Surfing Guide to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
Summary
Santa Teresa is a small and beautiful surf town located on the south western end of the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica. Santa Teresa is known for having raw and natural beaches as well as some very consistent beach breaks.
This popular surf town has been for the last few years one of the surfers’ favorite place to stop on a surf trip to Costa Rica for its unique vibe and relaxed atmosphere. It is where the real Pura Vida can be experienced.
Whether you are a beginner looking to make your first steps on a wave or an expert seeking barrels, Santa Teresa has some great surf for everyone.
When to go
The best time to surf Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is from April to October for bigger and more consistent waves. However, beginners will have an easier time learning to surf in Santa Teresa from November to March with smaller, yet still pretty consistent conditions
| January-February | March-April | May-June | July-August | September-October | November-December | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suitable for: | All surfers | All surfers | Intermediate Advanced | Intermediate Advanced | Intermediate Advanced | All surfers |
| Air temperature | 27°C 81°F | 28°C 82°F | 29°C 84°F | 29°C 84°F | 28°C 82°F | 27°C 81°F |
| Water temperature | 27°C 81°F | 27°C 81°F | 29°C 84°F | 29°C 84°F | 28°C 82°F | 27°C 81°F |
| Crowd | Fairly crowded | Fairly crowded | Very crowded | Very crowded | Fairly crowded | Fairly Crowded |
| Swell consistency | 40% | 75% | 95% | 90% | 85% | 55% |
| Swell height | 4ft | 4ft | 5ft | 5ft | 5ft | 4ft |
Best Surf Hotels in Santa Teresa
Best Value : Believe Surf and Yoga Lodge and Nautilus Surf Villas
High-end : Fuego Lodge
Getting there
The best way to get to Santa Teresa is by local public transportation. If budget is not an issue, you can hire a taxi or private driver. Otherwise, buses run down to Santa Teresa. You can also catch the ferry from Puntarenas.
Surf spots in Santa Teresa
Playa Santa Teresa
This is Santa Teresa’s main beach break. It works almost every day and is better with an easterly wind around low tide. You will find great gentle waves which are perfect for surfers of any skill level.
- Wave direction : Right and left
- Bottom : Sand
- Best tide : Low
- Skill level : Any
- Optimal swell direction : W
- Optimal wind direction : NE
Playa Hermosa
The next beach north from Playa Santa Teresa is Playa Hermosa, another greatly exposed and consistent beach break which will tend to be a bit less crowded than Santa Teresa.
- Wave direction : Right and left
- Bottom : Sand
- Best tide : Low
- Skill level : Any
- Optimal swell direction : NW
- Optimal wind direction : NE