Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa is Costa Rica's open secret that's no longer much of a secret—a once-remote beach town that has blossomed into a world-class surf destination with the yoga studios and organic cafés to match. The consistent beach break peaks stretch for miles along the dusty main road, offering waves for all abilities with reliable year-round surf. The sunset sessions, with silhouettes of surfers against orange skies, have become iconic imagery. Development is transforming the area, but the waves remain as consistent as ever, drawing a continuous stream of surf travelers seeking pura vida perfection.
Santa Teresa surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SSW (210°)
- Direction range
- 180° - 250°
- Size range
- 0.6m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.5m - 2m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 16s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ENE (70°)
- Offshore range
- 30° - 110°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- mid
- Optimal range
- 0.3m - 1.5m
Water temp
28°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Difficulty
4/10
Crowd level
6/10
Access: Nicoya Peninsula. Tambor airport closer. Beach town vibes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Santa Teresa?
Santa Teresa is a beach break in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Santa Teresa?
Santa Teresa picks up swell from the S round to the WSW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the SSW. It starts working at around 0.6m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.5 to 2m. Period matters too: aim for 16s or longer, as anything under 12s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Santa Teresa?
An ENE wind is dead offshore at Santa Teresa, and anything from the NNE round to the ESE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 5am to 10am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Santa Teresa?
Santa Teresa is at its best around mid tide, roughly 0.3m to 1.5m on the local chart.
When is the best time of year to surf Santa Teresa?
The most reliable run of swell at Santa Teresa comes Apr to Oct. There's a second window in Nov to Mar too. Year-round waves. Bigger swells April-October.
How cold is the water at Santa Teresa?
The water at Santa Teresa averages around 28°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Santa Teresa good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 4/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. Expect a moderate crowd (6/10) when it's on. Strong rips on bigger days. Growing crowds.
How do I get to Santa Teresa?
The nearest airport on our list is SJO, then it's roughly a 5-hour drive. Nicoya Peninsula. Tambor airport closer. Beach town vibes.
What other surf spots are near Santa Teresa?
The closest breaks we track are Malpais (5.3 km), handy when Santa Teresa isn't working. We track 5 spots around Puntarenas in total.
Best Season
Peak: Apr-Oct
Secondary: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Year-round waves. Bigger swells April-October.
Getting There
👨👩👧👦Family Travel
Nearby Spots
Malpais
🌴 Nicoya Peninsula treasure • Point and beach mix • Bohemian surf vibes
Playa Guiones
🌅 7km of beach break • Yoga surf fusion • Costa Rica consistency
Nosara
🧘 Yoga surf paradise • Mellow beach breaks • Pura vida wellness
Playa Hermosa
🇨🇷 Most consistent break • Heavy hollow tubes • Black sand power
Playa Negra
🖤 Guanacaste's premier left • Consistent reef quality • Urchin territory
Playa Avellanas
🐷 Beach pigs fame • Lola's legendary • Quality upgrade
Plan a trip around Santa Teresa
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