{"id":10055,"date":"2019-09-30T09:14:16","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T15:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adobecar.com\/?p=10055"},"modified":"2024-07-02T16:38:50","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T22:38:50","slug":"playa-santa-teresa-costa-rica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adobecar.com\/en\/travel-costa-rica\/playa-santa-teresa-costa-rica\/","title":{"rendered":"Playa Santa Teresa, Costa Rica"},"content":{"rendered":"

Santa Teresa is reputed to be one of Costa Rica\u2019s top-ten best surf beaches. Spreading northward from the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, the ultra-popular beach town borders the open Pacific Ocean and is famed for its beach breaks, point breaks, and an idyllic stretch of palm-lined white sand beaches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What seems like one continuous and elongated town is actually a string of individual pueblos. They include Mal Pa\u00eds, Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa, and Playa Hermosa. Each little town merges into the next following the main road as it heads north along the coast towards Guanacaste Province.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Santa Teresa and neighboring towns cater to all types of travelers, offering everything from backpacker hostels to five-star luxury resorts and local eateries to gourmet fine dining.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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How to Get to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica<\/b><\/h2>\n

Although Santa Teresa beach, Costa Rica, is only 185 km (115 miles) from San Jos\u00e9, getting there takes about 5.5 hours. Fortunately, not all of the trip is on the road but combines driving with a scenic ferry ride across the Gulf of Nicoya.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Drivers should program their GPS for the Tambor Ferry in Puntarenas. Once there, a uniformed Tambor employee will give each driver a vehicle pass, which is needed to buy the ferry passage to the Port of Paquera on the Nicoya Peninsula. The trip costs approximately $20 for a regular car, $1.75 for adults, and $0.80 for kids, and takes about 1.5 hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The scenic cruise is excellent for picture taking as the ferry passes uninhabited tropical islands blanketed in seabirds. Once arriving in Paquera, follow the signs, or your GPS, towards the town of Cobano, and from there towards Mal Pa\u00eds. The drives on both ends of the ferry ride are about 1.5 hours each way.<\/span><\/p>\n

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By land – with Adobe Rent a Car<\/b><\/h2>\n

The only drawbacks to visiting Santa Teresa are its notoriously bad roads. From Cobano, most are unpaved, and the ones that aren\u2019t are usually riddled with potholes. This final stretch of road is the most challenging. The rugged terrain and steep incline down to sea level can be daunting for vehicles without 4WD.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Renting a 4×4 car is the smartest choice. The extra clearance will help you navigate the rough roads, and the added power will ensure you don\u2019t get stuck in a rut in the middle of the jungle. Ask the Adobe Rent a Car representative which type of vehicle best fits your itinerary and vacation needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adobe is proud to have the largest<\/span> fleet of rental vehicles<\/span> in all of Costa Rica. Rest assured that your rental car will be either brand new or less than two-years old.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Visitors can also take a private shuttle or public bus from San Jose Airport to Santa Teresa. Unfortunately, however, once there, visitors will need to either walk from destination to destination or find alternative transportation for getting around.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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By Air – Costa Rica\u2019s In-country Flights<\/b><\/h2>\n

Santa Teresa is not accessible by air; however, the closest airport to Santa Teresa is located near the town of Tambor only 50 minutes away. Travelers who are short on time can arrange for an Adobe vehicle to be waiting for them upon arrival for an additional charge. Speak with an<\/span> Adobe agent<\/span> for more information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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History, population, and climate<\/b><\/h2>\n

Santa Teresa was initially a sleepy agriculture, ranching, and fishing village before being co-settled by adventurous foreigners wishing to experience authentic Costa Rican culture, and surfers enjoying the still-undiscovered world-class waves. Today the town residents earn most of their revenue from tourism.<\/span><\/p>\n

Due to its growing popularity as an exclusive tropical getaway, the Santa Teresa, Costa Rica population has grown considerably. Even the rich and famous are attracted by its laid-back surf town allure, including Mel Gibson, Tom Brady, and model Gisele Bundchen who have built homes in the area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Santa Teresa, Costa Rica Map<\/b><\/h2>\n