Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

The beach of Santa Teresa North

Past the dancehall of the Saloon "La Lora" the busy part of Santa Teresa ends. The beaches of Playa Santa Teresa and further north are less crowded and hotels are spread out.

Some of the most luxurious lodgings of Santa Teresa are found here. You can make extensive walks along the scenic, white-sand beaches, bathe in tide pools, or curl up in a beach chair or a hammock strung between swaying palm trees.

Map of Santa Teresa North with Hotels and Vacation House Rentals:

Santa Teresa North: View to the Peñon

The road from Santa Teresa north leads to Playa Hermosa (5 km) an on to Manzanillo (another 4 km). For most of the year it's a bumpy drive but it certainly qualifies as a panoramic road.

2 kms past La Lora you pass by the "Peñon", a sugar loaf shaped rock in the sea. Here the road parallels the picturesque shore. Some 200 m further you can plunge into a large pool which is protected by a reef. Best conditions for snorkeling and bathing are during low tide.

Driving on for another kilometer you get to a junction where a road to your right goes uphill to Santiago. Across the street bear to your left to get down to the beach of Playa Hermosa.

Playa Hermosa, Santa Teresa

Playa Hermosa (Beautiful Beach) lives up to its name: it's the picture perfect tropical beach, wide and sandy, with swaying palm trees and almendros. Swimming is safe as there are no underwater rocks.

So far you mustn't share the beach with too many people but development of Playa Hermosa is on its way.

Coastline north of Santa Teresa

Venturing further towards Manzanillo the coast becomes more rocky and the surroundings look like a tropical fairytale. While driving through the jungle with old trees overgrown with creeping vines you catch magnificent views of shoreline with the serene hills of Guanacaste as a backdrop.

The stretch between Playa Hermosa and Manzanillo isn't actually a legal road because it runs all the way through the maritime zone. The legal road to Manzanillo goes uphill from Playa Hermosa via Santiago. This is also the alternative route when the coastal road is flooded due to extreme high tide.