Photos of Playa Santa Teresa Costa Rica (Nicoya Peninsula) From Our Personal Collection
Nikki Solano
Last updated on December 6th, 2024 at 11:38 am
Written by Nikki Solano
Nikki is the CEO of Pura Vida! eh? Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), and the author of the guidebooks Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides. Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates the Costa Rica Travel Blog, created the online community DIY Costa Rica, built the Costa Rica Destination Tool, oversees the brand-new (summer 2023) Costa Rica Travel Shop, and designed the Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Also, Nikki wrote the Costa Rica cover feature for Wanderlust Magazine's sustainability-focused Travel Green List issue, showcased Costa Rica destinations and experiences on Rick Steves' Monday Night Travel show and podcast/radio show, and served as the Costa Rica Destination Editor for Essentialist, a luxury travel brand. Want to show your appreciation for her free article below? Thank Nikki here. ❤️️
Get the Costa Rica info you need by browsing our article's TABLE OF CONTENTS:
south end of Playa Santa Teresanorth end of Playa Santa TeresaPlaya Santa Teresawaves at Playa Santa Teresaa fitting sign at Playa Santa TeresaRicky; swimming at Playa Santa TeresaRicky and Nikki; enjoying Playa Santa TeresaATV on Playa Santa Teresalifeguards stationed at Playa Santa Teresahorseback riding at Playa Santa Teresaturtle hatchery on Playa Santa Teresasurfing at Playa Santa TeresaNikki; Playa Santa Teresadining on the beach at Playa Santa Teresahammocks on the beach at Playa Santa Teresa
Playa Santa Teresa fast facts
English name: Santa Teresa Beach
Distance from San Jose: 315km (approximately 6 hours) via ground transport; Shorter travel distances/times are possible by taking ferries that cross the Nicoya Gulf from Puntarenas
Closest Town: Cobano (small town)
Beach Status: Public beach
Playa Santa Teresa beach details
Sand, shade, scenery, and unique features
Playa Santa Teresa is a long and primarily smooth beach that has light, dusty, almost blush-pink sand. Offshore, rows of waves break in front of the beach; the water is turquoise in places. A wall of trees backs the beach. Free to view is a small turtle hatchery that aims to protect the eggs of nesting sea turtles.
Crowds and noise
Playa Santa Teresa receives a steady number of visitors, mainly because it’s one of the most sought-after beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula. People come to this beach to either surf, practice yoga, or relax in solitude, so noise is generally kept to a minimum, especially along the northern stretch of the beach which is the quietest. Along the southern stretch of the beach, which is adjacent to Carmen (sometimes referred to as “downtown Santa Teresa”), crowds and noise can be an issue. Fortunately, the multi-kilometer-long beach provides plenty of room for spacing out and rarely feels full.
Cleanliness and Ecological Blue Flag rating
Costa Rica’s Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica (Ecological Blue Flag Program) promotes sustainability and public health. Every year, beaches in Costa Rica strive for top honors, which are bestowed annually according to strict ecological criteria. Beaches that participate in the program and meet 90-100% of the eligibility criteria achieve a 1-star rating. Further efforts invite beaches to earn additional stars (5 stars is the highest rating), including special colored stars. (To learn more about the program and discover what each blue flag rating means, see our related blog post: Award-Winning Blue Flag Beaches In Costa Rica: Photos & Map; Most-Recent Winners.)
Currently, Playa Santa Teresa is participating in the Programa Bandera Azul Ecológica and holds a 1-star rating. You may see the achievement displayed at Playa Santa Teresa on a sign that reads Playa Galardonada (Award-Winning Beach).
Development at Playa Santa Teresa
Hotels, restaurants, tours, bathrooms, etc.
The community of Carmen and its outskirts (the community of Santa Teresa) provide an assortment of (typically modern and progressive) establishments, including hotels, restaurants, tour offices, and shops, virtually everything you might want to have at a Costa Rican destination. The majority are high-quality; resort-quality accommodations outnumber budget lodging options, and restaurant menus are weighted with healthy, often plant-based meal choices. Most establishments line the main road that runs parallel to the beach and are within walking distance of the water, if not positioned directly on the beach. A few provide tables, chairs, and hammocks on the sand for guests to use.
Playa Santa Teresa safety
Swimming and water safety
Swimming is allowed at Playa Santa Teresa. However, as a well-known surf destination, the water can be wavy and rough. As always, exercise caution in and around the water, especially if you plan to visit with children or inexperienced swimmers.
General safety
Never bring items of value with you to the beach and always keep an eye on your belongings. Remember to lock your rental car if you have one. Do not visit the beach before sunrise or after sunset.
Playa Santa Teresa location and road conditions
Access to Playa Santa Teresa and 4×4 requirement
Playa Santa Teresa is located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. It fronts the community of Santa Teresa, which sits north of Carmen and Mal Pais (sometimes cited as Malpais), two neighboring communities.
An unnamed road (nicknamed “the road to Cobano”) leads a direct path south from the inland town of Cobano to Carmen. From Carmen, it’s an approximate 3-kilometer, 10-minute drive northwest up the coast to the community of Santa Teresa and its namesake beach. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended to reach Playa Santa Teresa.
Map of Playa Santa Teresa Costa Rica
Parking at Playa Santa Teresa
There is no official parking at Playa Santa Teresa. Locals park randomly along the side of the unnamed road that runs parallel to the beach, or down side streets that run perpendicular to the beach.
Best reason(s) to visit Playa Santa Teresa
Offering solitude, stellar waves, and some of the prettiest sand on the Nicoya Peninsula, Playa Santa Teresa is worth visiting purely to experience the beach. Especially if you plan to surf or practice yoga during your visit and you wish to participate in these activities at a modern, developed destination that’s simultaneously calm and remote, Playa Santa Teresa shouldn’t be missed.
Beach-hopping from Playa Santa Teresa (or alternative beach options in the region)
Recommended day trips from Playa Santa Teresa include visits to Playa Carmen, Playa Mal Pais, or Playa Las Manchas.
Not sure which Costa Rica beaches are the best to visit? Let the beaches in this article inspire you:
Do you have questions about Playa Santa Teresa, want to know more about the area surrounding the beach, or need help incorporating a visit to the beach into your vacation? No problem! When you’re ready, make an appointment here to communicate with me (Nikki) privately and we can discuss these and other topics to get your questions answered fast and your Costa Rica trip poised for success. Pura vida, amigos! 🙂
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Summary
Article Name
Photos of Playa Santa Teresa Costa Rica (Nicoya Peninsula) From Our Personal Collection
Description
We provide photos of Playa Santa Teresa Costa Rica (Nicoya Peninsula), plus info about beach features, safety, location, parking, and more!
