DESTINATIONS - SANTA TERESA, COSTA RICA

If small town living, big waves and a beautiful beach appeals to you.....so will Santa Teresa. First and foremost, this is a Costa Rican fishing village. Despite the influx of small hotels, the slow pace, the friendly local folks and the remoteness and difficulty in getting to Santa Teresa has allowed for the spirit of small town life to remain unaltered. The biggest attraction is the surf...big, small, beach breaks, reef breaks...its all here.

Tourism is centered around surfing, hiking, beach strolling and sunset hour. You wont find high rises, shopping centers or big night life. In February the locals all look forward to hosting a traditional Costa Rican fiesta known as a tope. Horse lovers, wannabe cowboys; everyone comes out on horseback to show off their horses, sport their new hairdos and to dance merengue all night. And yes, there is bull riding, just like a rodeo. Gringos, kids and grandmas welcome! 

Santa Teresa holds the Bandera Azul, a blue flag awarded for clean beaches, untainted water and regular community beach cleanup events. You can find surf shops, a few stores that sell local merchandise and several small groceries. You wont max out your credit card on big time shopping. You will find tiny little restaurants selling typical Costa Rican beans and rice and little bars that will save you from a big thirst! Santa Teresa is a dying breed; it retains its local dignity but offers a spectacular respite from the more touristy spots.  The beaches, the horseback riding, the fishing, the snoozing on white sand... that’s what its all about in Santa Teresa.

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