Distance 109 km (68.1 miles) | |
Price range US$70-US$813 | |
Ride Duration Range 5h-7h | |
Earliest Departure 06:00 | |
Latest Departure 23:30 | |
Most Popular Operator |
Find up-to-date information on departure times, schedules, and prices so you can easily compare and book your tickets.
Fastest minivan: 5h 30m
Cheapest minivan: US$70
Once you've ticked off one of Costa Rica's most popular destinations, La Fortuna, discover a gem that isn't quite hidden but remains undiscovered by many travelers to this region.
Welcome to Santa Teresa Beach, a tranquil paradise just 213 kilometers (132 miles) from La Fortuna.
To reach this paradisiacal area of Puntarenas province, you can take a minivan, a car, or a van and ferry combination to cover the distance.
With a journey time between five and seven hours, the experience may feel like an unending odyssey. Still, it'll all be worth it after arriving on the serene beaches of Santa Teresa.
Situated on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, Santa Teresa is far from city lights and airport noise that could pollute its tranquility.
Of course, Costa Rica isn't exactly a bustling country. Still, Santa Teresa Beach is one of its most peaceful areas, so it has attracted a thriving expat community that lives alongside the locals.
Despite its popularity among international visitors, the area has retained its raw, untouched feel.
Sunseekers, surfers, and watersports enthusiasts will all fall in love within moments of arriving. Be prepared to find yourself yearning to run away from the real world and set up a home in paradise.
You'll find plenty of delights to explore within the boundaries of Santa Teresa's main town and around its coast. Keep these ideas in mind when planning your itinerary:
Visit Montezuma. This laid-back beach town is a short drive from Santa Teresa, and you'll fall in love with its natural beauty. Spend a day exploring the waterfall and zipping across the trees on their zipline course.
Go surfing. Santa Teresa is a popular destination for both expert and beginner surfers. Regardless of ability, there are plenty of beaches to choose from. If you're a newbie, book a few lessons to master the art before renting a board and setting off into the water to conquer the waves.
Sunbathe and relax in the shallows. Due to riptides and intense waves surrounding Santa Teresa, it's not the best place to swim in the ocean. However, the shallows are equally beautiful, so cool off close to the beach at Playa Carmen, Playa Santa Teresa, or Playa Hermosa.
Explore the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve. This sprawling natural gem is one of Costa Rica's first conservation areas, protecting land and marine zones. Book a full-day trip here to experience the wildlife up close and take an unforgettable hike into the jungle.
Book a day trip to Tortuga Island. Take a leaf from Captain Jack Sparrow's book and explore this spectacular island on a day trip. Home to a stunning white-sand beach and clear waters to swim in, you can go snorkeling and kayaking while marveling at the breathtaking views.
Swim in the tide pools. Although the beaches aren't always suitable for swimming, Santa Teresa has lots of tide pools to swim in instead. These rocky spots get filled with water, allowing you to use them as naturally-made hot tubs. Santa Teresa Tide Pool is a popular spot where you can actually snorkel. Bring water shoes to protect your feet because many sharp rocks hide beneath the surface. Mal Pais Tide Pool is also a popular spot, but it's smaller, so get there early to snag a spot.
You have three options to get from La Fortuna to Santa Teresa Beach: a minivan, a car, and a van and ferry combo ticket.
Thanks to its larger size, a minivan might be the more comfortable option for getting from La Fortuna to Santa Teresa.
You can opt for a private minivan transfer or book a single ticket in a shared minivan.
The transport will pick you up and drop you off at any hotel.
Amenities include:
Air conditioning
English-speaking staff
Water
Rest stops for food and toilet breaks
A 20 kg luggage allowance plus a 7 kg piece of hand luggage
You can bring a surfboard for an extra charge, but the maximum length is six feet.
A child's car seat can be provided free of charge.
Riding in a car from La Fortuna and Santa Teresa will take around five hours.
This option is ideal for people traveling in small groups who want to stick together.
Amenities include:
Air conditioning
English-speaking staff
WiFi access
Rest stops for food and toilet breaks
A 20 kg luggage allowance plus a 7 kg piece of hand luggage
A child car seat can be provided free of charge.
For this option, travelers will get picked up from their hotel in La Fortuna and dropped off at their hotel in Santa Teresa Beach.
The van will drive to the port and then ride on the ferry, so you don't need to change vehicles during the journey. This option takes around seven hours and costs $65.
Possible van and ferry amenities include:
Air conditioning
Reclining seats
Toilet stops
A luggage allowance of 20 kg and one handbag per passenger.
Can take a surfboard for an extra fee.
Child car seat is available free of charge.
This trek isn't the most thrilling journey you'll take while exploring the wondrous country of Costa Rica. However, it'll still be memorable because there is plenty of lush, green scenery to enjoy.
Grab a window seat to watch the world go by as you navigate between main roads, small towns, and winding side roads to Santa Teresa.
You'll also skirt around Lake Arenal, so keep an eye out the window to catch a glimpse of its blue waters before skirting the coast overlooking the Colorado Gulf and then the Gulf of Nicoya for the rest of the drive to Santa Teresa Beach.
For the best weather, visit Santa Teresa in the dry season, from December to April. These months bring consistent warm and dry weather, perfect for surfing, swimming, hiking, and sunbathing.
If you can't handle rain, avoid coming to Santa Teresa in the rainy season from May to November. It's when tropical storms hit, especially in September, which has the highest rainfall.
Book at least three nights to soak up the welcoming atmosphere of Santa Teresa and its surrounding areas.
Use the small town as a jumping-off point to visit all the nearby beauty spots before heading up the coast to find your next adventure.
If you're looking for a longer-term stay for a vacation or as a digital nomad, book at least a few weeks here. You'll fall in love with the atmosphere.
When you can drag yourself away from the intoxicating serenity of Santa Teresa Beach, head across the Gulf of Nicoya to explore San Jose.
It's a vast atmosphere shift, but it's well worth the shock to experience the city's vibrant culture.
Alternatively, head north to Liberia. Although the destination isn't the most fascinating, it's the perfect launching pad to explore the magical parks next door: Santa Rosa National Park and Guanacaste National Park.
Based on 631 reviews from Bookaway users who traveled from La Fortuna to Santa Teresa Beach
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