Vibe Check: Santa Teresa vs. Nosara vs. Tamarindo
We have received questions repeatedly about these different areas of Costa Rica. All located in the northwest of the country on the Nicoya peninsula, these are amazing surf spots and very different towns. So, we thought we’d cover the differences between Santa Teresa, Nosara, and Tamarindo. We’ll cover the vibe of the towns, what there is to do, who you’ll find there, and of course a bit about the surf and surf camps!
Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa is the farthest town out on the Nicoya Peninsula here on this list. Although it’s far out there, there is the nearby Cobano airport you can fly into from SJO or Liberia. Good waves and a little bit more raw than Nosara or Tamarindo
The Vibe
Santa Teresa is probably the chillest place on this list. It’s not as developed as the others, but still has plenty to do. There are little beach bars that often have DJ nights or live bands, jungle parties just outside of town, and things to do at night. It was a super chill laid-back town just a decade or so ago, but has grown among international travelers and expats since then.
You’ll find a ton of foreigners here. There are digital nomads, backpackers spending a few weeks or months, surfers (obviously), and a lot of people seeking a wellness vibe. As it’s on the Nicoya peninsula, you will find a crowd that can afford the prices here. Many of the travelers are looking for a place that isn’t quite as developed or tourist as somewhere like Tamarindo.
The overall vibe of Santa Teresa is what I would describe as neo-hippie or perhaps upscale bohemian. It’s not upscale in the sense that you’ll find luxury accommodations and resorts. During the day people are working or spending their time at the beach and in the water, and nighttime sees a lively but chill beach/jungle music and drinks scene.
Things to Do
Santa Teresa is relatively mellow. You won’t find the quantity of tours you’ll see in other places in Costa Rica, but there’s still plenty to do. If you’re looking to meet people, you can head to Kooks Bar, Banana Beach, or El Tercer Ojo. Ranchos Ituana also has full-moon parties and Deep Tuesday parties right on the beach for a DJ and bonfire vibe. Outside of the nightlife and social scene, the most notable thing is the incredible nature to explore.
There are a ton of hikes through jungle down in Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve about an hour away for those who want dense jungle, monkey visits, and birdwatching. Over on the other side of the peninsula is Montezuma waterfalls, a nice little hike where you can also zipline and cliff jump. There are also tons of horseback riding, fishing, and ATV tours available.
The Surf
So what about the surf in Santa Teresa? The main break in town is at Playa Santa Teresa. It’s full of surf camps and rentals. They aren’t the biggest waves, but they can get hollow with the right swell at low tide. The sandbar breaks produce both lefts and rights super consistently.
There are also several nearby breaks at Mal Pais, Playa Hermosa, and Montezuma. These beach breaks offer way less crowds and a variety of conditions. Mal Pais can get well overhead, Playa Hermosa offers nice mushy waves for beginners or longboarders, and Montezuma is home to some solid small beginner waves.
Surf Camps, Rentals, and Lessons
There are tons of surf camps and opportunities for lessons and rentals in Santa Teresa. As far as camps go, Zeneida’s Gardens has to be our top pick. It’s on a ton of our lists, including the best surf camps in Costa Rica. It’s a hippie vibe with plenty of wellness and yoga offerings. They have private and shared dorms, and surf camps for couples!
Another favorite is Santa Teresa Surfing Villa. It’s a beautiful private villa with a pool, three large bedrooms, and incredible views. It’s just a few minutes down to the surf, and they’ve worked extensively with large groups and families. It’s one of our favorite family surf camps in Costa Rica, as well as one of our top surf vacations for families!
As far as lessons and rentals go, there are plenty of options right on the beach! We recommend checking out Mahalo Surf Club near the Blooma Hotel, Del Soul Surf School, or La Oficina del Surf. They all offer private and group lessons as well as rentals by the day or week.
Nosara
Next up is Nosara. Located between Tamarindo and Santa Teresa, it’s a bit more polished than Santa Teresa, but not quite as touristy as Tamarindo to the north. There’s solid waves (more on this in a bit), lots of wellness activities and healthy food, and a calmer nightlife scene.
The Vibe
I would describe the vibe in Nosara as somewhere between Tamarindo and Santa Teresa. It’s a bit of a surf/yoga/wellness vibe like Santa Teresa, but slightly more developed. It isn’t quite as raw as Santa Teresa, and you’ll find a more tranquil health-oriented vibe with slightly older travelers or families.
This doesn’t mean it’s boring by any means; it’s a fun place with plenty of wellness-oriented travelers. The hotels are boutique, there’s plenty of farm-to-table restaurants, and the bars are mellow at night with people chilling. It’s one of the best surf towns in Costa Rica, and a great place for families or those looking for something mellow and healthy.
Things to Do
There are slightly more things to do and tours in Nosara than in Santa Teresa. Most of them, like much of Costa Rica, focus on the incredible nature around. You can SUP or kayak along the mangroves in the river (great for seeing monkeys, crocodiles, and birds), snorkel at nearby San Juanillo Bay, and enjoy some beautiful sunsets down at Playa Guiones.
There’s also the Nosara Biological Reserve right there, as well as the Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary. We recommend going early in the morning to see the howler monkeys, iguanas, and even some anteaters. There’s also the well-known Ostional Wildlife Refuge nearby that oversees turtle nesting and protection during the rainy season.
Finally, you can find plenty of yoga classes in town. There are sunrise sessions, afternoon sessions, and night sessions. It’s a great way to wind down or warm up, depending on when you practice. We’re big fans of yoga for surfers, as it’s a great way to take care of the body!
The Surf
Nosara has a bunch of spots to surf. Our favorite has to be Playa Guiones, located just to the south of town. It’s home to some solid overhead waves in the right season, but also almost always has perfect and smooth small waves on the inside for beginners. It can get crowded, but the mellow wave is one of the best longboard waves in Costa Rica.
Right in town is Playa Nosara, which frankly isn’t the best wave around. It is super accessible though, and is a great place for beginners. The beach break can be rather peaky and full of closeouts, but the whitewater and small inside waves are great to learn on.
Finally, we have Playa Garza and Playa Ostional. Playa Garza gets full of surf schools as the day goes on, but provides nice intermediate waves at the outer reef when the wind isn’t too high. Playa Ostional fires with NW swells and works well with the common SW swells. At high tide you’ll find solid faces and hollow waves for intermediate and advanced surfers.
Surf Camps, Rentals, and Lessons
For surf camps, we recommend checking out Safari Surf School. Located right in town, they have ISA-certified surf coaches, include video analysis, provide breakfast and hosted dinners at local restaurants, and cater to all skill levels. They put people up at various local hotels depending on your needs and can help work within your budget/plans.
For lessons and rentals, the place to go is Nosara Surf Shop in Guiones. They (as far as we saw) have the biggest selection of boards, and also offer rentals and repairs. You can rent here and hop right in the water at Guiones. If you’re looking for something closer to the town of Nosara, check out the legendary Corky Carrol’s Surf School!
Tamarindo
Finally, we have Tamarindo. Definitely the most touristy and biggest of the towns on this list, it’s more of a tiny city than a small town. It’s the most developed, perhaps most expensive, and most “Americanized.”
The Vibe
Tamarindo is maybe the biggest tourist hub in Costa Rica for beachgoers. It’s sometimes referred to as “Tamagringo” (or at least it was when I lived in Costa Rica 20 years ago). You’ll find plenty of international restaurants, people speaking English, and travelers from all over the world.
It’s a big town with plenty of parties and surfers, as well as resorts and all-inclusives. You can also find smaller boutique hotels and steer clear of the main town if you’re looking for something chiller. There are tour operators everywhere, tons of nightlife, and a bunch of amenities you won’t find elsewhere.
As far as nightlife goes, Tamarindo is for sure active. There are a ton of clubs, bars, and live music nearly every night. You might pay more, and it might be more tame than Nosara or Santa Teresa, but you won’t be short of things to do at night if that’s what you’re looking for!
Things to Do
You literally couldn’t do everything offered in Tamarindo if you stayed for a month. There are countless tours available. You can explore the nearby estuaries and mangroves, head to Las Pumas Rescue to see the rescued pumas and jaguars, or go turtle watching. In wet season there are also humpback whale tours.
For those looking for something slightly more adventurous, you can go ziplining at one of the many spots nearby (we recommend Black Stallion), do an ATV tours through the dense jungle, or go SCUBA diving over at Catalina Islands to see the numerous sharks and manta rays!
The Surf
Tamarindo is one of the best places to learn how to surf in our opinion. The main break at Playa Tamarindo is a bit protected from the strong SW swells, keeping it relatively small and mellow. It can get crowded with surf schools and beginners, but its accessibility makes it a prime choice. It’s some of the best beginner surfing in Costa Rica!
For those more advanced, Witch’s Rock is the place to be. It’s a well known spot that can get some small crowds, but can absolutely pump. Playa Grande is about a half hour away as well and my personal favorite wave I’ve surfed in the area. It’s a reef break that produces a solid A-frame for intermediate surfers. It’s also relatively mellow and good for longboarders!
Surf Camps, Rentals, and Lessons
We have to start this section with Iguana Surf Camp. I don’t know if there’s a single surf camp on more lists on our websites. It’s one of the best surf camps for beginners and the best surf vacations for beginners. It’s a staple in town with their full surf shop on-site. They have classes for children, adults, groups, and individuals, as well as lessons and surf camps.
For a budget surf camp, check out La Botella de Leche. It’s economic with the pricing, but not with the offerings. You can get dorm-style accommodations or private housing. Compared to the other surf camps in the area, it’s a seriously good value. They have a pool on site, yoga studio, gym, and kitchen. It’s super close to the break, and they can organize trips to farther breaks for more advanced surfers.
For lessons and rentals, we have to recommend Iguana again. They have a huge selection, certified coaches, and just a ton of offerings. It’s the place to go for any type of rental or lesson in the area in our opinion.
From the Store
How to Choose
So you want to surf in Costa Rica, and it’s time to choose. The waves are relatively similar, with Tamarindo probably being the exception. If you’re looking for more advanced waves, Tamarindo is probably your best bet. If you are a longboarder looking for the best longboard waves, Nosara (and Playa Guiones) is the place to be.
But let’s go back to the vibes. If you want more development, convenience, and paved roads, Tamarindo is your place. This is also true if you want more of an active nightlife and things to do for adults or even families.
If you want something mellow, family-oriented, and healthy, head to Nosara. There’s solid vegan and vegetarian food, restaurants with fresh local food, yoga classes, and mellow (but curated) vibes for individuals, couples, or families.
If you want the most raw and jungly experience possible, Santa Teresa is your place. There’s an active nightlife, you’ll meet tons of other travelers, and steer clear of the more developed towns to the north. Santa Teresa probably has the youngest crowd on the list as well.
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