Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is a premier surf destination renowned for its year-round waves, wild and unspoiled beaches, and thriving local surf community. This surfer’s paradise offers a range of surf spots for every skill level of surfer, from the mellow longboard waves of Playa Carmen (home to the top-rated surf camp Pura Vida Adventures) to the powerful beach breaks of La Lora. The friendly Santa Teresa surf community embodies the laidback and welcoming “pura vida” vibe that has made this country famous, inspiring everyone to embrace the local Costa Rica surfing culture.

Between surf sessions in Santa Teresa, soak in the lush landscapes and breathtaking sunsets with a relaxed stroll on the beach or an adventurous ride on an ATV. Santa Teresa is also a yoga lover’s dream, home to gorgeous open-air studios with ocean views. Visitors can also enjoy horseback riding, zip lines, and hikes to waterfalls nearby, in addition to exploring the Santa Teresa surf breaks. 

Whether you’re riding the waves or soaking in the serene surroundings, Santa Teresa offers a unique blend of adventure and relaxation that captivates surfers and travelers alike. With its stunning beaches and lively atmosphere, it’s no wonder that Santa Teresa is considered one of the top surfing spots in Costa Rica. 

This Santa Teresa surf guide will give you our insider tips for visiting the area’s best surf breaks, as well as where to stay, where to eat, and how to fully live the “pura vida” lifestyle while you’re here. Start planning your Costa Rica surf trip now! 

The Best Surfing Beaches in Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa Vibes

Best Restaurants in Santa Teresa

Best Hotels and Retreats in Santa Teresa

Surf Shops and Board Rental in Santa Teresa

When to Visit Santa Teresa

FAQs: Planning Your Trip to Costa Rica

Santa Teresa: The Best Surfing Beaches in Costa Rica

Santa Teresa boasts a vibrant surf culture that draws enthusiasts from all walks of life, offering consistent waves year-round, with peak conditions from November to August. Whether you’re a beginner catching your first wave or an advanced surfer seeking thrilling breaks, this coastal paradise caters to all skill levels.

Surfing in Santa Teresa is so popular because of the quantity, quality, and diversity of the breaks near the heart of town. Within minutes, surfers can ride a mellow beach break at Playa Carmen or catch a strong southwest swell during the lush Cabuya surf breaks. 

Top Santa Teresa Surf Spots 

Here is a breakdown of the different surf breaks in and around Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. It also provides a guide to the surfing level, the best tides to surf and the best swell direction. You can find surf reports for the Santa Teresa area on Surfline.

Playa Carmen, Costa Rica

Beginner break? Yes

This beach is located when you first roll into Santa Teresa at the cruce (crossroads) of Santa Teresa and Mal Pais. The Playa Carmen surf break is a gently sloped sand-bottom that stretches for about a mile with multiple peaks that produce long, fun, peeling rights and lefts. At the beach’s northern end, you can see a series of right and left peaks breaking over a slightly steeper sand bottom. The Pura Vida Adventures beachfront hotel sits directly in front of the Playa Carmen surf break, and spending a week on retreat here offers you unrivaled access to some of the best waves in the area. 

• Experience: All levels – Great beginner break
• Tides: Works on all tides, but it is best for beginners between low to medium tides
• Swell direction: Works on all swell directions but the best are S and SW swells

Playa Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Beginner break? No

About a 10 minute drive to the north of Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa’s sandy ocean bottom has a steeper incline which produces more powerful right and left breaking waves providing a more challenging ride. If you want to get barreled, the Santa Teresa surf break is for you. 

• Experience: Intermediate/Advanced
• Tides: Works well on all but is best between medium to low tides
• Swell direction: Works on all swell directions but the best are SW and NW swells

Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

Beginner break? Yes

The remote splendor of Playa Hermosa strikes a chord in the hearts of surfers searching for spectacular beach with jungle views. No wonder why Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady decided to build a home here, it is absolutely stunning. A short 20 minute drive from Playa Carmen, you arrive to find a sparkling white sand beach delivering a combination of rights and lefts. When the swell is big, the point break at the northern end of the beach starts to work.

• Experience: All levels – Great beginner break
• Tides: Works on all tides, but it is best between a medium to high tides
• Swell direction: Works on all swell directions but the best are NW and SW swells

Mar Azul, Costa Rica

Beginner break? Depends on conditions

A few curving sandy coves to the south of Playa Carmen in Mal Pais is the locally famous left hand point break Mar Azul, where we often spot sea turtles in the lineup. Mushy long lefts peel away from a flat reef bottom toward a deep channel. This spot needs at least a 4 to 5 foot swell coming from the S or SW combined with a rising high tide which tends to produce waves a couple of feet smaller than the beaches.

• Experience: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
• Tides: Works only two hours or so before or after high tide
• Swell direction: Only works on a S or SW swells

Cabuya, Costa Rica

Beginner break? Yes

Surf safari! When the strong steeply angled S and SW swells reach more than 6 feet and begin to fill in the eastward side of the peninsula, we load up our surf van for a full day excursion. Cabuya, also known as Lajas, is an easy, rolling right point break which forms over a smooth stone bottom peeling for about 150 yards, making it one of the longest waves in the area. We surf this break on an incoming tide from medium to high tide and waves tend to be several feet smaller than the beach breaks on the west side. A deep channel makes for an easy paddle out and safety zone where you can relax and take in the gorgeous green coastline looking toward the National Park of Cabo Blanco. Guests of Pura Vida Adventures who have been lucky enough to score waves here often say surfing at Cabuya is the highlight of their trip.

• Experience: Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
• Tides: Works on a medium to high tide
• Swell direction: Works on only S or SW swells

Beyond the Breaks: Santa Teresa Vibes

The area’s funky and unique charm lies in its fusion world-class surf, open air yoga, international cuisine, exciting nightlife, and breathtaking nature, appealing to both adventurous spirits and those in search of relaxation. At top surf and yoga retreats like Pura Vida Adventures, surfers can easily transition from the thrill of riding waves to the serene practice of yoga, making it a haven for wellness and adventure alike.

In Costa Rica, you’ll soak in the positive energy of “pura vida,” a phrase that embraces a lifestyle of simplicity, joy, and connection to nature. This mantra permeates the atmosphere here, where the experience quickly becomes more than just surfing in Santa Teresa: It’s a way of life that celebrates the ocean, wellness, community, and the beauty of living in the moment. 

Make the most of your Santa Teresa surf trip by enjoying the best of what this unique little town has to offer. 

Best Restaurants in Santa Teresa

When it’s time to put some fuel in the tank after your long days of surfing, you’ve got plenty of spots to choose from. A wide range of restaurants reflect Santa Teresa’s laid-back yet sophisticated vibe, so it’s hard to go wrong. Here are three of our favorites: 

Katana is Santa Teresa’s hot spot for Asian flavors with a Costa Rican twist. The vibe is chic but relaxed, offering sushi, curries, and other flavorful dishes in an open-air setting. It’s known for its high-quality ingredients and artistic presentation and a favorite spot among tourists and locals alike. 

The Bakery is the go-to cafe for both breakfast and lunch centrally located right in front of the Playa Carmen surf break. Come here for European style pastries, hearty breakfast plates, smoothies, salads, and delicious coffee. Surfers love the casual, cozy atmosphere and ample outdoor seating, making it a great spot to relax and hang out after catching waves in Playa Carmen. 

Koji’s is the best sushi spot in Santa Teresa, blending the flavors of Japan with Costa Rica’s fresh local seafood. Known for its fresh sashimi and artfully crafted rolls, some people have boasted that Koji’s is the best sushi they ever had. The open-air setting under the stars and the dedication to top-notch ingredients make this a favorite for both locals and visitors looking to savor the best sushi around.

Best Hotels and Retreats in Santa Teresa

Pura Vida Adventures is a top-rated beachfront surf and yoga retreat located directly in front of the Playa Carmen surf break. Join a women’s only or coed surf camp for a fully curated, unforgettable week of surfing at Playa Carmen and all of Santa Teresa’s best surf breaks. 

Surfers looking for easy budget accommodations will like Zeneidas Surf Garden, a beachfront hostel offering affordable dorm rooms and private cabins. It’s an ideal spot for surfers, with direct access to the beach and Santa Teresa surf breaks. The hostel has a relaxed vibe, hammocks to lounge in, a communal kitchen, and a large outdoor garden for guests to unwind. 

Looking to splurge on your Costa Rica surf trip? Casa Chameleon offers several private villas with direct beach access that are ideal for small groups, featuring plunge pools, outdoor showers, and expansive terraces with breathtaking ocean views.

Surf Shops and Board Rental in Santa Teresa

As a surfer’s mecca, the town of Santa Teresa is home to several excellent surf shops with a huge variety of boards for rent. Check out Kina Surf in north Santa Teresa for the best overall selection of quality boards, from Takayama to Rusty. Nalu Surf in Playa Carmen has an awesome quiver of short boards for rent, including Hypto Kryptos, as well as a wide range of mid-length, longboard, and beginner boards. Both shops are also well stocked with wax, leashes, tail pads, surf swag, and any other essentials you’ll need on your Santa Teresa surfing trip. 

When to Visit Santa Teresa

The surf in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is excellent year-round, but the waves vary depending on the season. To have the best experience surfing in Costa Rica, consider planning your visit around the surf seasons. This will allow you to catch the ideal waves for your ability level. Here’s what you can expect during each season:

Dry Season (December to April)

• Wave Size: Smaller, more manageable waves, especially in December and January. The surf ranges from 2 to 5 feet on average, making it ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers. By March and April, the swell starts to pick up slightly but remains relatively consistent.
• Conditions: Sunny skies, offshore winds, and glassy waves in the morning, offering ideal conditions for surfing. The offshore winds are more frequent, which helps to create clean, well-shaped waves. In the afternoons, the winds can pick up, sometimes creating choppier conditions, but the mornings are often perfect for smooth rides.
• Crowds: Because this is the high tourist season, there tend to be more people in the water. However, the variety of surf spots in Santa Teresa helps spread out the crowd.

Wet Season (May to November)

• Wave Size: During the wet season, the wave size increases, with swells ranging from 4 to 8 feet and occasionally reaching larger sizes during strong south swells. This is especially true from June to August when the surf is at its most powerful. The larger waves attract more experienced surfers, while beginners might find the conditions more challenging.
• Conditions: More frequent rain, especially in the afternoons, and the occasional storm. Mornings are often glassy, but the winds can shift onshore in the afternoon, creating less favorable surf conditions. Despite the rainy weather, the waves during this season are more consistent and powerful, particularly due to the larger south and southwest swells that roll in from the Pacific.
• Crowds: Fewer tourists visit Santa Teresa during the wet season, meaning the lineup is less crowded. Surfers looking for bigger, more challenging waves tend to enjoy this time of year.

No matter the season, surfing in Santa Teresa can be an epic experience for every level of surfer, due to its consistent swell and variety of breaks.

FAQs: Planning Your Trip to Costa Rica

What do I need to enter the country? 

You need a valid passport to enter Costa Rica and proof of a return ticket. Note that your passport must have at least three months remaining before the expiration date to be valid.

What is the currency? 

Costa Rica uses two currencies – the US Dollar and the Costa Rican Colon. Both are accepted everywhere in Costa Rica, so you don’t need to exchange money at the airport. If you need cash, there are at least four ATM machines in Santa Teresa. The exchange rate is approximately 520 Colones to $1 USD (check current rates). Most shops and restaurants now accept Visa and MasterCard, but it is best to always have some cash on hand.

What should I pack? 

Costa Rica gets quite hot, so breathable, light fabrics are advised. Don’t pack too much, because you will find that most outfits are very versatile. For women, a light, sleeveless sundress that works day and night is highly recommended (you may live in this!). If you plan to practice yoga, bring yoga clothes for hot temperatures (most studios will provide yoga mats). Flip-flops and/or sandals are the best footwear, and athletic shoes are recommended for adventures like a canopy/zip line tour or horseback riding. Also don’t forget to pack sunglasses, a hat for sun protection, a small flashlight, and a water bottle. Sunblock and mosquito repellent can easily be purchased in town, or you can bring your own. In the wet season, also bring a pair of long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and a rain jacket. 

Are there beginner surf breaks in Santa Teresa? 

Yes! The breaks at Playa Carmen, Cabuya, and Playa Hermosa are well-known as ideal for beginners. If you join a surf camp in Santa Teresa, your instructors will likely take you to one of these amazing breaks for your surf lessons. 

Costa Rica is one of the best places in the world to surf. The Pura Vida Adventures team is committed to finding the nearest and best places to surf each day in Santa Teresa, so you don’t have to do any scouting. Book one of our women’s only or coed retreats to check surfing off your bucket list.