So, you have decided to visit Costa Rica for a surf adventure! Pura Vida Adventures, located in surf mecca Santa Teresa, is the perfect place to do that. Daily surfing right out the door of your beachfront casita and practicing yoga at sunset steps from the water will inevitably be highlights of your luxury retreat. However, you will also have plenty of downtime to rest and recuperate. Read on for some suggestions on what you can do during your free time.

Spa Treatments in Santa Teresa

Enjoy Hotel Tropico Latino’s On-Site Spa, YogaSpa Natural

Enjoy a relaxing body treatment while listening to the sounds of nature.

Take advantage of the lovely spa, Yogaspa Natural, at our host hotel, Tropico Latino. Many people immediately take advantage of the 60-minute relaxation massage included in the retreat. It’s a great way to start the vacation of a lifetime off right! Luckily, the spa has many other rejuvenating experiences to loosen you up and prepare your body for surfing adventures throughout the week. From spa classics such as hot stone massages and facials to special packages such as the Surfers Muscle Relief, we know you will find a way to fill your free time on any given day pleasantly. With the spa just steps away from your room, we recommend treating yourself to multiple massages!

Zip Lining in Montezuma 

Zip Line High Above Waterfalls, While Sharing Treetop Canopies with Wildlife

Sun Trails ziplining tour is so much more than ziplining! While you may have come to Costa Rica for a surf adventure, this experience is memorable in its own right! This waterfall zipline tour takes you through the mountains and jungle. While zipping through the air, you may see howler and capuchin monkeys, scarlet macaws, or iguanas. You can also soak in the natural pools or jump from the top of a waterfall into a swimming hole!

Shop for Gifts

High-Quality Costa Rican Clothing and Jewelry

A trip to Costa Rica wouldn’t be complete without bringing home a little souvenir of your surf adventure. Beyond surfing, Santa Teresa is known for its quality shopping and restaurants. You can find beautiful, handmade fashion and jewelry within walking distance of your hotel room.

You don’t have to venture far for some amazing things to buy! Some of our multi-talented surf instructors create unique, locally made products. Michelle, one of our most seasoned instructors, owns a fashion line called The Girl and The Sea (see our blog post about this remarkable woman and her sexy but functional clothing line here). Guests of PVA are lucky enough to have the opportunity to shop Michelle’s clothing line privately. Priscilla, another excellent instructor, creates luxurious face products, which you can purchase at her store, V Collective. And who better to buy surf bikinis from than a surfer who knows exactly how they should fit? Veronica, who is part of the instructor team, has a shop called Tica Surf Bikinis. It’s worth the effort to stop in at her shop!

Bioluminescence Tour In Tambor

Spend an Evening Kayaking in Bioluminescence 

Have you ever experienced bioluminescence? This magical phenomenon of natural light comes from organisms in the water. A bioluminescence tour is a great experience when you surf earlier in the day and have your afternoon and evening free. A shuttle will pick you up at the hotel mid-afternoon and bring you to a beach near Tambor, where you can experience this natural light show via boat or kayak after sunset. 

Enjoy horseback riding on the beach during sunset.

Horseback Riding in Mal Pais or Manzanillo

Ride in the Surf at Sunset

Horseback riding on the beach is what dreams are made of! Just fifteen minutes away in the town of Mal Pais, a tour traverses along the coast, so you have ocean views throughout your ride. There is also a more involved tour that genuinely gives you a sense of the local landscape. Lovely surf instructor Maya guides this one! Schedule your ride in the afternoon to have an unforgettable expedition through streams, mountains, and pastures, along with a sunset beach ride. It’s nothing short of magical. 

Ocean Sport Fishing

Open Waters, Catching Fish and Adventure

Do you like to go sport fishing? We can organize an adventurous 3-hour fishing tour with the family who runs the popular Mal Pais fish market. All the locals go to this fish market to get the best fresh fish. Your fishing guides know all the right spots to take you to catch fish such as yellowfin tuna and snapper.

Of course, sometimes the best thing to do in your downtime is to grab a book, a hammock or a cocktail and enjoy the tropical landscape of Santa Teresa. Take a moment to breathe and just be. What a perfect way to spend a few free hours between having a surf adventure, doing yoga or exploring the area!