So Santa Teresa is supposed to be this beautiful place in Costa Rica (I’m referring to the town in the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula) and while the beaches are beautiful (it is just sand on the ocean) so are a million other areas along the coast. The beaches are great for surfing too, that’s really the appeal for some people. I think there is a few surf camps and lots of lessons when we were on the beach.
But the town is mostly just a bunch of spread out stores spaced out along a very very very dusty road. You can see from this Santa Teresa Map how everything is spread out (that main road is a “city block” or two from the beach).
We stayed at the Beach Break Surf Hotel, nothing fancy on the inside (2 beds, A/C , TV and a bathroom) but perfectly clean and functional with a nice porch (I think we got it at a good rate), I’d definitely go back. This was the hotel with the great staff that came around with flashlights when the power went out in twon. Actually, the only reason we stayed in that town was it was the day we had to backtrack because we hit the river that we didn’t know how to cross ()read that as we didn’t know where to drive to get across the river).
I’m sure there are a few more hotels on the beach if you drive down a driveway, but I need a town (even if it’s a tiny one) to wander over to to eat and do some people watching. Some people love Santa Teresa but so far, it’s just not for me…
But I will give it another try next trip, it is just “around the corner” from Montezuma….
Glad you liked Santa Teresa, I’m from Costa Rica and went there a couple of weeks ago.
The place is nice (As many other beaches around), but as you say, is more a surfers place.
About the dust…. well, it’s awful, I know… And in general, the road to get there is a real nightmare.
Next time you should try another time of the year (with the first rains the dust goes away, I’m pretty sure right now it is fine :-P).
Glad you liked it.
There was rain there, but not until later. It’s probably what contributed to the blackout.
It made the driving on Saturday much more bearable.
Santa Teresa is one of our favorite places in Costa Rica