Executive Summary
Wondering where to stay in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica? This surf town runs pricier than most, but our vetted list spans from an $18/night budget retreat (Aduana House) to $440/night beachfront luxury (Hotel Nantipa). For the best value, Cuatro Vientos offers a perfect 10.0 rating for just $20/night.
Santa Teresa and Mal País run pricier than most Costa Rican surf towns — see our complete guide for why — but there’s still real range in what’s available. If you are figuring out exactly where to stay Santa Teresa Costa Rica style, here are nine vetted stays from our Expedia shop, sorted by budget.
Quick Reference Guide
| Property | From (per night) | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Aduana House | $18 | 8.0 |
| Cuatro Vientos Costa Rica | $20 | 10.0 |
| Point Break Santa Teresa | $31 | 9.2 |
| Ventura Santa Teresa | $68 | 9.2 |
| Hotel Manalá | $83 | 8.8 |
| Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas | $109 | 8.4 |
| Hotel Santa Teresa by the Beach | $135 | 9.4 |
| Hotel Fermata | $417 | 10.0 |
| Hotel Nantipa – A Tico Beach Experience | $440 | 9.4 |
Budget Stays (under $50/night)
Aduana House — $18/night, 8.0 rating. A 13-room retreat just a five-minute stroll from the beach — the single cheapest option in this list.
Cuatro Vientos Costa Rica — $20/night, 10.0 rating. A small, quiet property near Mal País’ scuba diving boats, with suites that include private kitchens and garden patios. The highest-rated stay on this entire list, budget or otherwise.
Spot: Cuatro Vientos Costa Rica. Note: Tied for the highest-rated stay on our list at a perfect 10.0.
Point Break Santa Teresa — $31/night, 9.2 rating. A peaceful coastal retreat just steps from the beach and a short walk from town — genuinely good value at this price point.
Mid-Range Options ($60–150/night)
If you have a slightly higher budget for your surf trip and are mapping out where to stay Santa Teresa Costa Rica, this tier offers incredible access to the top breaks.
Ventura Santa Teresa — $68/night, 9.2 rating. A modern 4-star hotel that opened in 2023, sitting about 300 meters from Playa Carmen — the beach our surf spots guide recommends most for beginners.
Spot: Ventura Santa Teresa. Location: Just 300 meters from Playa Carmen’s beginner-friendly waves.
Hotel Manalá — $83/night, 8.8 rating. A four-minute stroll from Santa Teresa Beach, with a genuinely unique draw: the surrounding waters are known for bioluminescence after dark.
Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas Santa Teresa — $109/night, 8.4 rating. Private villas near Hermosa and Cocal beaches with full kitchens, two pools, a spa, and on-site yoga — a strong pick if you want the surf-and-wellness combo that defines this area under one roof.
Hotel Santa Teresa by the Beach — $135/night, 9.4 rating. A modern, eco-certified boutique just 50 meters from Playa Carmen, with a free breakfast buffet and an outdoor pool.
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Luxury Surf Accommodations ($400+/night)
Hotel Fermata — $417/night, 10.0 rating. A beachfront boutique retreat and the highest-rated luxury stay on this list, tied for the top overall rating with budget pick Cuatro Vientos.
Hotel Nantipa – A Tico Beach Experience — $440/night, 9.4 rating. Tented beachfront bungalows built around the area’s biggest draw — as the listing itself puts it, world-class waves deserve a world-class stay. The top splurge pick if you want to be steps from the water in genuine comfort.
Spot: Hotel Nantipa. Vibe: World-class waves right outside your beachfront tented bungalow.
Which one should you book?
TACTICAL ALERT: THE FINAL VERDICT
If you’re keeping costs tight, Cuatro Vientos Costa Rica is the standout — $20/night with a perfect 10.0 rating is hard to beat anywhere on this coast. For a mid-range stay that ties directly into the surf-and-wellness lifestyle Santa Teresa is known for, Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas does double duty as accommodation and yoga access. For a proper splurge, Hotel Nantipa puts you beachfront in tented luxury, built specifically around the wave out front.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the cheapest place to stay in Santa Teresa from this list?
Aduana House, at $18/night — a 13-room retreat a five-minute walk from the beach.
Which property has the best rating overall?
Two properties tie at a perfect 10.0: Cuatro Vientos Costa Rica ($20/night) and Hotel Fermata ($417/night) — proof that a high rating doesn’t only come with a high price tag here.
Is there a property with on-site yoga?
Yes — Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas Santa Teresa includes on-site yoga alongside its surf-focused villas.
Which stay is closest to Playa Carmen, the best beginner beach?
Ventura Santa Teresa (about 300 meters away) and Hotel Santa Teresa by the Beach (about 50 meters away) are both a short walk from Playa Carmen.
Keep reading
More on planning your Santa Teresa trip:
- The Complete Guide to Surfing Santa Teresa & Mal País, Costa Rica
- Santa Teresa Surf Spots by Skill Level: Where Beginners and Pros Should Paddle Out
- Santa Teresa vs. Nosara: Which Nicoya Surf Town Is Right for You?
And if you haven’t already, grab the full Costa Rica Surf HQ planning guide — 40+ pages of offline maps, break profiles, and travel intel for every surf town in the country.
