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re you a Montezuma or a Santa Teresa girl at heart? It’s time to find out. We visited these two totally different beach towns in Costa Rica and fell in love with both. Now we’re comparing Montezuma to Santa Teresa –sharing what makes each destination special– so that you can decide which town is perfect for you. Let’s start planning your trip to Costa Rica…
Spoiler Alert: You CAN have it all. As you read, don’t forget that the best Costa Rica itinerary may include spending some time in BOTH of these beach towns – that’s what we chose to do!
Montezuma or Santa Teresa?
This is the question. The answer depends on what you are looking for from your trip to Costa Rica. We spent nine days in Montezuma, and ten in Santa Teresa, just to discover that we loved both destinations for totally different reasons.
Montezuma is MUCH quieter than Santa Teresa. Picture a small beach town with one main road, a few good restaurants, and the most amazing eco hotel in the jungle (keep reading!). On the other hand, Santa Teresa is full of young travelers, unique restaurants, enticing nightlife, and surf shops. Plus, Santa Teresa is bustling with digital nomads staying at amazing places like Outsite. Below we break down the differences between these two beach towns in Costa Rica, and share our best recommendations for what to do in each town.
View of Montezuma Beach
Sunset on Playa Santa Teresa
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Where to Stay in Montezuma
While Montezuma doesn’t have quite as many accommodation options to choose from, there are a few gems in this beach town in Costa Rica. If you choose to stay in Montezuma, Hotel Amor De Mar is the obvious choice.
This beautiful hotel feels alive, set amongst the lush greenery in Montezuma. Amor De Mar is technically not on the beach, but it is oceanfront. Look no further for the best ocean views in all of Montezuma. And of course, we have to mention the natural tide pool that we used every single day during our stay here. There are beautiful lush grounds with hammocks and lounge chairs, and a small restaurant that offers daily breakfast and lunch. For more information on Amor De Mar, check out our full post on the hotel here.
If you decide to stay in Montezuma, don’t forget to read our full Montezuma Travel Guide before you go!
Where to Stay in Santa Teresa
If you want to try out a hostel, Santa Teresa is the place to do it! Two of the most popular are Somos & Selina. Stay in one of these and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a hostel paradise designed specifically for you to meet other young, like minded people.
We are also big fans of Outsite for remote workers, which offers private rooms with shared facilities and a designated coworking space (all included in the price of your stay). There are 3 different Outsite properties offered in Santa Teresa.
Eco Hotel Amor De Mar in Montezuma
Trendy Airbnb in Santa Teresa
Montezuma Beach
Montezuma’s beach is stunning, and much less populated than Santa Teresa’s. There are just a few hotels along this quiet beach – Ylang Ylang Beach Resort is the most luxurious if you want to step out your door and into the sand.
Montezuma beach is not nearly as popular for surfers, so it tends to be a better beach for swimming and relaxing. However, the waves can still get big here and there are some great surf spots within walking distance of town. Ask the locals where they go – chances are most people working in this town surf on their off days!
Depending on the season, you might be one of the only people enjoying Montezuma Beach. But Santa Teresa is the complete opposite.
Santa Teresa Beach
Santa Teresa Beach is for surfers. From sunup to sun down, the water is constantly dotted with surfers swimming out to catch the next wave. Whether you surf or not, you should definitely plan to spend as many sunsets as possible watching the action from the beach. It seems like the entire town of Santa Teresa comes out for sunset. Young travelers and surfers flock to the beach to play games, swim, and watch the amazing sunsets that take place.
This beach has big waves pretty regularly, so you should be a good swimmer. It’s also important to be aware of the surfers while swimming, and try to steer clear from swimming in the most heavily populated areas. There are many expert surfers here, but also many surf schools teaching beginners. This means that there’s no guarantee a surfer will know how to avoid you if they get too close.
Added bonus: Santa Teresa’s beach is full of twenty-something travelers and foreigners who are living and working in Santa Teresa. The beach is HOT, but it’s also dotted with trees that provide nice coverage from the sun if you plan to be out all day. On the weekends, make sure you arrive early to claim your spot in the shade before the beach fills up.
Santa Teresa’s beach and town have a lively vibe, but Montezuma’s vibe is quite different.
Where to Stay in Santa Teresa to be close to the Beach
If you want to be walking distance to the beach in Santa Teresa, Outsite is the place to stay. Outsite’s Santa Teresa – Playa location is just a 2 minute walk to the beach. If you plan to surf, this is the perfect location because you can be first on the beach every morning. Plus, this location has a gorgeous pool, and it’s right on the main street in Santa Teresa’s town. You can walk to everything from here, including the best restaurants and cafes.
If you’ve never heard of Outsite before, check out our full review of this co-living company to learn more: Outsite Review: Is This Coliving Company For You?
Chill & Quiet Montezuma
Busy Surf Town Santa Teresa
Montezuma’s Vibe
Montezuma is a more off the beaten path destination. It’s the most quaint of all the beach towns in Costa Rica. For this reason, we found it to be more authentic than Santa Teresa. What do we mean by that? We met many Costa Ricans during our stay in Montezuma, and got to know the locals who call Montezuma home. We ate very traditional Costa Rican food in the restaurants, and embraced the natural world around us.
In Montezuma, you can explore stunning waterfalls, swim in natural tide pools, and see some of the most unique animal species (monkeys are everywhere here!). Montezuma allows you to experience Costa Rica without the touristy flares. If you decide to check out Montezuma, read our full Montezuma Travel Guide here.
Santa Teresa’s Vibe
On the other hand, Santa Teresa caters to tourists in just about every way imaginable. What was once a quiet surf town has turned into a hotspot for travelers from across the globe, especially digital nomads and expats. Everywhere you look there’s a trendy hostel, restaurant, or surf shop. Santa Teresa gives busy So Cal Surf Town vibes.
There are benefits and drawbacks to Santa Teresa’s vibe. This town is great for shopping, bar hopping, delicious restaurants, and beautiful villas. It feels more like a vacation destination, yet you can try new things (like surfing and yoga) and meet people from across the globe.
There is a lot more happening in Santa Teresa than Montezuma, but it does come at the expense of getting the traditional Costa Rican experience as a traveler. During our time in Santa Teresa, we met other travelers, but didn’t get to know any locals. We enjoyed going out, shopping, and embracing the laid back lifestyle of the surf town, but we didn’t connect with nature or feel a world away from it all, as we did in Montezuma.
Ultimately, both of these beach towns in Costa Rica have completely different vibes, but one is not better than the other. It really just depends on what you’re looking for! If you want a lively atmosphere – Santa Teresa is for you. Alternatively, if you want to embrace nature and escape from crowds– Montezuma is the place to go.
Casual Breakfast in Montezuma
Nice Restaurant in Santa Teresa
Montezuma is Cheaper
If you’re going to compare two beach towns in Costa Rica, you need to consider price. Montezuma is more affordable than Santa Teresa. Restaurants are less plentiful but definitely cheaper. Plus, most of the activities in this town are completely free, like hiking to the famous waterfalls and swimming in tide pools.
Santa Teresa is More Expensive
Alternatively, Santa Teresa is more expensive than Montezuma. Eating out in Santa Teresa cost approximately $15 per person for food, whereas Montezuma was usually $8-10. Drinks were also cheaper in Montezuma, usually just $6-7 compared to Santa Teresa, where they were often upwards of $10. Santa Teresa prices were pretty similar to prices for food and drinks in the U.S., and the shops were no different. Plan to spend $30-60 on clothing pieces like shirts and bikinis, and $20-50 on items like jewelry.
Activities in Santa Teresa were also more expensive. Renting a surf board costs $15 a day or $80 for the week (you can shop around for deals here). Yoga studios and gyms offer daily, weekly, and monthly passes.
For a full cost breakdown, check out our video on How Much Money We Spent In Costa Rica.
Drinks in Montezuma
Jungle Party in Santa Teresa
Montezuma Nightlife
The above heading is a bit deceiving, because Montezuma doesn’t really have nightlife. This is a pretty sleepy town with a lot less energy after dark. Nightlife in Montezuma consists of a small street party with locals playing the drums or strumming on a guitar and 20 or so people milling about. We enjoyed walking around town at night and meeting the Costa Rican people who have always called Montezuma home.
If you’re looking for busy bars, Santa Teresa is better for you.
Santa Teresa Nightlife
Santa Teresa comes alive at night. With SO many restaurants, there is always a happy hour to enjoy and a place to go after dark. The challenge in this town is that specific bars are popular on specific nights of the week. Our best tip is to ask around during the day, while you’re on the beach, or out shopping. You can even ask your restaurant server which spots are good for a specific night of the week.
After staying in Santa Teresa for 10 days, we were just starting to get a feel for how the nightlife scene works. Below we’ve shared what we found on which bars are busy on which nights.
Thursday & Saturday: La Lora Amarilla Disco Bar (across from Somos Hostel)
Friday: try Kooks and Pronto Piccola Italia, two restaurants and bars located across the street from each other. Pronto is located inside a shopping district, which has a cool bar area in the center that gets busy after dark on a Friday night.
Santa Teresa’s Jungle Party
Santa Teresa is also known for hosting Jungle Parties, usually once a week or every other Saturday. These Jungle Parties turn out to be quite an expensive ordeal, because they’re located outside the town center, off in…you guessed it. The jungle. The price for admission is $20 per person if you purchase tickets in advance ($25 at the “door”). Then, you’ll have to get a taxi to the party, and a taxi home.
We decided to see what all the hype was about on a Saturday night. Our shared taxi shuttle to the party cost $8 per person, and the ride took about 25 minutes. On the way home, we chose one of many taxi drivers milling around outside the gates. We thought we’d agreed to a fair price in USD but ended up paying $13 per person for this ride ($80 total). Drinks at the party cost approximately $10 each. If you drink at the party, you’re sure to spend upwards of $50 on this single night out.
If you really like EDM music, bright lights, and meeting fellow travelers, this party is made for you. Most of the Costa Rican locals were organizing the party and selling alcohol, rather than partaking in the festivities. Personally, it felt a bit like a way to get money from tourists – taking everyone far from the town center, setting up a stage in a field, and charging high prices for sub par alcohol.
However, we’re the first to admit that we’re not the biggest drinkers nor partiers, so other people would probably enjoy this experience much more than we did. In terms of safety, it’s probably best not to go to this party (or any, for that matter) alone. If you’re a solo traveler, try to link up with other travelers who plan to go before the night begins. This party is far out in the middle of nowhere. We felt safe with our group of 5 girls, but wouldn’t have enjoyed it alone.
Needless to say, there are no Jungle Parties in Montezuma.
Where to Stay in Montezuma
While Montezuma doesn’t have quite as many accommodation options to choose from, there are a few gems in this beach town in Costa Rica. If you choose to stay in Montezuma, Hotel Amor De Mar is the obvious choice.
This beautiful hotel feels alive, set amongst the lush greenery in Montezuma. Amor De Mar is technically not on the beach, but it is oceanfront. Look no further for the best ocean views in all of Montezuma. And of course, we have to mention the natural tide pool that we used every single day during our stay here. There are beautiful lush grounds with hammocks and lounge chairs, and a small restaurant that offers daily breakfast and lunch. For more information on Amor De Mar, check out our full post on the hotel here.
If you decide to stay in Montezuma, don’t forget to read our full Montezuma Travel Guide before you go!
Montezuma, Costa Rica
Somos House in Santa Teresa
Montezuma’s Town
Enough about the Jungle Party, let’s get back to comparing these two beach towns in Costa Rica. Montezuma’s town center is much smaller than Santa Teresa’s. You can walk the entire strip in just 5 minutes. There is a tiny market with local artists, and 10 or so restaurants in the area.
Santa Teresa’s town is MUCH bigger.
Santa Teresa’s Town
You can drive down the main road in Santa Teresa for 10 minutes straight, and still not reach the end of it. For this reason, you’re more likely to want an ATV or electric scooter rental in Santa Teresa compared to Montezuma. However, Santa Teresa is still VERY walkable. We rented an Airbnb just off the main road and chose not to rent any transportation during our 10 day stay. It was just a short 5 minute walk from the beach entrance, and even less to some of the most popular shops and restaurants.
Both towns are well designed for travelers. Everything you need is within walking distance, whether that be the beach, the grocery store, a yoga studio, surf shop, or restaurant.
When considering whether to stay in Santa Teresa or Montezuma, ask yourself whether you’d prefer to make the more lively town your home base, or the more quaint town. In a perfect world, you could get to know both towns by spending a few nights in each one.
Traditional Breakfast in Montezuma
Delicious Vegan Lunch in Santa Teresa
Restaurants in Montezuma
Restaurants in Montezuma offer more classic Costa Rican food as compared to Santa Teresa. You will find traditional Casados, different types of tacos, and plantains, on just about every menu.
For the best food in Montezuma, we recommend Sano Banano Restaurant in the center of town, for fresh, organic ingredients and a big menu. You should also check out the Butterfly Brewery, where you can see monkeys, birds, and butterflies from your table. This brewery has great food and drinks, and a mission we admire. The owners are currently rebuilding their butterfly sanctuary after it was destroyed by a fallen tree during the pandemic in 2020 — and they could use your support! Plus, the restaurant is perfectly located right by Montezuma’s Waterfall – so it’s the best place to stop for lunch if you’re visiting the falls.
The food in Montezuma was good, but Santa Teresa’s restaurants took the cake.
Restaurants in Santa Teresa
While Montezuma offers traditional Costa Rican dishes, Santa Teresa boasts a seemingly never ending list of trendy restaurants to try. Find cute cafes for coffee and smoothie bowls in the morning. Eat a big salad bowl topped with fish for lunch. And for dinner, you can have whatever your heart desires. Sushi, BBQ, Italian, it’s all within walking distance if you stay just off the main street.
If you like to work from cute coffee shops during the day and later grab happy hour drinks from a lively bar – Santa Teresa is the spot.
We could try to recommend the best food spots in Santa Teresa, but in truth, every single meal we had during our stay here was impressive. Our best recommendation is to simply explore the area you’re staying in and try a variety of restaurants – because each is unique in atmosphere and flavor.
A few of our favorite restaurants in Santa Teresa:
Cafca Cafe – for breakfast & the cutest spot to work from
Ani’s Bowls & Salads – for lunch (I have never seen a bigger salad bowl in my life)
Somos – for happy hour & drinks late at night (honestly this place is great any time of day, including breakfast and lunch. Plus, it doubles as a hostel if you’re looking for somewhere to stay.)
Kook’s BBQ – for dinner & bar atmosphere
If you’re traveling on a budget, our best recommendation is to find accommodation with a full kitchen so that you don’t have to eat out for every meal. We usually ate out once a day during our time in both Montezuma and Santa Teresa, and cooked the rest of our meals in. You can often find local fish by asking around. We asked our servers in both towns and got contact info for fishermen. Then, we enjoyed grilling and cooking together with our group of friends.
Chill Dip in the Tide Pool in Montezuma
Young Travelers in Santa Teresa
Montezuma’s Demographic
When considering whether to stay in Montezuma or Santa Teresa, you’ll want to know what types of travelers visit each destination. Montezuma has a few hostels and many young people ride in on ATVs for the day to visit the waterfall. However, we saw many families and couples during our time in Montezuma, and less solo travelers.
Solo Travel In Montezuma: If you’re a solo traveler, Montezuma isn’t the best place to book an extended stay. That is, if you’re looking to meet a lot of other solo travelers. Because this destination is more remote and sleepy, it’s not as easy to meet fellow travelers.
When I solo traveled, I appreciated being around the hustle and bustle of busier areas and other people. If you want to visit Montezuma solo, we recommend making Santa Teresa your home base and finding fellow travelers who want to visit Montezuma for the day. You can also book set tours to visit the waterfall.
On the other hand, Santa Teresa is a match made in heaven for solo travelers.
Santa Teresa’s Demographic
Santa Teresa is FULL of young people. It seemed like every single person in this surf town was a twenty-something, just like us. There is an exciting energy about this place that’s packed full of travelers from across the globe, each with their own unique interests, skills, and experiences.
In Santa Teresa, you’ll find plenty of people who are visiting for just a week. But there is also a very large population of long term travelers here, embracing the slow travel lifestyle and going steady with Santa Teresa. Many travelers come here, fall in love, and decide to settle down for months at a time.
Solo Travel In Santa Teresa:
If you’re a solo traveler, this is the place to go. We have yet to find a destination as perfectly designed for solo travelers as Santa Teresa. The hostels in this town are trendy and upscale. Most Airbnb properties are beautiful beach villas with private pools. Below we’ve listed some of the best places to stay in Santa Teresa.
Montezuma, Costa Rica
Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
So Which Beach Town In Costa Rica Is For You?
Now that you know all about these two beach towns in Costa Rica, you can decide which is the right fit for you! To be honest, we’re completely smitten with both towns and HIGHLY recommend making time to visit both during your trip to Costa Rica.
Spend a few days in Montezuma and adjust to a slower pace of life, experience authentic Costa Rican culture, and embrace the lush nature that surrounds you. Then, take a short 30 minute shuttle ride to Santa Teresa where you can embrace the young traveler’s vibe, try your hand at surfing, and catch every sunset. Combine both of these destinations to experience some of the very best that the Nicoya Peninsula has to offer.
We promise you’ll be smitten with both of these beach towns in Costa Rica – and you just mind end up wanting to extend your stay to go steady in Santa Teresa or Montezuma. These two destinations are easy on the eyes, and good for the soul.
All our love,
Baggage girls
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