Santa Teresa, the Surfers Pura Vida Paradise in Costa Rica

Arriving in the Puntarenas Province of Costa Rica, I knew it was going to be an unforgettable experience when one of the locals greeted me, saying Pura Vida which means Pure life.  I could see the endless beds of hilly green mountains with flowers bedded so perfectly by nature and the clear turquoise waters on the opposite side. The sounds of exotic birds chirping and monkeys hanging out in the trees. I knew I had reached Paradise!!!

My Surf Sista and I got invited to stay in a beach house located in Santa Teresa, a small town that I didn't know at the times was known for it's stunning surf spots and laid back lifestyle. Initially we hadn't planned to go there but we are pretty adventurous. 

My first day there blew my mind. Strolling along the coast with the warm gentle breeze blowing on us to get to our beach house, we watched horses majestically roam freely wherever they wanted to go. As we got closer, we could hear Reggae music and cheering coming from down the beach. I was so excited to see a local surf competition going on. In that moment, I knew I was in the right place at the right time. 

Especially around this time of year during the non-peaky season because the benefits are: 

1. Lower Costs. During non-peak tourism seasons, the travel and flight expenses are lower.
2. Reduced Crowds. With fewer tourist, popular destinations tend to be less crowded, allowing for a more relaxed and enjoyable experience. 
3. Better Deals. Tourist services, restaurants and shops, may offer better prices and better deals during the off season. 
4. Improved Accessibility. Non peak travel may offer easier access to attractions, sights and popular excursions that may difficult to access during peak times. 
5. More authentic experience. Travelers may have the opportunity to experience local culture and daily life in a more authentic way, away from the crowds of tourist.

Watching surfers ride the waves had me in awe of the skills they were showing. From cross stepping to hanging 10 on the nose, it was very impressive. Some of the waves were bigger than others, but the surfers navigated them with ease. This provided me with insight learning about the favorable spots to catch the best waves, as well as what boards the locals were riding there. It was just awesome seeing all the locals share in the experience, and the energy was electric. 

After the competition, we went to the local surf shop and picked up a 9'2ft, tri-fin long surfboard which was $24 to rent for an entire week. Then finally headed towards our beach cottage that was a beautiful Bohemian themed cottage with a gate and bikes in front to ride. By then we were hungry so we headed back out to a local restaurant where they had the most delicious ceviche with plantain chips. There was a lot of good vibes in the air and I could get a sense of this being a typical day in Santa Teresa. 

Surfing in Santa Teresa 

We chilled for the rest of the evening, sitting seaside on our lawn chairs with some People we'd met before going to bed early. I noticed that after sun down, things winded down becoming pretty quiet and I could see why waking up early the next morning, Surfers were already paddling out before sunrise. Even saw a local group of kids that were going to surf before school. How cool is to have a life like that?

It wasn't even 7 am and I could feel the smoldering heat moving in the air, it was a perfect 85 degrees so I grabbed my surfboard and headed in the direction where the locals were going. The water was the same temp as the air and I sat on my board that day mostly watching the locals, how they conducted their line-up. They were friendly to me, smiling and catching waves with me. The waves were a lot bigger then I expected but they were manageable because they were mushy but had shape unlike my local surf break back home. It was a good challenge. 

By 10:30am, the heat was in full force (and might I add, I love heat, I have no complaints in hot weather but that was something different), I found a tree on the beach that had huge palm leaves decorated into a small tiki hut that I took refuge under. I didn't bring sandals with me so it was too hot to walk back barefoot so I stayed there staring at the Ocean, sleeping a bit and reading a bit until the Sun was setting. By then all the People and the surfing were going back out to an evening surf session. This helped me set up my routine under the tiki hut for an entire week before I ventured around to see what else was going on in the City. I was definitely hooked on that fun wave. 

The Town of Santa Teresa 

Like other Towns I had traveled through in Costa Rica, the Jungle is exposed right up to the beach.  Roads were lightly paved and People wore handkerchiefs covering their nose and mouth when riding an ATV or bike to avoid the dust that stirred up as they traveled. Make sure you stay super hydrated so you won't faint like I did from heat exhaustion and take some really good sandals made for hiking because those roads will wear out your normal flip flops real quick. I saw chickens and roosters walking pleasantly between the various small buildings. It's a very quaint place where I didn't see a lot of activity during the day time but I also remembered that it was the off peak season which I enjoyed. 

The food, the local culture, getting to sit the porch to watch the Sun rise to meditate before walking down the coast to surf and chilling under a tiki hut reading. Even got a chance to be apart of a full Moon festival to celebrate the natural wonder of our Planet, soaking in the atmosphere of the town. I am truly grateful for such an incredible experience and I can't wait to visit again in the future. 

If you plan on traveling there, Hostels vs Hotels is a good post to check out to learn the pros and cons staying in each when traveling. 

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