The secret wasn't well kept. Surfers, raving about the beaches and world class surf in Santa Teresa have drawn the international scene to their new eldorado. Many who just came for a surf vacation in Costa Rica fell in love with Santa Teresa and stayed. The cosmopolitan newcomers add their spices and styles to the local flavor, so that now there is a wide array of hotels, resorts, vacation rentals and dining options available.

Formerly a small village, Santa Teresa has quickly developed into a lively little town, with new cabinas, hotels, and shops that seem to be popping up every day. New services in Santa Teresa include doctors, banks with ATM, car and ATV rentals, and hotels and restaurants with fast wireless internet.

A lot of surfer-oriented hotels, shops and surf instructors cater to the town's main clientele and many people have their first surfing experiences on the beaches of Playa Carmen and Playa Santa Teresa. See: Surf in Santa Teresa and Mal Pais

However, you don't have to be a surfer to enjoy a vacation in Santa Teresa. Venture out to discover some of Costa Rica's most coveted beaches which extend to both sides of Santa Teresa.
A broad strip of forest hugs the shore offering shady hideaways. Views of the beach in Santa Teresa are still undisturbed as there are no high-rise buildings and construction is hidden behind the trees.
Besides beach combing you can also go fishing, snorkeling, kite surfing, horseback riding, or have a canopy tour in Mal Pais on the fringe of the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve.
Several hotels in Santa Teresa offer yoga and pilates, or you might even participate in classes of capoeira, fire dance or acrobatics.

For tours to Montezuma or to Costa Rica's oldest Nature Reserve Cabo Blanco you can rent a car, or get an ATV for an adventurous fun ride.

For sunset most people head to the beach. Those who aren't busy with the surf, congregate on the sand to admire the usual spectacular sunset over the Pacific ocean while making plans for the evening.

Especially in high season there is plenty of nightlife in Santa Teresa. You can dive into the steaming atmosphere of a "Baile" in the dancehall of "La Lora" where often a Costa Rican band plays live music. Or maybe there is a party in a beach bar with some international DJ's spinning electronic dance music.
Very popular with locals and tourists alike are the reggae nights which are so perfectly in tune with the tropical lifestyle.