Fringed by vibrant jungle on one side and pristine surfing beaches on the other, Santa Teresa is a laid-back paradise with an edge-of-the-world vibe. It lies in one of the Earth's five Blue Zones - areas where people live longer and healthier than anywhere else. And it's easy to see why. The slow pace of life and the friendly hippie-surfer locals will catapult you into holiday mode from the moment you bounce into town along the one unpaved road.
What better place, then, to erect three luxurious retreats for recharging the soul? The Santa Teresa villas sit immersed in the jungle on a private, secluded hillside - from which the sea views are astounding. Each is different in size and layout - there's a split-level house for six, a pool villa for four and a romantic treehouse for two - but all share the same indoor-outdoor design and modern decor with gorgeous artwork and installations at every turn. You're very close to the beaches, shops and restaurants of Santa Teresa, but you'd never know it; the villas feel utterly peaceful, private and secluded. Have a massage in your living room, practice yoga on your balcony, or ask your private chef to rustle up a snack, then hit the beach to ride the waves. The pura vida (pure life) indeed.
Highs
- The breathtaking sunsets and sea views from Villas Ebony and Ivory - you might even spot dolphins offshore if you're lucky
- Meandering through town trying to pick from the multitude of excellent cafes and restaurants (over 100)
- Riding the long breaking waves - private surfing instructors can be arranged
- Seeing whales and turtles on the ferry/boat ride into town, as well as monkeys, exotic birds and iguanas from the villas
- Cooking and dining outside to the sounds of the jungle - private chefs are available at all villas
Lows
- The access road can be difficult to navigate during rainy season - renting an ATV or 4x4 is recommended if you're visiting in these months
- The walk up the hill is pretty challenging - not good for those with limited mobility
- Villa Ivory (the treehouse) doesn't have a pool
- Villa Guanacaste is located below the other two properties so doesn't have a sea view
Best time to go
From December to April, Santa Teresa is booming, with sunshine and blue skies all day, every day. From May to November, there are regular heavy downpours and the unpaved roads turn muddy, plus some businesses close, but the jungle is in full bloom, the surf is phenomenal, and you pretty much have the beaches to yourself.
Our top tips
- Boutique Villas
- 3 villas (for 2-8)
- Self-catering (private chef on request)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Walk to beach
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
Rooms
We stayed in stunning Villa Ebony: the jewel in the collection, in our opinions. It's split-level, with flowing indoor-outdoor spaces and soaring double-height ceilings. There are three bedrooms - all doubles - and the living room has a sofabed so eight guests can stay in total. From almost every inch of the house, you can enjoy expansive ocean views. Outside, there's a shady wraparound balcony with an infinity pool beneath it.
Further down the slope lies Villa Guanacaste, a pool villa with two bedrooms. It's all on one level, making it more child-friendly. Due to its location, it lacks the spectacular views of the other properties, but it is closer to town, with easy access to the beach, shops and restaurants.
Villa Ivory is a luxurious treehouse with a romantic open living space. With all-glass walls, it enjoys breathtaking views over the tree canopy on all sides - the bed looks straight out towards the coast. There's an alfresco kitchen and a wraparound balcony with hammocks and loungers, though be aware there is no pool. A perfect honeymoon choice.
All three properties have large, comfortable beds, flat-screen TVs, rain showers, beautiful artwork and tropical bathrooms.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Microwave
- WiFi
Eating
All villas have kitchens for self-catering, plus outdoor cooking areas too - great fun! You can stock up on supplies at the small local supermarket, Super Ronnie, on the main road just five minutes from the property. The owners can also arrange for a private chef to come to the villa if you fancy being treated.
For eating out, Santa Teresa has a wealth of options. We particularly loved The Bakery for mango smoothies, paninis and avocado toast, as well as Pronto for Italian street food served with a smile. Make sure you also sample freshly caught seafood and sushi - it's world-class.
Features include:
- Microwave
- Restaurants nearby
- Self-catering (private chef on request)
Activities
- Santa Teresa is all about wellness, so a private yoga lesson or spa treatment on your balcony is a must. An in-house stylist can also be arranged for pedicures, manicures, haircuts and makeovers.
- Get picked up for a surf lesson by a laid-back local who will take you to the best spots to catch the waves. Playa Hermosa and Playa Carmen have calmer waters making them good beaches for beginners; Santa Teresa tends to have bigger, more powerful waves, so is best for more experienced surfers.
- Hurtle through the treetops like a superhero at the Mal Pais Canopy Tour.
- Visit the dramatic Montezuma Waterfalls and enjoy swimming in the natural jacuzzi pools.
- Gallop along the immense beaches on a sunset horseback riding adventure.
- Go scuba diving with a local guide - sharks, moray eels, lobsters, stingrays, crabs and schools of colourful fish are regular sightings.
- Visit the Cabo Blanco Natural Reserve, the oldest of its kind in Costa Rica, to see birds, animals and impressive flora. Only 40 visitors per day are allowed to enter the reserve so you'll pretty much have the place to yourselves!
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cooking classes
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse riding
- Surfing
- Wildlife
- Yoga
Kids
In general, Costa Rica is paradise for adventurous, nature-loving children who will love ziplining, nature walks and all the watersports on offer. The Santa Teresa Luxury Villas range in size from 1-4 bedrooms, and if you're coming on a multi-family trip you could take two or three together.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
All villas except Ivory (the honeymoon suite) would work for families, and most have sofabeds for additional guests. Villas Ivy and Harmony each have one bedroom that can be set up as a twin.
Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms
Kids Activities nearby:
- Surfing
- Canopy tours and ziplining
- Cycling
- Horseback riding on the beach
- Montezuma Waterfalls
- The Curu Wildlife Refuge
Families Should Know:
Villas Ebony and Ivory have lots of steps and are surrounded by steep slopes - not great for younger children.
Distances:
- Airport: 45-minute drive
- Hospital: 30-minute drive
- Supermarket: Five-minute walk
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
The Santa Teresa Luxury Villas are in Santa Teresa, on the Nicoya Peninsula. They're on the west coast of Costa Rica, a 30-minute flight from the capital city San José.
By Air:
Tambor (30km away) is your closest airport, but if you're coming from abroad you'll fly into San Jose (160km away) or Liberia (210km away). Most guests then take an internal flight to Tambor, which takes around 30 minutes.
By Car:
It’s useful to have a car or ATV here so that you can drive around to local sights, but you can rent one once you arrive. Think twice before doing the drive from San José: it takes six hours, via the ferry from Puntarenas to Paquera (arrive 45 minutes to an hour before the ferry leaves to buy your ticket and get in line), and the last stretch is pretty rough. If you really want to drive it, see our car rental recommendations - we'd recommend getting a 4x4. There's private parking at all villas.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Tambor 30.0 km TMU
- San Jose 160.0 km SJC
Other:
- Beach 1.0 km
- Shops 0.3 km
- Restaurant 0.3 km