Ever found a spot so perfect that you thought you might not want to tell anyone about it? That’s the way I felt about these two Costa Rican beach towns. So I’m going to spill it anyway because some experiences are just too good to keep to oneself.
The first time I stepped onto Tamarindo’s golden sand, the Pacific waves crashing a few feet away, palm trees blowing gently in the breeze, I realized I had discovered something special. And when I then traveled to Santa Teresa’s more remote beaches, the same sensation overwhelmed me all over again, but in an entirely different way.
Tamarindo: Where Surf and Scene Collide
Tamarindo is not merely a beach β it’s a vibe. From the moment you step foot onto the venue, you can feel the energy. Surfers paddle out at dawn and joggers trace the shoreline, early risers staking their territory for the day by planting towels on the perfect patch of sand.
The waves here are the real thing. I saw total newbies pop up on their first try (wobbly, but up!) next to veterans of the sport carving through waves as if they had always belonged on a board. Lessons cost around $50 for a two-hour group session, and believe me, that moment you finally catch your first wave? Worth every colΓ³n.
But Tamarindo is not all surf and sand. The town sprang up around that beachy fame. Calle Central is filled with everything from hole-in-the-wall taco joints to high-end seafood restaurants where the catch of the day was swimming earlier that same day. I still dream of the ceviche from a tiny little place called El Chilito β tangy lime, the freshest fish and just enough heat to tingle your lips.
At the close of the day, the sky dazzles even the most jaded traveler into awe. Once I saw people absolutely applaud a sunset here. And the night? It has a pulse of its own. Beach bars hang up lights, music spills onto the sand, and strangers bond over Imperial beers and tales from the road.
How to get there? After landing in Costa Ricaβs capital, San Jose, you can take another 2 hour flight, or opt for a van or bus ride from San Jose to Tamarindo, taking about 5-7 hours.
How to get there? Once you arrive in Costa Ricaβs capital, San JosΓ©, you have a few options for getting to Tamarindo. The fastest way is a domestic flight taking only 2 hours. If you rather not spend over $150 on single flight, you can also book a minivan, or bus from San JosΓ©, which takes about 5 to 7 hours.
Santa Teresa: The Unpaved Road Less Took
About three hours south of Tamarindo, youβll find Santa Teresa. Itβs the mysterious, yoga-loving cousin of Tamarindo who moved off the grid. Getting there is part of the experience β bumpy dirt roads that make you second-guess everything until you hit that last corner and the ocean opens up before you.
This habitat works in slow motion. Mornings may begin with roosters crowing and monkeys chattering in trees that grow right up to the shore. The beach here goes on for miles, usually with only a few people scattered about. The waves are reliable year-round and attract surfers who seek quality without the crowds.
What I found most striking about Santa Teresa was how it marries wellness with wilderness. You’ll discover yoga studios hidden between mango trees and the ocean, with classes priced at around $15. After morning sessions at Horizon Yoga, I was more centered than I had been in months. The sound of the waves became the soundtrack to my meditation β nature’s own white noise machine.
Food is an experience in its own right here. I spent an embarrassing amount of time at The Bakery, which serves coffee as good as anything I’ve had in Seattle and pastries that would make a French baker cry. For dinner, places like Katana offer sushi so fresh you feel as if you were in Tokyo, not a little beach town in Costa Rica.
Nights are quieter than Tamarindo, but no less enchanting. Rather than clubs, think bonfires on the beach, acoustic guitar, and stars so bright and plenty that they make you feel pleasantly small.
Which Beach Calls Your Name?
So who comes out on top in the Tamarindo vs. Santa Teresa showdown? It all entirely depends on what you’re looking for.
Choose Tamarindo if:
- You crave convenience, variety, and a social scene. Fly into Liberia airport and you can be on the beach within an hour.
- For anyone with rusty Spanish, there are creature comforts such as ATMs on every corner and English speakers on staff.
Pick Santa Teresa if:
- You seek something less stylized and are willing to sacrifice a few amenities for peace.
- The trip is longer (about five hours from San JosΓ©), the roads rockier, but the reward is a slice of paradise that feels discovered instead of developed.
Why Choose at All?
Here’s my secret: I didn’t. I spent five days surfing (well, trying to surf) in Tamarindo and meeting people from all over the world. Then I hired a 4×4 (essential for that route) and drove south to Santa Teresa for a week of slowing down and tuning in.
It is the contrast between them, just a stretch of coastline apart, that makes visiting both so rewarding. It’s almost like two vacations in one trip.
Costa Rica has a motto: “Pura Vida.” It means “pure life,” but it represents so much more β it’s a way of life, a philosophy. Nowhere was that lesson more closely felt than on these shores, where the jungle turns to sea and time follows its own sets of rules.
So when are you going? The waves are calling, and believe me β just the first sunset will make the flight worth it.
