Costa Rica • Santa Teresa

SANTA TERESA, COSTA RICA – GUIDE AND INFORMATION

From world-class surfing to wildlife refuges and zip line adventures to hikes in the rainforest, Costa Rica has something amazing to offer everyone, and as we like to say in Elite Beach Villas, Costa Rica is paradise on earth.

ABOUT SANTA TERESA

Santa Teresa, a string of beaches on the southern tip of Costa Rica’s northwestern peninsula, has an edge-of-the-world vibe that still feels remote and inspires relocation dreams. 

Driving down the dirt roads that connect the area’s four beaches — Playa Carmen, Playa Hermosa, Santa Teresa, and Mal Pais —you will wonder what your life would be like in a town like this. The road that runs parallel to the beach has many cute cafés, restaurants, some galleries, and fashion boutiques dotted among the surf shops you can visit while staying at the best Santa Teresa Luxury Villas.

THE EVOLUTION OF SANTA TERESA

Once a sleepy fishing village, Santa Teresa is now an increasingly luxurious surfer’s paradise filled with people who have made this particular fantasy their reality — and the occasional detox-seeking celebrity who likes living it for a week at a time. 

In addition to native Costa Ricans, or “Ticos,” there are American chefs, Australian surf instructors, French cafe owners, and Argentine hoteliers.

An outer ripple of Costa Rica’s countrywide eco-tourism boom, Santa Teresa’s international community blossomed in the 2000s as foreign adventure-seekers discovered its confluence of natural attractions, white-sand beaches, long-breaking waves, and innumerable species of wildlife. 

And while New Age hippies still populate the town’s scores of yoga studios, Santa Teresa is now evolving to cater to the growing number of comfort-loving families who have discovered its amazing beaches and layback charms, including its proximity to the pristine 3,000-acre Cabo Blanco nature reserve, and an increasing array of excellent boutique shops, villas and great restaurants in Santa Teresa.

SANTA TERESA COSTA RICA WEATHER

This part of Costa Rica experiences almost year-round sunshine (punctuated by the occasional biblical rainstorm, of course) and consistent 80-degree temperatures. The rainiest months are September and October.

ELITE BEACH VILLAS LOCATIONS IN SANTA TERESA

Practical info about Casa Lanui and Casa Taman

• 2-minute walk to the grocery store
• 2-minute walk to several restaurants and shops
• A short drive or bike ride to a big selection of restaurants and shops
• 10-minute walk to a fitness center
• 10-minute drive to clinic & town Mal Pais
• 40-minute drive to the golf course 

SANTA TERESA COSTA RICA AIRPORTS

• Closest airport: Regional Cobano airport
• Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) 
• Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR)

HOW TO GET FROM SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA, TO SANTA TERESA

By ground: San Jose,   Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to Santa Teresa; 173km, five-hour drive, the route has tolls and includes a ferry: https://goo.gl/maps/3uzoskX9Ef3fRfVSA

By air: Flying after arriving in San Jose (SJO), you need to fly either will Greenairways or Sansa, to Cóbano, Costa Rica (Cóbano regional airport), with a commercial flight. Or book a charter flight with Greenairways to land in their private Santa Teresa airstrip.

• The flying time from San Jose to Cobano is 33 minutes.
• From Cobano airport to our villas is between 30 and 35-minute drive, and we can arrange pickup for you and your group

HOW TO GET FROM LIBERIA, COSTA RICA, TO SANTA TERESA

By ground: From Liberia to Santa Teresa, it's a 4-hour drive. 

By air: If you land at Liberia (LIR) airport, you can fly to Cóbano by commercial flight with Sansa only. 

• The flying time from Liberia to Cobano is 25 minutes.
• From Cobano airport to our villas is between a 30 and 35-minute drive, and we can arrange pickup for you and your group

Flying into Cobano Airport

For these commercial flights, you must allow yourself enough time, at least one hour, to get through customs and immigration at San Jose or Liberia airports before boarding your domestic flight.

Greenairways and Sansa are located by the international airport and are inside the domestic terminal.

Costa Rica Green Air

https://partner.costaricagreenair.com/en/north-creek-2/

call from Costa Rica:  4070-0771

call from the USA:  1-888-8288471

SANSA Airlines

https://flysansa.com

reservations@flysansa.com ,

call from Costa Rica:  2290 4100

call from the USA:  1- 877-767-2672

PRIVATE CHARTER TO SANTA TERESA

Both domestic airlines offer charter private flights, giving you the most flexibility for your arrival and departure times; travel at your leisure. 

Charters from Greenairways land in their private airstrip located in Santa Teresa, while the Sansa charters land in the same Cóbano airstrip as the commercial ones. 

The price can be the same as a commercial flight, depending on how many people are in your group. 

Helicopter Service 

From Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) or Liberia (LIR) airport to Tambor. For our most time-sensitive guests, we can arrange a helicopter from either airport and be dropped off within a 5-minute drive from the property.

LOGISTICS

Our dedicated concierge can arrange and handle all local logistics, from commercial to charter flights, helicopter services, and ground transportation.

Activities in the area.

• Surfing for all levels and ages, from young kids to seasoned pros, everybody can find waves on the 7 km long beach Mal Pais – Santa Teresa – Hermosa. 
• Sunset drinks are available on the beach in many locations.
• Excellent restaurants with a vast variety and healthy options (Italian, Mediterranean, Sushi, Vegetarian, Argentinean, French, Local, and Fish)
• Sport fishing
• Mountain biking
• Yoga
• Sound Healing
• Breathwork
• Pilates
• Personal training and gym
• Horseback riding
• Bird watching
• Snorkeling
• ATV tours
• Diving
• Zip-lining
• Hikes in Cabo Blanco Absolute Reserve
• Waterfall Tours
• Boat rides to see wildlife.
• Bioluminescence Tours
• Pottery