Our Post-Grad Girls Trip Through Costa Rica
A Costa Rican Roadtrip Through the Pacific Coast
To celebrate how four-year journey together, my girlfriends and I wanted a graduation trip that combined exotic relaxation, things to do, nightlife (we are FSU girls after all), and a community of like-minded explorers – all while on our broke-girl-no-job budgets. And we did it. Here are our dos and don’ts of traveling Costa Rica – from Santa Teresa to Tamarindo with stops in between.
Santa Teresa
As we drove through the rugged jungle terrain we arrived in the small beach town of Santa Teresa. Even though this oasis has now been discovered by expats and celebrities alike (back when they were a happy couple, Giselle and Tom Brady used to vacation here), the natural, rugged beauty is still in tact with its laid-back surfing culture. While still a hidden gem, its one main gravel street is lined with hostels, restaurants, boutiques, and yoga studios.
Lodging
Santa Teresa is known for its hostels for a reason. Walk down the street and you’ll pass one charming place after another. Each hostel has its own vibe and amenities, including private rooms. We stayed at Somos, which I highly recommend. Their restaurant offered a delicious, fresh breakfast, lunch and dinner with a great bar selection that everyone enjoyed in the courtyard and around the pool. Every night before venturing into town, we hung around the hostel, drinking and getting to know our fellow hostel residents which were people from around the globe (we’re still in touch with many of these people 3 years later!). But don’t feel confined to your hostel’s community! The bars and pools in the neighboring hostels are hubs for great drinks and conversations. My favorite hostel to hang out was Selina, where people dipped into the pool and enjoyed a fruity cocktail on their back from the beach. Selina is also a highly rated chain of hostel with many locations. For finding your hostel, I recommend checking out HostelWorld.
If the hostel route isn’t for you, that’s okay! Santa T has some beautiful Airbnbs. We made friends with people who had a large Airbnb house just a 10-minute drive from “downtown” where we gathered many nights with our new friends.
What to Do
Surf. Santa T is renowned for its surfing. There are many rental options, one of them being Kina Surf Shop.
Beach. Don’t expect chair rentals or beach service. Grab your towel and cooler and walk down to the beach, which is hidden behind the tree line on Main Street. Check out Travel and Leisure’s guide to Santa Teresa Beach for more recs.
Sunset. Head back to beach for sunset and find the beach packed with travelers, surfers, and everyone else sitting together enjoying the stunning sunsets.
Yoga. As a top destination for yoga retreats, try a beach yoga class or go to the studio. Check out Medium’s Wellness Guide to Santa Teresa for yoga specifics and more!
Eat. The town has many great restaurants with lively atmospheres. A favorite of mine for dinner and late night was Eat Street, which consisted of one outdoor area with many different restaurants/cuisine. They also have a bocce ball court! Check out Medium Wellness Guide for more cafe and restaurant recs.
Shop. The small town supports a few local boutiques. My favorites are Green Folk (linen clothing, as well as cosmetics, jewelry and accessories) and Pacific Wolf Factory-PAWO (swimsuits, ladies and kids’ clothing, and high quality jewelry).
Day trip to Montezuma. Either rent a car (that’s what we did) or an ATV, and the drive is 30 minutes. Hike the Montezuma Waterfalls (there are 3)! Side note – apparently there is a guided tour offered on an easier route…we did not take that route. If you are uncoordinated in the least bit THEN I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE EASY PATH. This path consist of stairs and guard rails. But if you are an adventure seeker, or just stubborn and too confident like we were, take the more difficult route on your own. This route is not for the faint of heart, but if us six girls could do it, so can you. Get ready to scale the mountain and rope swing over cliffs. After your hike, relax on their lush beach – you deserve it.
Getting Around Santa Teresa
If you’re staying on Main Street then everything is within walking distance. Or you can be one of the many riding around on an ATV that can be rented from ATValerios.
Note: Don’t drive a dirt bike under the influence on Costa Rican dirt roads…
Tamarindo
We packed up the car after a few days in Santa T, and drove 3 1/2 hours to Tamarindo. In contrast to the lush, quiet and overgrown Santa Teresa, Tamarindo, Costa Rica is bustling beach town for locals and tourists alike. Here you’ll find commercial chains and large infrastructure mixed with the bohemian, laid-back surfer lifestyle and architecture. The nightlife is happening and the shopping is vast.
Lodging
Tamarindo is considered one of the most developed and and tourist-friendly areas in Costa Rica. When deciding where to stay, first decide what you’re wanting. Whether you are looking for an all-inclusive resort, like the 5-star Occidental Tamarindo, the hostel route (Selina also has a location here), or a private house (that’s what we did), the town has plenty of lodging options ranging in price.
What to Do
Like Santa T, Tamarindo offers massive golden sand beaches, excellent surfing, and yoga retreats. Unlike Santa Teresa, Tamarindo is much larger and more developed. Thus, it offers more planned activities like snorkeling and scuba tours, surf lessons, and more. We rented surf boards from Witch’s Rock Surf Shop for the day.
Nightlife
Start with a sunset happy hour drink and live music at El Vaquero, or one of the many other beach bars. There are plenty of great restaurants to choose from – just make sure you try some fresh seafood and local delicacies like Chifrijo. Tamarindo’s downtown has tons of bars and night clubs all within walking distance of each other. El Garito is a night club hotspot of international music lovers. Or grab a drink and join one of the many bonfires on the beach with locals (that’s what we did!).
Shopping
The shops consists of everything from cheap souvenirs to hand-crafted artisans and jewelry. The puka shell trend is still very much alive and well in Tamarindo, and so we all obviously had to indulge in shell anklets and chokers.
In Conclusion
Splitting our time between the two towns of Santa Teresa and Tamarindo was the perfect mix of rugged and relaxation. Both destinations are a rich culture that is inviting to outsiders wanting to partake. We met the coolest people along the way, and some of my friends even ended up extending their trip! For more Costa Rica tips click on the hyperlinks through out this posts! Also, sign up for my email list for more travel info at https://planetdaisy.com/follow-me/ .