We arrived in Santa Teresa and never really left. Christian teaches surf here — he knows every tide, every break, every season. Rossella manages Principe del Pacifico and knows every restaurant, tour and hidden beach worth visiting. This is what we tell our guests on their first morning.
Playa Santa Teresa sits at the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, one of the few stretches of Pacific coast that still feels genuinely wild. There is no main square, no tourist train, no skyline. What you get instead is a single red dirt road lined with surf shops and mango trees, some of the most consistent waves in Central America, and a community of people who came for a week and stayed for years.
If you just arrived at Principe del Pacifico — or are still planning your trip — here is your honest guide to making the most of Santa Teresa from day one.
Surf — for every level, from first-timer to advanced
Santa Teresa is one of the best places in the world to learn to surf. The beach break near the river mouth is forgiving at low tide — ideal for beginners. Further south toward Playa Carmen the waves get longer and hollower, better for intermediate and advanced surfers.
Christian, our resident surf instructor at Principe del Pacifico, offers lessons and board rentals directly from the property. He will help you read the tides, find the right spot for your level, and avoid the mistakes that add weeks to the learning curve. Our guests get priority — just ask at check-in.
Dawn patrol — 6 to 8am — is the best hour. Glassy water, no crowd, perfect light. Set the alarm once. You won't regret it.
Watch the sunset — from the beach, not a bar
Santa Teresa faces west. Every evening the Pacific turns amber, then orange, then deep red. Walk ten minutes north of the main strip and you reach Playa Hermosa — quieter, rockier, no vendors — with unobstructed views all the way to the horizon.
If you want a drink with your sunset, Banana Beach, Rocamar and Rancho Itauna are the most popular spots along the shore. All three have tables in the sand and a view that stops conversations. Arrive by 5pm in high season for a good spot.
At around 5:30pm the howler monkeys start up in the trees, the light turns amber, and it becomes very hard to leave.
— Rossella, Principe del PacificoBioluminescent night tour
One of the most genuinely surprising experiences available in Santa Teresa. On dark nights, the plankton in the bay lights up electric blue when disturbed. Kayaking through bioluminescent water at night is the kind of thing people describe for years afterward.
We work with reliable local operators who offer guided tours most evenings when conditions are right. As Principe del Pacifico guests, you get preferential rates — ask us at check-in or contact us before arrival.
Day trip to the Montezuma waterfalls
Forty minutes south by ATV or car, Montezuma is a small bohemian beach town with a completely different energy. The trail to the waterfalls takes about 20 minutes each way through dense secondary jungle. The upper pool is deep, cold and reached by a short scramble — one of those experiences that is genuinely hard to describe afterward. There is also a zip-line crossing just above the main falls.
Go early — the pools fill up by midday especially on weekends. Wear sandals you don't mind soaking. The path is slippery after rain.
Boat trip to Isla Tortuga
Isla Tortuga is a small uninhabited island about 90 minutes by boat from Santa Teresa, surrounded by calm turquoise water and white sand. It is one of the clearest snorkelling spots on the Nicoya Peninsula — parrotfish, rays, the occasional turtle. From December to April, dolphins are a near-certainty along the route.
We partner with reliable local operators who offer full-day excursions with snorkelling equipment, lunch and transport included — at preferential rates for our guests.
Hike to Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve
Costa Rica's first protected area, 45 minutes south of Santa Teresa. The forest feels genuinely old — tall canopy, dense undergrowth, almost no people. The trail to Playa Cabo Blanco takes about an hour each way. The beach at the end is reachable only on foot and is among the most remote on the peninsula. The reserve is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Visit Curú Wildlife Refuge
Smaller and more accessible than Cabo Blanco, about an hour north near Paquera. It combines dry forest, mangroves and a white-sand beach in a compact area. White-faced capuchins, howler monkeys, coatis and white-tailed deer are regularly spotted on the trails. Also the departure point for kayak trips to Isla Tortuga — a good combination for a full day out.
Stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and fishing
On calm mornings — usually before 9am before the onshore wind picks up — the bay is flat and ideal for stand-up paddleboarding. Several rental shops on the main road offer boards by the hour. For fishing, guided half-day excursions go after roosterfish, mahi-mahi and snapper. If you catch something, most local restaurants will cook it for you the same evening.
Horseback riding on the beach at sunset
It sounds like a cliché until you are actually doing it: riding at low tide, the sand firm under the horses' hooves, the sun dropping into the Pacific in front of you. Rancho Itauna has run reliable, well-cared-for horses along this coast for years and also offers rides into the hills above Santa Teresa with views back over the entire bay. Two-hour sunset rides are the most popular — book a day in advance in high season.
Eat well — at a soda, then somewhere better
A soda is a family-run Costa Rican lunch counter. Soda Piedra Mar, tucked off the main road near the school, serves the best casado in town — rice, black beans, fried plantain, salad, protein — for around $8. No Instagram, no sign, no tourists. The food is excellent.
For evenings, Koji's has been a local favourite for over a decade — Japanese-Tico fusion, small tables, consistent quality. Frank's Place does wood-fired pizza that is better than it has any right to be this far from anywhere. For something special, ask us for our current dinner recommendation when you arrive.
Getting to Santa Teresa and getting around
Santa Teresa is about 3 hours from San José by car, including the ferry crossing from Puntarenas to Paquera — ferries run approximately every hour, no reservation needed for foot passengers. From Liberia airport the drive is approximately 3.5 hours with no ferry required.
Once here you don't need a car if you're staying centrally. Everything is walkable or cycleable. For day trips to Montezuma, Cabo Blanco or Curú, renting an ATV or small 4x4 is the most practical option — rental shops are near the Playa Carmen junction.
We arrange airport transfers, ATV rentals, surf lessons with Christian, and tours through our partner operators — all at preferential rates. All guests receive our printed local guide on arrival, updated each season. Contact us before arrival: reservation@principedelpacifico.com or WhatsApp +506 877 10567.