Santa Teresa
Go to Santa Teresa for surf breaks, long beach walks and a slow pace on Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
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Santa Teresa is a surf town on the Pacific coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, in Costa Rica's Puntarenas Province. The town is small and easy to walk, with cafes, surf shops and yoga studios along streets that are partly unpaved. Sandy beaches run along the coast, and the sunsets over the water are a good reason to stay longer than planned.
The area suits a slow beach trip, a surf week or a stay built around yoga and time outdoors. Getting there takes effort. The nearest major airport is in Liberia, and the drive is long, often on rough roads, so renting a car or booking a transfer helps. The dry season, roughly December through April, is the usual choice for beach weather. The rainy season, from May to November, brings afternoon showers and fewer visitors. Plan three to five nights so the travel days do not take up your whole stay.
Santa Teresa in five
- Get the route from Puntarenas to the peninsulaThe usual route is the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera, followed by a long road transfer. The last stretch is unpaved, so ask your driver or shuttle about road conditions before you go.Getting around
- Carry colones for small shopsMany sodas (local eateries), small shops and surf rentals take cash, and some do not take cards. Carry colones in small notes, and check each bill for a service charge.
- Book a 4x4 or a driver in the wet seasonFrom May to November, rain can make the dirt roads deep and slick. A four-wheel-drive car or a driver from your lodge is safer than a small rental car.
- Set up an eSIM before you landMobile coverage drops on some beaches and roads, so offline maps save time. Install your eSIM at home, not at the airport.Phones and eSIM
- Check the surf before you swimPacific beaches here have strong waves and rip currents, and conditions change with the tide. Ask a surf shop or your host about the day's conditions before you go in.
Need to know
- Currency
- Colón (CRC)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; check the migration office Read more
- Emergency
- 911 for police, fire or ambulance
- Tipping
- 10% service charge often included; tip extra for good service
- Time
- UTC-6, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry season startsJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry season starts
- FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh32°Low23°Dry, busyFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- MarchClear7 rainy daysHigh33°Low24°Dry, steadyMarchClear
Best
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 24 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, steady
- AprilRain19 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Dry, hotAprilRain
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- MayRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Dry, endingMayRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 331 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, ending
- JuneRain29 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Rains beginJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 522 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains begin
- JulyRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Rainy seasonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 367 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- AugustRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Rainy, greenAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 417 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, green
- SeptemberRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Rainy, greenSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 403 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, green
- OctoberRain31 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Wettest monthOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 633 mm
- Rainy days
- 31
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest month
- NovemberRain26 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Wet, quieterNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 344 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quieter
- DecemberRain15 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Rains easingDecemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains easing
Average daily high and low in Santa Teresa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Santa Teresa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
26
- Feels like
- 29°
- Humidity
- 85%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 96%
Santa Teresa
07:01 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today29°25°96%Tuesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Wed27°24°95%Wednesday: Rain. High 27°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Thu28°24°96%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Fri26°24°89%Friday: Rain. High 26°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 89%.
- Sat25°24°94%Saturday: Rain. High 25°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Sun29°24°86%Sunday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Mon31°24°84%Monday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 84%.
Updated 03:19 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 454.9 CRC
Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Mal Paísabout 10 to 20 min by carA short drive south, with more beaches and restaurants.
- Montezumaabout 1 hour by carWaterfalls, tide pools and a beach village. The roads are rough.
- Samaraabout 1 to 2 hours by carA quieter beach town with a long, sandy beach and gentler water.
Before you go to Santa Teresa
Rules for Santa Teresa, checked
- Check entry rules with Costa Rica's migration office before you book. Many passports enter visa-free for short stays.Source
- Declare plants, seeds, fresh food and animal products on the arrival form. Customs officers may inspect bags.
- Do not buy or carry drugs. Possession is a crime, and penalties apply to visitors too.
- Many restaurants add a 10% service charge, so check the bill before adding a tip.
- Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Costa Rica.
Plan around Santa Teresa
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Costa Rica trip
Read the guideGetting around the peninsulaFerries, shuttles, buses and rental cars compared
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa and what to carry for a short stay
Read the guideMoney and costsColones, dollars and cards, with typical prices on the coast
Read the guideWhere to stayBases for surf, beach and quieter nights, compared
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData on arrival and offline maps for beach roads
Read the guideSanta Teresa FAQ
How do you get to Santa Teresa from San José?
Most travelers take a shuttle or drive to Puntarenas, then the ferry to Paquera and a road transfer to the village. It is a long day, and a 4x4 or driver helps in the wet season. Check current ferry and shuttle schedules before you book.
Is Santa Teresa worth visiting?
Yes if you want surf, quiet beaches and slow days. It is wrong for travelers who want city nightlife or museums, since the village is small.
How many days do you need in Santa Teresa?
Three to five nights covers the beaches, a surf lesson and a day trip. Add a night if you want to explore Mal País and the beaches to the south.
Should I stay in Santa Teresa or Mal País?
Santa Teresa has more restaurants and shops along the main road. Mal País is the next village south, with its own beaches and a quieter feel at night.
When is the best time to visit Santa Teresa?
December to April is the dry season, with the most reliable weather for beach days. Expect higher prices and busier beaches over the holidays.
Do you need a car in Santa Teresa?
A car helps for beaches and day trips, but roads are unpaved in places. Taxis cover the main beaches, but fares add up over several days.