How Many Days Do You Need in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica?

If you’re asking us how long you should stay in Santa Teresa, our answer for most first-time visitors is:

Five days.

You can absolutely experience Santa Teresa in two or three days.

And if surfing, relaxing or spending time at the beach is one of the main reasons for your Costa Rica trip, staying a full week is even better.

But there’s something important to understand before building your itinerary:

Santa Teresa isn’t really a sightseeing destination.

You aren’t coming here with 15 monuments to check off a list.

You surf.

You explore.

You eat.

You spend longer than expected at the beach.

You watch the sunset.

You get tired from surfing and decide that a massage sounds better than whatever you originally planned.

That’s kind of the point.

We’ve seen plenty of visitors make the same mistake: they arrive with every morning and afternoon already scheduled before they’ve even experienced the town.

Here’s how we’d actually spend 2-3, 5 or 7 days in Santa Teresa.

The Quick Answer

Santa Teresa Itineraries at a Glance

Before Planning Anything: Understand the Rhythm of Santa Teresa

One of the best ways to enjoy Santa Teresa is to organize your trip around the natural rhythm of the town instead of fighting it.

A pretty normal day here looks something like this.

5:30-6:00 AM - Wake Up With the Sun

A lot of people wake up early here.

You stretch.

Move around a little.

Make some coffee.

And if you’re surfing, start getting ready for the ocean.

Santa Teresa becomes active surprisingly early.

Morning - Surf, Move, Then Eat

For many locals and visitors, morning revolves around surfing, exercising, yoga or simply getting outside before the heat builds.

And after surfing?

Gallo pinto.

Ask a Costa Rican what tastes good when you’re starving after a morning in the ocean and there’s a pretty good chance gallo pinto will be involved. Gallo Pinto is a mix of rice and beans typically served with eggs, plantain and hand made tortillas. However you can choose what you get with your gallo pinto like eggs, breakfast sausage (salchichon), meat and chicken. You can also add avocado and sour cream at most sodas.

Whatever you want with it.

There are few better ways to start the day.

Midday - Slow Down

Santa Teresa gets hot.

This isn’t necessarily the part of the day we’d choose for walking six kilometers around town trying to see everything.

Have lunch.

Get in the pool.

Hang at your accommodation.

Take a nap after surfing.

Book a massage.

Let the day slow down.

2:00-3:00 PM - Town Starts Waking Up Again

As the afternoon gets a little cooler, people start moving again.

Another surf.

Beach.

Coffee.

Shopping.

Drive somewhere.

And by late afternoon, everybody starts thinking about sunset.

Sunset Is Basically a Religious Event Here

We’re only half joking.

By around 5 PM, you’ll notice people heading toward the beach.

Surfers start coming out of the water.

Friends meet up.

People bring drinks.

Dogs are running around.

Everybody slows down for the end of the day.

Having traveled around Costa Rica and plenty of other places, Santa Teresa sunsets are still some of our favorites anywhere.

If you live here, sunset becomes part of the reason you live here.

Evening

After sunset, most people head home.

Shower.

Relax.

Then go out for dinner.

If you feel like going for drinks or dancing afterward, you can.

If not, plenty of people are in bed around 10 PM because tomorrow starts again at sunrise.

That’s the rhythm.

And our itineraries are designed around it.

2-3 Days in Santa Teresa

If you only have two or three days, don’t try to experience absolutely everything.

What you choose should depend heavily on why you came to Santa Teresa in the first place.

Someone obsessed with surfing should spend their time differently from somebody dreaming about a boat trip.

The goal is not checking every activity off a list.

The goal is leaving feeling like you actually experienced the place.

Day 1 - Arrive, Drop Your Bags and Go to the Beach

Most accommodations check guests in around 2-3 PM.

Perfect.

Don’t book an excursion.

Don’t try to squeeze three activities into your arrival afternoon.

Put your bags down.

Change.

Go see the ocean.

Your First Santa Teresa Sunset

If your villa or hotel has an incredible ocean view, watching from there can be beautiful.

But for your very first sunset?

We’d still go down to the beach.

You’ll immediately see something about the culture of Santa Teresa that isn’t obvious online.

Sunset brings everybody together.

First Night - Dinner at SARGO

After sunset, head home, clean yourself up and have a proper first dinner.

One of our favorite recommendations is SARGO.

Santa Teresa has an unusually good restaurant scene for a town this size, and starting your trip with fresh food and a good dinner sets the tone nicely.

After that?

Go home if you’re tired.

Or go out for drinks maybe find some live events in our weekly calendar.

Day 2 - Surf

If you’ve never surfed before, Santa Teresa is a pretty good place to change that. We suggest surfing just because it's the most popular activity in town but you can definitely change this for a different activity like zip lining, horseback riding, nature hiking, fishing and many others.

Book a lesson.

But here’s something we wouldn’t obsess over:

Don’t insist on a specific lesson time months beforehand.

Surfing depends on:

• Tide
• Swell
• Wind
• Your experience
• Conditions at the different breaks

A good local instructor should tell you where and when conditions make the most sense.

After Surfing - Get a Proper Breakfast

This is where that gallo pinto we mentioned earlier starts sounding pretty good.

Surfing makes people hungry.

Have breakfast.

Take your time.

Afternoon - Massage + Chill

Especially after your first surf lesson, this is a great time to book a massage.

You can:

• Visit a spa
• Have a therapist come to your villa
• Add sauna or cold-plunge experiences
• Try yoga
• Join a breathwork session

Or simply do absolutely nothing.

Pool.

Beach.

Nap.

Hammock.

All valid.

What If You Have a Third Day?

This is where we’d personalize the itinerary instead of pretending one activity works for everybody.

Surf Again

If yesterday’s session got you hooked, do another lesson.

Beach Day

Sleep in and don’t schedule anything.

Wellness

Move the massage to your final afternoon and give yourself a proper recovery day.

Boat Experience

If going out on the ocean is one of the things you came specifically to Costa Rica for, absolutely do it.

We wouldn’t tell somebody who loves boats to skip it just because they’re only here three days.

Your itinerary should match you, not us.

5 Days in Santa Teresa - The Sweet Spot

This is what we’d recommend for most first-time visitors.

Five days gives you time to experience Santa Teresa and understand the town a little bit.

Now transportation becomes much more important.

Day 1 - Arrival + Sunset + SARGO

Same rule.

Don’t overcomplicate arrival.

Check in.

Head down to the beach.

Watch the sunset.

Then have dinner.

Our first-night pick: SARGO.

Day 2 - Ocean Day

For a five-day trip, we’d put a boat experience either near the beginning or at the very end.

There’s a practical reason for that.

If you’re planning to rent an ATV for several days:

Why pay for an ATV that’s sitting unused while you’re out on a boat all day?

Do the ocean experience first and have your ATV delivered the following morning.

Or return the ATV the evening before your final boat day.

Our Favorite Ocean Experience: Bioluminescence

If conditions line up, bioluminescence is probably the boat/water experience we’d recommend most strongly in this area.

It’s genuinely unique.

But there’s one important detail:

The moon matters.

A bright full moon makes the bioluminescence harder to see, and tours may not operate around certain moon conditions.

So don’t decide:

“I’m definitely doing bioluminescence on Thursday.”

before checking the moon cycle and availability.

Depending on group size, there are shared and private options.

Other Ocean Options

Fishing

A great choice if you genuinely enjoy being out on the water and fishing.

Whale Watching

Excellent when whales are in season.

Tortuga Island

Tortuga is beautiful.

The boat ride is beautiful.

And depending on conditions you may see dolphins, whales and other marine life.

But we like being honest about one thing:

Don’t go expecting a completely secluded deserted island.

Tortuga has become extremely popular.

Tour operators arrive from several parts of Costa Rica, and some days the island can be quite busy.

We’ve had guests come back saying:

“The tour was great. The boat ride was great. But the secluded paradise wasn’t very secluded.”

That’s fair.

The common snorkeling areas also aren’t necessarily the best snorkeling you’ll find anywhere in Costa Rica.

We’d rather tell you that before you go so you enjoy Tortuga for what it actually is:

a beautiful, popular tourism destination with a fun boat trip attached to it.

Day 3 - The Pura Info Orientation Day

If you didn’t arrive with a rental car, this is when we’d get an ATV.

And instead of immediately booking another organized activity…

Explore.

We think everybody staying five or seven days should give themselves a proper orientation day.

The Local ATV Route We’d Actually Do

Start south.

Head toward Malpais.

Then work your way north along the main road through Santa Teresa.

From Malpais through much of central Santa Teresa, you’ll be driving primarily on pavement.

Don’t rush.

Look at the beach-access roads.

Pull into the ones that look interesting.

See where people are surfing.

Notice where restaurants and businesses are concentrated.

Then keep heading north.

Once You Hit the Dirt Road: Prepare for Dust

The road north eventually becomes much dustier.

And we’re not talking about a tiny amount.

If it’s dry season, bring:

• Sunglasses or eye protection
• A bandana
• Handkerchief
• Scarf

Anything you can comfortably put over your nose and mouth.

You’ll thank us afterward.

It’s dusty.

It’s also fun.

Traffic starts thinning out and the surrounding nature becomes more noticeable.

Continue to Playa Hermosa

Drive at least as far north as Playa Hermosa.

From central Santa Teresa, it’s only around a 15-20 minute drive depending on where you start and road conditions.

Again:

Don’t rush there.

Stop at beach accesses.

Look around.

Explore.

By the time you’ve driven:

Malpais -> Santa Teresa -> Playa Hermosa

you’ve developed a pretty good understanding of the area.

You’ve seen:

• Different beach zones
• Surf spots
• Restaurants
• Shops
• Busier sections
• Quieter sections
• Places you’d like to return to

Why We Recommend Transportation So Strongly

One of the biggest mistakes we see visitors make is assuming they can just walk everywhere.

You can walk.

But Santa Teresa is long.

The greater Santa Teresa/Malpais area stretches for kilometers along one main road.

And it’s hot.

There’s also very limited sidewalk infrastructure.

You might stay in one section of town and think:

“This isn’t really my vibe.”

Then drive two minutes north or south and suddenly find exactly what you were looking for.

That’s why having transportation changes the experience so much.

Day 4 - Surf + Relax + Another Great Dinner

Take your second surf session if you enjoyed the first or any other activity available.

Or spend the morning at whatever beach you discovered during your orientation day.

Then slow down during the heat.

Later, go somewhere good for dinner.

This is another mistake we sometimes see:

Visitors simply walk into whichever restaurant has people sitting inside.

There’s nothing wrong with that.

But Santa Teresa has a pretty incredible food scene and it’s worth exploring intentionally.

Why Santa Teresa Food Is So Good

Santa Teresa has an unusually international population.

And one of the best things that’s come from that is the food.

You can find excellent:

• Costa Rican
• Mediterranean
• Italian
• Argentinian
• Asian-inspired
• Sushi
• Fresh seafood

And often the people preparing a cuisine actually come from the culture that cuisine belongs to.

Add constant access to fresh Pacific seafood and you’ve got a restaurant scene that’s much better than many people expect before arriving.

We’ll go much deeper into this in our Santa Teresa restaurant guide.

Day 5 - Do What You Actually Liked

By Day 5, you don’t need us to tell you exactly what to do anymore.

That’s the goal.

Go back to the beach you discovered.

Surf again.

Get another massage.

Drive somewhere.

Have lunch somewhere you saved during your ATV day.

Or make this your ocean/boat day if you saved it for last.

You’ve started figuring Santa Teresa out.

7 Days in Santa Teresa - Settle Into the Lifestyle

A week lets you stop thinking:

“What do I need to fit in today?”

Now you can actually follow the rhythm of town.

Surf or different activities in the morning.

Rest when it’s hot.

Watch sunset.

Take a day for wellness.

Explore nature.

And leave empty space.

Day 1 - Sunset + SARGO

Same first day.

There is no prize for booking an excursion immediately after check-in.

Beach.

Sunset.

Dinner.

Relax.

Day 2 - Ocean Experience

If moon conditions cooperate:

Bioluminescence would be our first choice.

Otherwise:

• Fishing
• Seasonal whale watching
• Tortuga Island
• Other boating experiences

Then begin your vehicle rental afterward.

Day 3 - Orientation Day

Take the ATV from Malpais to Playa Hermosa.

Explore.

Learn where everything is.

Save places you want to return to.

Bring something for the dust.

Day 4 - Surf Day

Surf.

Eat.

Relax.

Maybe surf again.

You have a week.

Not every day requires a checklist.

Day 5 - Wellness Day

This is something we’d genuinely build into a week here.

Santa Teresa attracts plenty of people interested in:

• Yoga
• Breathwork
• Surfing
• Fitness
• Meditation
• Holistic wellness
• Recovery
• Simply getting away from stressful lives back home

Book a massage.

Do a spa day.

Try sauna and cold plunge.

Book a private yoga session.

Join a group class.

Try breathwork.

Pura Info’s weekly schedule will help travelers see what’s actually happening around town during their stay.

What We’d Do on a Completely Free Sunday

Sleep a little longer.

Coffee.

Maybe some movement or yoga.

Massage.

Sauna/cold plunge.

Slow lunch.

Pool.

Then beach for sunset.

That’s a pretty good day.

Day 6 - Nature or Adventure

Now get outside Santa Teresa for a different perspective.

Horseback Riding

Good if you want an active half-day without sacrificing the whole day.

Ziplining

Fun, easy to fit into the schedule and completely different from surfing.

Cabo Blanco

Better for someone wanting hiking and protected forest.

Curu Wildlife Refuge

A great option if seeing wildlife is one of your Costa Rica priorities.

These longer nature experiences make more sense on a seven-day itinerary because you’re not sacrificing half of a very short Santa Teresa stay to do them.

Day 7 - Repeat Your Favorite Thing

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking:

“It’s our last day, we need one more new activity.”

Maybe you don’t.

Go back to your favorite beach.

Surf again.

Eat at your favorite restaurant.

Get another massage.

Go back somewhere you discovered on your ATV.

Do your boat excursion if you saved it for today.

Or do absolutely nothing.

Being able to repeat something simply because you loved it is one of the advantages of staying a week.

A Week in Santa Teresa Might Look Like

1 ocean/boat experience

2-3 surf sessions

1 exploration day

1 wellness day

1 nature or adventure experience

Plenty of beach time

Great meals

Sunset almost every day

And:

Unscheduled time.

The Biggest Mistake: Overbooking Santa Teresa

Don’t book an activity every morning and afternoon before you arrive.

Weather changes.

Surf changes.

You meet people.

You discover places.

You’re tired one afternoon.

Somebody tells you about an event happening tonight.

You find a beach you don’t want to leave.

Allow that to happen.

Santa Teresa is much better when you leave some room for Santa Teresa.

A Few Local Things First-Time Visitors Should Know

1. Get Some Form of Transportation

This is probably the biggest mistake we see.

Especially on a 5-7 day trip.

Santa Teresa is long, hot and doesn’t have sidewalks everywhere.

Having an ATV, car, bicycle or another form of transportation dramatically expands what you can experience.

2. Drive Slowly

Costa Rican road infrastructure isn’t always what international travelers are used to.

Around Santa Teresa you’ll encounter:

• Pedestrians
• Wildlife!!
• ATVs
• Motorcycles
• Cars parked partly in the road
• Limited sidewalks
• Dust
• Dogs and Cats
• Unexpected traffic

There’s a very simple solution:

Slow down.

You’re on vacation.

Driving slowly gives you time to react and lets you actually look around.

3. Park Completely Off the Road

Parking is limited.

Do your best to get your vehicle completely out of the driving lane.

Leaving half the car sticking into the road is how mirrors get clipped, cars get scratched and traffic gets messy.

4. Don’t Ignore Sunset

We’ve already said it.

We’re saying it again.

Go.

5. Don’t Judge Santa Teresa From the Area Around Your Hotel

Drive around before deciding what you think of town.

Santa Teresa can feel completely different only a few minutes away.

That’s one reason our orientation day is such a big recommendation.

6. Don’t Choose Every Restaurant Randomly

Explore.

Ask.

Try different cuisines.

The international food scene is genuinely one of the things that makes Santa Teresa special.

What About Rainy Season?

If it starts raining, don’t panic and assume your entire day is ruined.

Outside the wettest periods, rain often comes and goes.

Enjoy the cooler air.

Watch how quickly everything becomes greener.

Have some coffee.

Get a massage.

Wait.

There’s a pretty good chance the weather changes again.

And honestly?

Santa Teresa looks the best when everything is green and lush.

So How Long Should You Stay?

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Days Is Enough for Santa Teresa?

Three days gives you a good introduction.

For most first-time visitors, we recommend five days.

Stay a week if you want to combine surfing, nature, wellness, exploration and genuine downtime.

Is 3 Days in Santa Teresa Enough?

Yes.

But personalize those three days around what matters most to you.

A surfer, honeymoon couple and backpacker shouldn’t necessarily follow the exact same itinerary.

Is 5 Days in Santa Teresa Too Long?

No.

We think five days is the sweet spot for a first visit.

Is One Week in Santa Teresa Too Long?

Not if you enjoy surfing, beaches, good food, wellness or slower travel.

A week lets you settle into the town rather than simply visit it.

What Is the Best Boat Tour in Santa Teresa?

If the moon cycle and conditions are right, bioluminescence is one of our favorite experiences in the area because it’s genuinely unusual.

Fishing and seasonal whale watching are also excellent options.

Tortuga Island is beautiful, but travelers should expect a popular tourism destination rather than a completely deserted island.

Do I Need an ATV in Santa Teresa?

Not necessarily for a two-day visit.

For 5-7 days, having transportation can make a very large difference.

Santa Teresa stretches several kilometers and walking in the midday heat isn’t always enjoyable.

Where Should I Explore on an ATV?

For your first orientation ride, we’d go from Malpais in the south through Santa Teresa and north toward Playa Hermosa.

Take your time and explore beach accesses along the way.

What Time Does Santa Teresa Wake Up?

Early.

It’s common to see people waking up around 5:30-6 AM, especially surfers and people taking advantage of cooler morning conditions.

What Time Is Sunset Culture in Santa Teresa?

People generally start making their way toward the beach during the late afternoon.

By around 5 PM, depending on the season, sunset starts becoming part of the evening routine.

Check the exact sunset time during your stay.

What Should I Do During the Hottest Part of the Day?

Slow down.

Have lunch.

Use the pool.

Find a nice shade and take a nap.

Book a massage.

Do a spa treatment.

There’s no reason to spend the hottest hours of the day walking up and down the main road.

Should I Book Everything Before Arriving?

No.

Book important or limited-capacity activities ahead when necessary, but leave flexibility.

Surf conditions, weather, moon cycles and your own energy may change what you actually want to do.

Build Your Own Santa Teresa Trip

These itineraries aren’t rules.

They’re how we’d start planning the trip.

Tell Pura Info:

• How many days you’re staying
• Who you’re traveling with
• Your budget
• Whether you surf
• How adventurous you want to be
• Whether your priority is nightlife or relaxation
• What experiences interest you

We’ll help you organize a trip around what you actually want to do.

Pura Info can help arrange:

• Surf lessons
• Bioluminescence
• Fishing
• Whale watching
• Boat tours
• ATV and vehicle rentals
• Massages
• Spa and wellness
• Yoga
• Horseback riding
• Ziplining
• Nature excursions
• Transportation
• Restaurants
• Accommodation
• Other local experiences

And if your itinerary starts looking way too busy?

We’ll probably tell you to cancel something and go watch the sunset.

Pura vida 🇨🇷🌊