Montezuma vs. Santa Teresa: Which Beach Town Is Right for You?

Santa Teresa and Montezuma are both beautiful beach towns located on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. If you are considering a move to the area, it is important to understand the differences between the two communities. While they are only about 30 minutes apart, they offer very different lifestyles.

Having lived on the Nicoya Peninsula since 2000, I have watched both Montezuma and Santa Teresa evolve from sleepy beach towns into thriving international communities. Twenty-five years ago, Santa Teresa had a handful of restaurants, one grocery store, and a dirt road full of potholes. Montezuma was much the same. Today, both towns have grown tremendously, but each has maintained its own unique identity.

 

Santa Teresa: Surf, Wellness, and Energy

Santa Teresa today is a bustling, trendy, high-energy beach town known for surfing, wellness, and an active international community. What was once a dusty road is now a paved strip lined with boutique shops, cafés, restaurants, fitness studios, hotels, and markets.

During the pandemic, Santa Teresa became one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads seeking sunshine, reliable internet, and an outdoor lifestyle. Many people arrived planning to stay for a few months and ended up making Santa Teresa their home. Even today, remote workers continue to be drawn to the area’s combination of surf, wellness, and strong infrastructure.

Walking through town, you will hear multiple languages being spoken. Santa Teresa has become a true melting pot of cultures, attracting people from all over the world who come for the waves, the lifestyle, and the sense of freedom that living near the ocean provides.

 

Restaurants, Shopping, and Nightlife

One of Santa Teresa’s biggest attractions is its abundance of restaurants and nightlife. There are more than 75 restaurants spread throughout the community, offering everything from traditional Costa Rican cuisine to Italian, Japanese, Argentine, Mediterranean, and farm-to-table dining experiences.

The town is also known for its boutique shopping, beach clubs, cocktail bars, and social events. For those who enjoy being part of an active community with plenty to do, Santa Teresa rarely disappoints.

 

Surfing in Santa Teresa

The beaches in Santa Teresa are heavenly and stretch for miles along the Pacific coastline. The sunsets are famous, and every evening around 5:00 p.m. people begin gathering on the beach to watch the show.

 

Kids run through the sand, surfers catch their final waves, beach volleyball games spring to life, dogs play in the surf, and couples stroll hand in hand along the shoreline. It is one of the most magical parts of living here.

The waves are what originally put Santa Teresa on the map. Twenty years ago, you would have been surprised to see three to five heads in the water surfing. Today, seeing fifty or more surfers in the lineup is completely normal.

Beginners often learn at Playa Hermosa, where long rolling waves create ideal learning conditions. More experienced surfers can choose from breaks such as La Lora, Roca Mar, Mar Azul, and Playa Carmen. The variety of beaches and breaks means there is usually a wave suitable for every skill level.

 

Wellness and Active Living

Wellness is a major focus throughout Santa Teresa. Yoga classes, Pilates studios, fitness centers, massage therapy, ecstatic dance gatherings, and wellness retreats are available almost daily.

Horseback riding through the hills of Manzanillo and ending on the beach at sunset is one experience I always recommend. It is the kind of memory that stays with you long after your vacation ends.

For many residents, Santa Teresa offers the perfect balance of adventure, health, community, and modern conveniences.

 

Montezuma: Art, Nature, and Community

Just 30 minutes away, Montezuma offers an entirely different experience.

Montezuma is often described as bohemian, artistic, and laid-back. While Santa Teresa has grown into a vibrant international destination, Montezuma has managed to hold onto much of the character that originally attracted travelers decades ago.

Artists line the streets selling handmade jewelry, paintings, and crafts. On any given evening you may find musicians playing guitar, fire dancers near the beach, or local artists displaying their work. The town has a creative energy that feels authentic and welcoming.

The village curves around Montezuma Bay, where calm warm waters invite both locals and visitors to swim just steps from town. Restaurants, shops, cafés, and small businesses create a lively atmosphere without ever feeling overwhelming.

Unlike Santa Teresa, Montezuma’s topography naturally limits large-scale development. Surrounded by jungle-covered hills, rivers, and protected coastline, the town has retained much of its charm and natural beauty.

The community’s commitment to conservation has also played an important role in preserving its character. In the 1960s, conservationists Karen Mogensen and Nicolas Wessberg worked tirelessly to protect the area’s forests and coastline from development. Their efforts helped establish Cabo Blanco as Costa Rica’s first protected nature reserve, preserving more than 1,300 hectares of forest, coastline, and wildlife habitat.

Thanks in part to their vision, many of Montezuma’s beaches, forests, and surrounding landscapes remain remarkably untouched today. This dedication to conservation is one of the reasons Montezuma continues to attract nature lovers, artists, families, and those seeking a quieter connection to Costa Rica’s natural beauty.

 

Beaches and Outdoor Adventure

Nature plays a central role in life in Montezuma.

One of the most memorable family-friendly experiences is watching baby sea turtles being released into the ocean. During hatching season, typically from July through December, visitors can watch hundreds of tiny turtles make their first journey into the Pacific. It is an incredible experience and one that many families never forget.

 

 

One of my favorite beaches in the area is Playa Grande. Reaching it requires about a 30-minute hike, but it is worth every minute. The trail offers a wonderful mix of jungle and coastline, creating an adventure before you even arrive at the beach.

Along the way, you’ll pass Piedras Colorada, where a freshwater river meets the ocean. It is the perfect place to cool off on a hot day. The area is known for its colorful rocks, small waterfalls, rock statues, and natural pools.

When you finally reach Playa Grande at low tide, the view opens up into miles of untouched coastline backed by dense jungle. On some days you may find yourself completely alone. It is paradise at its finest.

Surfing in Montezuma

Although Santa Teresa receives more international attention for surfing, Montezuma has several excellent breaks of its own.

Playa Grande offers a beach break that is popular with beginners and longboarders thanks to its forgiving waves and sandy bottom.

 

Los Cedros is another local favorite. The river mouth creates a calm swimming area that families love, while surfers enjoy a left-hand reef break that works best at high tide.

Further south, Cabuya offers a right-hand point break that comes alive during larger swells and provides exciting waves for more experienced surfers.

Las Manchas, sometimes called the Italian Beach, is known for its crystal-clear water and relaxed atmosphere. It is beautiful but swimmers should always be aware of changing ocean conditions and strong currents.

 

Real Estate and Investment Opportunities

One big difference between Montezuma and Santa Teresa is the real estate market.

Santa Teresa has experienced tremendous growth over the last two decades. As demand has increased, property values have risen significantly, particularly for beachfront and ocean-view properties. Buyers are often attracted to Santa Teresa for its strong vacation rental market, thriving tourism industry, and active lifestyle.

Montezuma offers a different type of opportunity. While property values have steadily increased, the town remains quieter and less developed. Buyers are often drawn to Montezuma for its privacy, larger parcels of land, ocean-view homes, natural surroundings, and slower pace of life.

 

 

Both communities offer excellent investment potential, but the lifestyle and property experience can be very different.

Families and Education

Both Montezuma and Santa Teresa have become increasingly popular with families.

Several excellent bilingual and international schools serve the region, including Futuro Verde, Hermosa Valley School, and Gaia School. Families often choose where to live based on school location, commute times, community atmosphere, and lifestyle preferences.

Children growing up here benefit from a unique outdoor lifestyle filled with beaches, wildlife, sports, and cultural experiences that are difficult to find elsewhere.

 

Which Town Is Right for You?

The truth is that there is no wrong choice.

Santa Teresa offers energy, world-class surfing, international dining, shopping, nightlife, and a fast-growing community filled with entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and wellness enthusiasts.

Montezuma offers a slower pace centered around nature, conservation, community, art, and tranquility. It is a place where mornings may begin with a walk on the beach, afternoons might include a swim beneath a waterfall, and evenings are often spent listening to live music under the stars.

Whether you envision yourself surfing before work, practicing yoga overlooking the ocean, hiking through the jungle to hidden beaches, or simply slowing down and reconnecting with nature, the Nicoya Peninsula offers a lifestyle unlike anywhere else in the world.

The real question isn’t which town is better—it’s which lifestyle feels most like home.

About the Author

Rachel Shroyer-Moore has lived on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula since 2000 and specializes in real estate throughout Montezuma, , and the surrounding areas. Having witnessed the evolution of the region firsthand, she provides clients with local knowledge, market expertise, and a deep understanding of the communities that make this part of Costa Rica so special.

 

Photo Credits

Santa Teresa Photographs:

Courtesy of

Nico Lopez

IG @nicolopez_ph

 

Montezuma Photographs

Photography by
Rachel Moore