe that has attracted those sorts of cafes and restaurants. Theres also a weekly jungle party in Santa Teresa thats usually held on Saturday nights. Enjoy!Get $40 off your first Airbnb with our code: https://www.airbnb.com/c/rmelo35To get our latest video updates- subscribe! Yes, Santa Teresa Costa Rica is definitely worth visiting! Nosara certainly doesnt have the hippy backpacker vibe like Santa Teresa and Montezuma, its a high-end destination and to me, rather expensive. Playa Negra As its name implies, this much-loved beach near the reggae-fueled town of Cahuita is covered in dark black sand that positively shines on a sunny day. Costa Rica is ranked as the most expensive country in Central America and the sixth most expensive in North America and the Caribbean (2015). You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here. Zula Restaurant serves mouth-watering Israeli dishes such as hummus, shawarma, falafel and kebab. Along both trails, you can see various wildlife, including monkeys, bats, butterflies, birds, ants, and lizards. Another good surf spot close by to this is La Lora, which can get very busy at high tide. These are the destinations most often cited as the places to see before you die, another version of saying they should be on your bucket . They have reasonably cheap dorm rooms, but the hostel is fantastic! Those looking to immerse themselves in yoga should check out some of the retreats in Santa Teresa. They haveregularly scheduled community classesalmost every day. These offer gorgeous ocean views. Surfers from all over the world come for the laidback lifestyle, cheap rentals, and pumping surf breaks. To help you plan your upcoming vacation to the Nicoya Peninsula, here are 7 of the most popular towns to visit on the peninsula and 15 of the best activities. If youre more serious about yoga,Bodhi Tree Yoga Resortoffers regular yoga retreats that last for a week. With its beautiful beaches, lush jungle landscapes, and vibrant nightlife, it's an unforgettable destination for adventure seekers and beach bums alike! Enjoy.Timecodes:0:00 - Where is Santa Teresa?0:47 - Santa Teresa Drone Footage1:38 - Surfing in Santa Teresa4:05 - Coworking Spaes4:59 - The Road \u0026 Dust5:18 - Food (Eat Street)6:00 - The Lifeguard Gym6:47 - Price (Accommodation, Food \u0026 Travel)7:42 - Infrastructure (Black outs, Internet Speed)8:02 - How crowded is Santa Teresa?8:36 - Is it too popular?9:29 - Is Santa Teresa worth it? *Be sure to inquire about closures when booking a trip late September - early November. Santa Teresa is a small beach town situated on the southern tip of Costa Ricas Nicoya Peninsula. Believe Surf & Yoga Santa Teresais one of the most popular, and they offer very reasonable packages, such as their four-night all-inclusive package for only $450 USD. If you consider yourself a mid-range traveler, then I actually have two great choices for you (both catering to couples and families). Visitors fall in love with the place and the people, both locals and other travellers. If you want to visitSanta Teresa with a professional guide, book a walking tour in Rio and get the most out of your visit, learning about its rich past and discovering the hidden gems of this incredible neighbourhood. Absolutely ! Along the way, youll cross rivers, spot monkeys, and even take the horses for a shower afterward. The ziplines can go pretty fast; youre sure to get your adrenalin fix here. Unlike with the taxi, the journey to Montezuma isnt direct. And although they operate from Santa Teresa, they can take you anywhere on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, including Mal Pais, Hermosa, and Montezuma. Please browse around our website; Im sure youll find lots of more useful information! It will come as no surprise to you then that one of the most popular things to do on the Nicoya Peninsula is to go watch the turtles lay their eggs at Playa del Ostional. Guiones Brew Co. is known for its wood-fired pizzas too. The Bakery is certainly not only about pastries and baguettes. The Isla Tortuga tour is an amazing time to add to your itinerary when visiting Costa Rica. (TIP: If you want us to reply to your feedback, you can leave your email in this text box.). Seeing turtles in Costa Rica is definitely a highlight! I loved shopping atWLDFLWRS, which is connected to the brewery in town. If youre turned off by the price of drinks at Chicos, fear not; you can always party in the plaza (out the front of Chicos). Can you swim in Santa Teresa beach Costa Rica? The lower falls are the easiest to get to and involve walking along the right-hand side of the river for 20 minutes until you reach the waterfall. Alternatively, if youre after a more comprehensive tour, consider booking with theWildlife Conservation Association, which also departs from the town of Nosara. On the beach in Samara, youll find tons of fantastic restaurants and beach clubs. Answer 1 of 12: Hi I purchased plane tickets to Costa Rica for the last weekend in August but I'm having trouble deciding where to stay. Youll eventually come to a small secluded bay. august itinerary question. Lots of hipster cafes, healthy restaurants and ideal places to just hang out. They fall in love with the vibe, enjoy the daily routine that theyve created and cant face leaving the beach. Its best to go surfing in Samara at high tide but beware; it can be really crowded. One of the most relaxing things to do in Montezuma is simply to chill on Montezuma Beach, the main beach in the town. You can book on a guided tour with these guys too, which is a great option if you dont feel confident driving an ATV on your own. The town of Nosara is known as a health and wellness hub, and yoga studios are dotted all over Nosara. A Bohemian Beach Town, to plan a visit. This is why renting an ATV or side by side has become the best way to get around Santa Teresa. For beginners or those less-than-confident on a board, check outPlaya Hermosafor some gentle waves, or consider this specific lesson is top-rated in Santa Teresa. 10 Best Tamarindo Tours and Excursions You NEED to Check Out! On this tour, you can witness this amazing sight up close on a boat tour after dark. 72 kilometers from Santa Teresa (a 2-hour drive away) is Smara Beach, where there are much calmer waves to be caught. I really love everything I have learned about Santa Teresa however it sounds like a long ride from San Jose (I will not be. There are also plenty of accommodation options to suit all budgets. Is Santa Teresa Costa Rica Worth Visiting? Tourists usually wouldn't get there and even most cariocas didn't know how charming its picturesque streets were. If youre on a budget, there are many options, but not many are good. I'm currently in Manuel Antonio. I should also mention that despite not being as large as Nosara and Santa Teresa, there are still plenty of boutique shops in Smara. Actually, one of the best ways up there is to climb the picturesque Escadaria Selarn, a stairway decorated with mosaics by a Chilean artist that is already a tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro. Regardless of your experience or passion for yoga, you can find a class in either Santa Teresa or Nosara to suit your needs! Once you get to Santa Teresa, youll be greeted by miles of white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and some of the best waves in Costa Rica. At 4 pm daily you can watch baby turtles be released into the ocean. The offshore fishing opportunities here are world-class. The town certainly focuses on local produce and you can really tell with the fresh ingredients. Once in Paquera, head to the town of your choice. Its worth noting that most of the towns here are small, so they are easily navigated on foot or you can rent a scooter/ ATV. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book. With an ATV in Montezuma not only can you drive out to Cacalito Falls, Santa Teresa, and Cabuya, but its also helpful in visiting the brewery and other restaurants further away from town. It is also VERY difficult to find a taxi late at night and you don't want to be walking at night. You can literally see hundreds, if not thousands, of turtles at the same time. There are some small pools at the top of the waterfall to relax in, and its a beautiful place to spend a few hours. The trail takes just over an hour each way. Be the first to rate this post. An arribada, as its called, is when hundreds of turtles come to shore to dig and lay their eggs on a beach at once. From Nosara, you can book a tour to Playa del Ostional for $60 USD per person. The relatively small country of Costa Rica (51,100 km2) is a country carved . In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. Answer (1 of 4): Probably. Nosara, on the other hand, is filled with small boutique shops that sell clothing you probably wouldnt expect to see in a small beach town. But, high-performance boards cost more. She took millions of dollars which was donated to help the poor and used it to glorify herself and enrich the church. How long should I stay in Santa Teresa? One of the most unique and fun ways to take in the scenery and get amongst the wildlife on the Nicoya Peninsula is on a ziplining tour. Shuttles are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. It tends to close at certain times of the year, so its best to check availability well in advance. Is Santa Teresa worth visiting? So in this article we answer it loud and clear: YES! If you cant afford to set aside this amount of time, then three to four days is a good amount of time. Your options are much better for those with a little more to spend. Santa Teresa is a small but fast-growing beach town, with only around 5 km of both paved and gravel roads. The key thing that separates the towns is that Santa Teresa tends to be better suited to intermediate surfers, while Nosara is a mecca for beginners. Alternatively, if youre staying in the town of Nosara you can easily join a canopy tour from here. You can feel at the heart of a pure life surrounded by untouched nature. The best part is that beginners can relax and enjoy the surf a lot more because the waves in Smara are smaller and much lighter. How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level. If you want to be right in the hustle and bustle, you can choose an accommodation thats actually set on this road. Its the perfect way to explore and meet a new friend! Due to its laidback hippie vibe and incredible surf beaches, its been popping onto a lot of peoples radars over the past few years. What's Christ The Redeemer really like? Because Santa Teresa has become such a popular destination for tourists and expats, the restaurant scene is one of the best in Costa Rica. There are lots of tour companies in town that sell these tours. For more info, check out my guide on the best time to visit Costa Rica. If you want to try scuba diving on this magnificent island, then, be sure to book a tour with Zuma Tours, their tours leave from Montezuma Beach. They are sparse in some smaller towns like Montezuma and Paquera but are readily available in Santa Teresa, Samara, and Nosara. You canbook this hostel on Booking.comorHostelworld. Its one of the best things to do in Paquera! Its one ofthe best experiences in Costa Rica! They are lots of fun when you're there and you don't want to leave. In fact, they work one month on one month off, giving them ample rest. Both Santa Teresa and Nosara offer plenty of different yoga classes; Ive tried yoga in both these towns and highly recommend trying this relaxing sport for yourself! Why you should visit Lapa, Santa Teresa and one of the most beautiful staircases in the world, Escadaria Selarn. Destinations 10 Best Things To Do In Santa Teresa, Costa Rica By Joshua Chiedu Published Feb 17, 2023 Santa Teresa has everything needed for an enjoyable vacation from hotels to beaches, bars, restaurants, and even forests with plenty of hiking trails. A short drive out of town has you exploring waterfalls in the mountains, and on a short trip out to sea, you can snorkel with marine life or enjoy a cocktail on a sunset cruise. The outside area of the restaurant, strung with fairy lights, boasts a social atmosphere and a great place to make new friends. Because of the "chill" vibe, many people end up staying in Santa Teresa for weeks, and even months, on end. Visiting Santa Teresa Without the Tramway: Still Worth It! However, the best surf is from May to November during the wet season. But at this time, you can walk over the rocks to a shallow lagoon, which is a great spot for snorkeling. Montezuma is a small town yet to break onto the busy tourist trail in Costa Rica. The trail is only 1.2 miles long (2 kilometers). The laid back vibe is very similar to the likes of Puerto Escondido in Mexico or Siargao in the Philippines. You can easily get there by public bus, or if you have an ATV, you can drive. This tropical paradise stretches about three miles along the Nicoya Peninsula's southern coast. You can easily book these tours when you arrive in town; there is no need to book in advance. This road is full of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and accommodations. For budget travelers,Luminosa Montezuma Hostelis the top choice in town. At least, it can feel expensive to Westerners who expect to be able to have the same buying power as in places like India or Thailand. Perfect for those who want a true Costa Rican stay. It's clear that it has become more than just a surf town. these are famous in Paquera and cant be done in many towns around Costa Rica. Playa Organos is an isolated, hard-to-reach gem of a beach an 18-minute drive from Paquera. One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. And finally, from the town of Montezuma, its best to head further north toPlaya Grandeor to the south toPlaya Cabuya. From Tambor, you can take a ferry, shuttle, or private transportation to Santa Teresa. Its only a 45-minute boat ride away! Accommodation here is bungalow-style and is spacious (all rooms come with a private balcony too!). For getting around each town, there are known locally as collectivos, a shared taxi system typically operated in a small bus or minivan. On the tour, you will be treated to lunch on the island, and you can play volleyball or go kayaking before heading back to Montezuma. Maybe surfing isn't your thing, but you want to get in the water and explore underneath the waves instead on top of them. Their tour includes return transport and a guided tour of the beach with a knowledgeable guide. Its popularity lies in the fact its one of the top surf destinations in Costa Rica, and it exudes a laid-back, hippie vibe that so many people flock to so as to escape from the real world. About Santa Teresa The town of Santa Teresa and its beautiful beach is located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. I personally love Montezuma it is a highlight of the Nicoya Peninsula! After this dramatic episode, many people travelling to Riostarted asking: is it still worth it visiting Santa Teresa without the tramway ride to de top? Also, check out our list of the best activities in Santa Teresa! I've been reading some mixed comments about how it's non-stop raining over there during the wet . Its easily one of my favorite beaches in all of Costa Rica! In both regions youll find light sand, warm tropical water, and when conditions are right great surfing. Check them out for 30 days, for free, with this link and see what you can find- http://share.epidemicsound.com/BgjLn#ChristTheRedeemer #RiodeJaneiro #BrazilAll images are owned by Int Affair. Just chose to stay close to the beach. The best spot in Nosara to refuel for the day ahead is atDestiny Cafe. 1 year ago. The Experts recommend. Its an easy walk from town to the falls. The best part is that it only costs $45 USD per 4 weeks. The best time to visit the Nicoya Peninsula for a relaxing holiday is during the dry season from December to April. So plan ahead. This area includes Guanacaste and Puntarenas provinces and is notorious for epic surf, chilled-out beach towns, and fun adrenalin-pumping activities like ziplining and ATVing. 11. What is the highway of Sunauli to Pokhara. Thousands of turtles visit the Pacific coast every month to lay eggs on the pristine beaches, and visitors can see both adults laying eggs and babies hatching. Arenal and Monteverde are two of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica but visitors are often confused as to which one to visit as they seem similar. . They stopped me from visiting Monteverde or spending more time in La Fortuna. On the other hand, getting to Santa Teresa can be a bit of a pain if you dont have a car. Getting around can be an adventure in itself by using ATVs, bicycles or a moped to hop between the beaches or anywhere else you want to go. The best time to surf in Smara is at high tide, and during this time, the water is busy especially if the high tide is at sunset! What's the difference between Monteverde and Arenal? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The bar isnt fancy, but they usually have live DJs and cheap drinks. Visiting Santa Teresa in Rio de Janeiro / source Santa Teresa neighbourhood was one of Rio de Janeiro's hidden treasures. If youre visiting Santa Teresa soon, youve come to the right place. Although Smara Beach is much calmer than other surf towns, there are still some waves to surf. However, there are no sidewalks, so walking along the highway can be dangerous and not overly pleasant. For more info, check out my guide on the best places to stay in Santa Teresa! The white sand beaches and consistent surf have continually attracted a growing number of travelers each year. If you go for breakfast or lunch, you can enjoy some delicious pancakes, avocado on toast, or one of the other many delicious dishes. We usually purchase it as soon as we land at the airport. During this time, the weather is beautiful and the towns are filled with visitors. You can sit at the bar, which has limited seating, without a booking. On the other side, youll see some ropes and eventually some steps. The first has open beach breaks with lots of exposure, giving fat and rippable swells.Jul 26, 2021. They typically have four beers on tap; I loved the IPA and Pale Ale especially. As a matter of fact, the closest town to the island is Paquera, and many of the tours from here are great value for money. If youre a keen diver be sure to book with Zuma Tours, their dive tours include everything you would expect from a scuba diving tour and one dive costs $130 USD. On top of that, they host a ton of events and tours. Visit the Caribbean side - Visiting the cheaper Caribbean side lets you see the beautiful country . There are many easier ways to get around and in most cases, you can simply just walk. I hope this ultimate guide to the Nicoya Peninsula has helped you better understand this unique area. 2 Gringos Artisan Brewingis located in Smararight in the middle of town. You can pretty much surf all up and down the coast at Santa Teresa. There are numerous vendors in Montezuma town to rent an ATV from. Consistent surf for all levels, good food, sun, it's all there. On the other hand, if youre looking for an amazing place to enjoy a meal or sunset drink in town, look no further thanLa Luna. this specific lesson is top-rated in Santa Teresa, consider joining a bioluminescent plankton tour, Eco Boutique Hotel Vista Las Islas Reserva Natural, walk to Montezuma Waterfalls from Montezuma town, inshore fishing charter for only $250 USD, the best breweries I have visited in Costa Rica, 15 BEST Tours in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, 10 BEST Places to go Scuba Diving in Costa Rica, 10 BEST Tours and Places to go Kayaking in Costa Rica. It also includes a stop at Montezuma Waterfall (upper falls) to cool down for 30 minutes. We wanted to share our adventures in Brazil. The Santa Teresa tidepool is a favorite spot for swimming and snorkeling. Their tour involves talking with an expert about the phenomena, transport, and a guided tour on the beach. Ive also included a detailed guide on the region, including the best hotels to stay at and how to easily get around the peninsula. When traveling between towns such as from Montezuma to Nosara though, these routes are very complex and take a lot of time, so a shuttle is best. Santa Teresa offers just the right amount of chill and after sunset activity, but not so much that you cant get away from it. You can try out this fast-paced activity from Santa Teresa, Nosara, and Montezuma! They also have breathwork, meditation, and fitness classes. Daytours4u 2012-2019. 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