San Jose to Santa Teresa Beach tickets

How to get from San Jose to Santa Teresa Beach 

After living it up in the thriving city of San Jose, move on to a quieter Costa Rican adventure with picturesque scenery and diverse wildlife.

Santa Teresa Beach is the perfect destination to satisfy your need for magnificent scenery, a welcoming atmosphere, and idyllic beaches for unwinding.

You can take a bus, car, or minivan for the first part of the journey, but you’ll need to take a ferry across the stunning waters of the Gulf of Nicoya to reach your final destination.

Is Santa Teresa Beach worth visiting?

It sure is! Nestled on the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula on Costa Rica’s northern peninsula, Santa Teresa is far from the airports and city lights, making it an excellent spot for anyone seeking an escape from urbanized life.

Recently, the area has experienced a significant boom in development thanks to a burgeoning expat community. But thankfully, this hasn’t ruined its tranquil atmosphere.

Famous for its epic surfing spots, Santa Teresa is worth visiting just for the various beaches, all a short walk or ride away from the main town, where you’ll likely be staying.

Unmissable activities to do in Santa Teresa Beach

Despite being a relatively small area, there are still many unforgettable things to do when visiting Santa Teresa. Set aside time to:

1. Learn to surf: There is no better place on earth to learn to surf than in this serene environment with fantastic surf for all levels.
   
   

2. Beach-hop: Playa Carmen is the main beach closest to town; Playa Santa Teresa has lots of restaurants to choose from; and Playa Hermosa is an idyllic getaway off-the-beaten-track. However, riptides and waves make Santa Teresa a tough place to swim safely, so stay in the shallows.
   
   

3. Book a day trip to Tortuga Island: This destination is straight out of Pirates of the Caribbean, thanks to its stunning white-sand beaches and clear waters. Spend the day snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming before dragging yourself back to the mainland for an evening of sipping cocktails with a sea view.
   
   

4. Swim in the tide pools: While the beaches aren’t the safest option for swimming, there are tons of rocky spots around town where the crashing waves fill the holes with water during low tide. Santa Teresa Tide Pool is a popular spot because it's possible to snorkel. Bring water shoes to protect your feet from the sharp rocks!
   
   

5. Explore the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve: A popular hiking spot, this conservation area has a surplus of natural beauty that protects both land and marine zones. Bring your camera to capture some spectacular shots!
   
   

6. Visit Montezuma: Montezuma is a fantastic destination for an adventurous day out. Check out the beautiful waterfall, zipline course, and, of course, more scenic beaches from which to snorkel and surf.
   
   

How do I get from San Jose to Santa Teresa Beach?

When traveling the 122 kilometers (76.3 miles) between San Jose and Santa Teresa, you have a few choices for land travel, including a minivan, bus, or private SUV. Additionally, each option requires a short ferry journey across the Gulf of Nicoya.

By van and ferry

Opting for a van means you’ll be picked up from your hotel of choice in San Jose and taken to the Paquera Ferry Terminal to take a ferry to the Punta Arenas Ferry Terminal. Once you’ve crossed the water, another minivan will be ready to take you to your chosen hotel in Santa Teresa.

This option takes five to six hours.

Amenities for this option include:

You can hire a private minivan if you’re traveling in a small group.

By bus and ferry

The bus option is more of a 4x4 than a bus.

For this option, you’ll be picked up at the hotel and driven to Playa Herradura. There, you’ll take a ferry to Montezuma before being dropped off at any hotel in Santa Teresa.

Taking a bus and then a ferry will take around four hours and 15 minutes to reach Santa Teresa Beach, costing around $200.

Amenities for this option include:

By minivan transfer

When taking a minivan, travelers can choose between booking a single seat in a shuttle minivan transfer or hiring a private one for a little extra privacy.

Both minivan options will cross the Gulf on the ferry and immediately depart for your chosen hotel drop-off in Santa Teresa.

Depending on your choice, the journey time will take between 4 and 6 hours to arrive. 

A private or shuttle minivan option includes pick-up from your hotel in San Jose. 

Although a little more expensive than the other options, a private minivan is ideal for people traveling in medium to large groups who want to stay together and split travel costs. A shuttle minivan is great for solo travelers eager to make friends on the journey.

Possible private minivan transfer amenities include: 

By private SUV

The SUV option is ideal for people traveling in groups of up to four. You can arrange to get picked up from the San Jose Airport or a hotel before driving to the ferry crossing. Once you’ve crossed, the SUV will drop passengers off at their chosen hotels.

Amenities include:

The best things about the journey from San Jose to Santa Teresa Beach

You’ll want to snag a window seat to enjoy this short ferry ride across the Gulf of Nicoya. It takes passengers past numerous smaller islands beautified by their lush green landscapes, an earmark of Costa Rica’s rich natural beauty.

The driving sections are duller than the sweeping vistas during your short hop over the water. Still, you’ll witness lovely views of the verdant jungle and glimpses of local life as the car passes through various smaller towns.

When is the best time to visit Santa Teresa?

The best time to visit Santa Teresa is during the winter months between December and March. These months bring the warmest and driest weather.

The rainy season spans from May to November and brings regular rainstorms, which can be unpredictable. However, these storms often come in brief evening spells, and with accommodation costs dipping during this time, it’s worth the price of missing a couple of sunsets for an unbeatable vacation to Santa Teresa.

How many days should I spend at Santa Teresa Beach?

Set aside at least three nights to enjoy Santa Teresa. Once you arrive, it’s almost impossible to tear yourself away from its serene shores.

Some people go to Santa Teresa and never leave, so you may want to spend some extra time decompressing at this famous Blue Zone destination.

Where should I go after Santa Teresa Beach?

Refreshed by the dose of Vitamin D from Santa Teresa, it’s time to adventure into the eco-diverse landscapes of Costa Rica.

Move onto La Fortuna, where you’ll marvel at the abundant natural beauty while using the small town as a gateway to explore Arenal Volcano National Park.