Tamarindo and Santa Teresa are two beautiful beach towns in Costa Rica that are popular among surfers. Tamarindo is a well-developed, touristy, happening surf town with excellent water waves that suit all kinds and levels of surfers. On the other hand, Santa Teresa is a bit less developed and offers a more relaxed, laid-back atmosphere with beautiful beaches.
Tamarindo is a better option if you have kids because there are more fun activities around that are suitable for kids, while Santa Teresa is for digital nomads or solo travellers who want a calm and tranquil place.
As avid travellers who have toured many Costa Rican terrains and provinces, my husband and I have visited Tamarindo and Santa Teresa several times, and there is something unique about these two beach towns.
From the food, atmosphere, local culture, cost of living, nightlife, beaches, and others. Both towns are individually unique and different in their rights.
Making the comparison about which town is better is sort of a hard one for me, however, because you want answers to help you know how to plan your trips in Costa Rica properly.
I have provided detailed information about these two towns to help you make an informed decision when planning your travel itinerary.
Key Takeaways
- Tamarindo Beach is the best surf spot for beginners.
- Santa Teresa Beach is the perfect option for advanced surfers.
- The cost of living is slightly higher in Santa Teresa than in Tamarindo.
- Tamarindo is the liveliest beach town on the west coast of Costa Rica.
- The food in both towns is excellent. However, Tamarindo offers more dining options, from international to local cuisines.
- The road to Tamarindo is easier to access than that to Santa Teresa.
- ATV bike tours are best done and enjoyed in Santa Teresa.
- There is more nightlife in Tamarindo than in Santa Teresa.
Location of Tamarindo vs Santa Teresa
Tamarindo is located in the Santa Cruz District on the Nicoya Peninsula of the Northern Guanacaste Province.
Santa Teresa, on the other hand, is located in Puntarenas Province on the Nicoya Peninsula.
Getting to Tamarindo vs Santa Teresa
Tamarindo is very accessible because of the well-maintained, paved roads that link to the nearest airport, Liberia International Airport.
To get to Tamarindo, it takes an hour and a half to drive from Liberia International Airport and four and a half hours to drive from San Jose International Airport.
Santa Teresa is a remote village, so driving there is trickier, and it has many options that may not be easy to navigate but are fun if you are adventurous.
The first option is, if you are coming from the San Jose International Airport, you will drive two hours to Puntarenas to catch a ferry to Paquera, which takes an hour or more, and then when you arrive, take an hour’s drive on a partly paved and unpaved road to Santa Teresa. In total, this should take you six hours.
The second option is to drive all the way from San Jose to Santa Teresa, which will take about six hours. So ensure that you fill up your tank in Cobano.
You can also drive from Liberia International Airport, but this means you have to get to Santa Cruz first and then divert to Route 21, which then takes you to Santa Teresa.
Ensure you fill up your tank at Cobano and use a 4×4 vehicle.
The third option, which is my best, is to take a 30-minute domestic flight from San Jose or Liberia International Airport to Cobano Airport and then drive 30 minutes to Santa Teresa.
General Vibe of Tamarindo vs Santa Teresa
The first time I arrived in Tamarindo, I thought I was back home in the United States of America because of how busy and developed this surf town is. There were so many high rises that I least expected for a small town in a small Central American country, but it felt good.
Tamarindo is a lively town and the most energetic I have visited on the Costa Rican west coast. It is full of travelers, especially youngsters, during the peak tourist season. (December to April).
And as you step into the streets, you will see lots of fantastic shops and supermarkets selling beautiful stuff. The food is incredibly delicious, too, the surf is great, and the sunset is spectacular to watch.
One thing you should know for sure is that Tamarindo is not a sleepy town. So you can wake up at any time of the day, grab some barbecue, and probably join the street parties.
Santa Teresa is nothing like Tamarindo; however, it has lots of the basic amenities you would need when visiting, like an ATM, a supermarket, a bank, restaurants, etc., except for a missing gas station, which you will need a 30-minute drive to the nearest gas station in Cobano.
One thing you will also notice when driving through the streets of this beach town are the colorful surfboards outside every door and the ATVs flaring up and down the road during the day. However, at night, the streets are quieter.
Accommodation Option for Tamarindo vs Santa Teresa
TAMARINDO
Tamarindo has a lot of accommodation options that suit all levels of budget and lifestyle. However, the only downside is that the accommodation options, from hotels to Airbnb, are always fully booked, especially during the peak tourist season (December to April)
So I would advise you to book in advance, probably two to three months before arrival. Rooms are around $30 to $150 per night.
Here are some of the hotels in Tamarindo:
Hotel Diria: Located in the center of Tamarindo, this is one of the top hotels. It offers well-suited rooms with private bathrooms and balconies, an outdoor swimming pool, a bar, and a restaurant, among other amenities.
Hotel Capitán Suizo: If you need an ocean view, this hotel is for you. It is located on the Langosta beach and offers well-suited rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant, and a bar.
Hotel Arco Iris is 500 meters from the Tamarindo beach and offers gourmet dishes, an outdoor swimming pool, lush tropical gardens, free wifi, and a minibar. A night costs $112
Ten North Hotel is a three-minute walk from the Tamarindo beach. It offers various accommodation types that suit different travellers, mini refrigerators in the rooms, a living room and kitchen section, free wifi, arranged boat cruises, an outdoor swimming pool, and many more. A night cost $89.
Villas Macondo is a 3-minute walk from the Tamarindo beach and offers an outdoor swimming pool, fully air-conditioned rooms, free wifi, free parking, and tropical garden views.
Best Western is a five-minute walk from the Tamarindo beachfront and offers an outdoor pool, fitness centre, breakfast, ocean views, and a night for $99
SANTA TERESA
Like Tamarindo, there are many accommodation options ranging from villas, hostels, Airbnb (not much, though), and standard and luxury hotels that are mostly fully booked. So you have to book ahead to beat the peak tourist season.
With prices ranging from $40 to $200 per night, you will find what fits your budget and lifestyle.
Here are some of the hotels in Santa Teresa:
Venture Santa Teresa is located 400 meters from the Santa Teresa beach. The 4-star hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, free wifi, a swimming pool, free parking, and balconies for an ocean view. A night cost $60 at the time of writing.
Casa Cecilia Beach Front is located 400 meters from Santa Teresa Beach. The 3-star hotel offers a garden view, free parking, fully air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, a barbecue spot, and breakfast with Continental, American, and Vegan options. A night cost $122.
Banana Beach Bungalow is located on the Santa Teresa beach and offers seven bungalows, a swimming pool, a restaurant, and a live band. A night cost $150
Florblanca Resort is a luxury resort in Santa Teresa and offers one- and two-bedroom ocean-view villas, gardens, a spa, outdoor showers, and yoga classes. A night cost $400.
Lua Villas is a boutique hotel with apartments, and a five-minute walk from the Playa Hermosa surf spit gets you here. A night cost $75.
Cost of Living in Tamarindo vs Santa Teresa
The cost of living in both towns varies greatly, with Santa Teresa being more expensive for food and accommodation.
Tamarindo is already a touristy town. Hence, it offers an array of options whenever you want to buy something because there is high competition among the food vendors and hotel owners.
So you have to choose what suits your budget and lifestyle.
Santa Teresa provides this, but not on the same scale as Tamarindo. You may be paying 20–50% higher than in Tamarindo. For instance, renting a surf board costs $10 per day in Tamarindo and $15 per day in Santa Teresa.
Food in Tamarindo vs. Santa Teresa
In Tamarindo, restaurants offer a wide variety of foods, from international to local cuisines. So, you have many options to satisfy your taste buds.
Santa Teresa has fewer options because the restaurants focus more on freshly made cuisines. This is where you will find a lot of Costa Rican “Casados,” beans, rice, chicken, and vegan options.
The good side is that most of the local restaurants’ menus are cheaper compared to other parts of the country.
Nightlife in Tamarindo vs. Santa Teresa
Tamarindo is undoubtedly one of the most happening surf towns in this part of the world, so the nightlife is always lively and diverse.
It usually starts with experiencing an incredible sunset at the beachside over drinks with friends and other tourists. Then you move to restaurants in town to grab a bite of some delicious meals, and then probably move to a street party, nightclub, or event center to wrap up the evening.
And you can never feel exhausted because Tamarindo is not a sleepy town.
In Santa Teresa, the nightlife is more chilled and repressed. The evenings are relaxed and peaceful, perfect for a romantic experience.
You can either sit at some of the roadside bars and watch the movement of ATVs over chilled drinks or visit the beach to have a quiet time and experience nature.
Most people visit the beachfront in the evening for yoga and wellness retreats.
Beaches in Tamarindo vs Santa Teresa
Tamarindo Beach is a gorgeous tan sandy beach that you can walk on, play volleyball, run throughout its length and width, swim in the sparkling white water, surf in the beginner-friendly water waves, and rent a beach chair with umbrellas from the locals to have a good time.
The only downside is that there are no facilities where you can shower or change your clothes on the beach.
In Santa Teresa, there are many beaches; however, they are mainly laid back, unlike the Tamarindo beach.
The main beach is Santa Teresa, where everyone goes. You can walk on the tan sand, relax in the sun, swim in the ocean, and surf. The best part, for me, is the ATV tours on the beach sand.
Shopping in Tamarindo vs Santa Teresa
One good thing I love about both towns regarding the shopping experience is the quality and price of goods in the local stores. However, there are variations in the number of stores in Tamarindo and Santa Teresa.
In Tamarindo, you can find many shops and supermarkets selling various products, including clothes, jewelry, dairy products, shoes, sunglasses, and hats.
Santa Teresa has limited shopping options. To purchase basic household items, you must drive to the nearby town of Carmen, where there are well-stocked supermarkets.
In Santa Teresa, you will mostly see shops selling or renting ATVs, surfing boards and equipment.
Surfing in Tamarindo vs Santa Teresa
Tamarindo is a happening surf town and a paradise for surfers, especially beginners, because the waves are gentle.
Santa Teresa, on the other hand, has stronger waves and is best for more advanced and experienced surfers. However, you can still surf on beginner-friendly beaches like Playa Hermosa, which is 3 km away from Santa Teresa Beach.
The good thing about Tamarindo and Santa Teresa beaches is that they offer incredible sunsets, especially in Tamarindo. Imagine surfing when the sun is setting—magical!
And you can quickly learn how to surf in a week because there are ready-made surf schools in the area.
Things to do in Tamarindo vs Santa Teresa
Horseback Riding
Go horseback riding on the Tamarindo and Santa Teresa beachfronts. For me, I loved the Tamarindo’s horseback riding more because of how lively the horses were and their ability to listen to physical cues.
The most magical part is the cowboy riding in the sunset, which makes you feel it should cost about $30–$80 for at least a two-hour ride.
Fishing
Tamarindo and Santa Teresa were predominantly fishing villages before they became tourist towns. However, you can still participate in fishing activities to catch tuna, snapper, and other fish.
ATV Tours
If you want an explosive, mind-blowing, adrenalin-pumping experience when visiting Tamarindo or Santa Teresa, go on an ATV tour.
I loved the one at Santa Teresa very much because I was able to explore viewpoints and waterfalls while riding through back roads and the countryside. This could take almost the whole day, but it’s worth it.
Yoga and Wellness Retreats
If you need some soul-searching or you want to sit in a quiet spot and clear your mind, then try out some of the yoga and wellness retreats in both towns.
However, the ones in Santa Teresa are calmer and more serene compared to Tamarindo. And there are also yoga classes for beginners.
Conclusion
The decision to choose between Tamarindo and Santa Teresa depends on your personal preference and travel itinerary.
If you want something more lively with a variety of places to go, activities to participate in, and things to try (whether local or international), visit Tamarindo. However, if you are looking for a relaxed, adventurous surf town, then Santa Teresa is the best option for you.
Whichever you choose, enjoy!
About Michelle Schmidt
Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!
