The best ways to get to Santa Teresa Costa Rica

You want to visit Santa Teresa, Costa Rica – named one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with some of the best surfing in Costa Rica. But where is it and how do you get there?

Santa Teresa Beach is located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica on the southern Nicoya Peninsula. There are three ways to get to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica: driving, domestic flight or boat taxi.

Hotel Tropico Latino is a Santa Teresa beachfront hotel at beautiful Playa Carmen. Hotel Tropico Latino specializes in Costa Rica surf holidays and yoga retreats in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. They feature a charming property of four acres of lush gardens right on the sand, comfortable and luxurious accommodations, a beachfront spa, yoga classes and an award-winning restaurant.

How to get to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica by car or bus

To drive to the beach towns of the southern Nicoya Peninsula – Santa Teresa, Mal Pais, Montezuma and Tambor – you take the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera. Be sure not to take the ferry to Playa Naranjo. The ferry takes about 75 minutes to cross the Nicoya Gulf. Arrive to the ferry terminal at least one hour early if it is high tourist season or a holiday.

In Paquera, follow the signs for Cobano and Mal Pais. In Cobano, drive straight through town and turn left after 1 kilometer, toward Mal Pais. The road turns into dirt. After 8 km, you will arrive at the Mal Pais crossroads; turn right to Hotel Tropico Latino and Santa Teresa. Drive time from Paquera is about 90 minutes.

Ferry schedules can be found here. Maps can be found here.

Buses: There are public buses daily from San Jose to Santa Teresa / Mal Pais.

How to get to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica by plane

There are many daily flights from San Jose to Tambor on Sansa Airlines and Nature Air; flights are a quick 35 minutes. From Tambor, Hotel Tropico Latino can arrange taxi transport for you or you can rent a car; drive time is about 40 minutes.

How to get to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica by boat taxi

Zuma Tours operates daily boat taxis from Herradura Beach near Jacó to Montezuma. This is a good transportation option in summer season. Boats travel in the morning, when the weather is usually nicer. Travel time is one hour. Boats range in size between 26 and 30 feet long and carry 12 to 30 passengers with luggage. From Montezuma, Hotel Tropico Latino can arrange a taxi to Santa Teresa.

Article by Shannon Farley