Snorkelers in turquoise water off Tortuga Island, Costa Rica

Santa Teresa · Adventures

Beyond the beach.A week's worth of days.

Tortuga Island boat tours, Montezuma waterfalls, bioluminescence on new-moon nights, Mal País tide pools, ATV days, sunset horseback rides. A local's guide to what to do beyond the sand — with booking timing, season notes, and the operators we actually use.

A complete guide

A week of days, not just beach days.

Most Santa Teresa first-timers come for the surf and end up filling half their week with detours — a boat morning to Tortuga, a waterfall afternoon in Montezuma, a sunset horseback ride down the south end of the beach, a new-moon night chasing bioluminescence in the bay. The Nicoya peninsula does this to you: it's small enough that everything's within an hour, wild enough that each thing still feels like an expedition.

Below — nine activities we send guests to, split into on the water and on land. Each card has the duration, the season window, and how far ahead to book. The footer FAQ covers the questions we get most, including which months are best for whales and how to get to the waterfalls.

On the water

Boats, snorkels, glow.

The Pacific does most of the work. Show up, get in, look down. Four ways to spend a day at sea level.

01
Tortuga Island Boat Tour
Half-day · snorkel · lunch on a beach
Tortuga Island sits an hour off the Nicoya coast — two postcard beaches, a coral reef worth a mask, and water clear enough you'll stay in for hours. Full-day tours from Santa Teresa include the boat ride, two snorkel stops, lunch on the sand, and the run back through pods of dolphins (and humpback whales in season). The most reliable operator is Zuma Tours; departure is from Tambor with a 7am pickup at the villa.
TipWhale season runs July through October — ask for a captain who slows down for them.
Duration
Full-day · 7am pickup, 4pm return
Season
Year-round · whales Jul–Oct
Booking
Book the day before in dry season
Operator site →
02
Bioluminescence Tour
Night · new moon only · glowing water
On moonless nights in the Gulf of Nicoya, plankton light up around any movement — drag a hand through the water and it glows blue-green; jump in and your whole body lights up. The tour leaves Santa Teresa around sunset, runs a small boat into a sheltered bay after dark, and returns by 9pm. It is the most surreal hour you'll spend in Costa Rica, and only possible a few nights a month.
TipBook around the new moon for the strongest effect — within three days either side.
Duration
~3 hours · sunset to 9pm
Season
New-moon nights only · check the lunar calendar
Booking
Reserve a week out — new moons fill fast
Operator site →
03
Playa de los Artistas (Montezuma)
Beach dinner in Montezuma
A beachside Mediterranean kitchen in Montezuma, half-buried in the sand under driftwood lanterns and string lights. Whole fish, fresh pasta, a wine list that doesn't quit — the kind of three-hour dinner you book around for an entire trip. Open Thursday through Sunday only; reservations essential in dry season. Pair with a Montezuma waterfall morning for the easiest day-trip combo from Santa Teresa.
Duration
Dinner · 6pm–10pm
Season
Year-round · Thu–Sun only
Booking
Reserve 1–2 days ahead in dry season
04
Mal País Tide Pools
Low tide · water shoes · free
Just south of Santa Teresa, where the coast turns from sand into volcanic rock, the Mal País tide pools fill with starfish, sea urchins, hermit crabs, and tropical fish trapped by the receding ocean. Time it within an hour of low tide — the morning low works best in dry season when the sun catches the water. Bring water shoes (the rocks are sharp), a mask if you want to look closely, and pair with a Mal País lunch on the way back.
TipBest on a falling tide — the pools are still full and animals are most active.
Duration
1–2 hours · time around low tide
Season
Year-round · check the tide chart
Booking
Walk-up · free

We arrange all of these

Tortuga booked,ATV at the gate.

Mention what you want to do in your booking inquiry — we line up Zuma Tours for the boat day, Michael Streik for the ATV, and the bioluminescence reservation if the moon is right.

Book on Airbnb See the couples week

Montezuma waterfall in the rainforest, Nicoya peninsula

A note from one week in

“The ATV unlocks the coast. Tortuga unlocks the ocean. Montezuma unlocks the jungle. Pick any two and the trip works.”

— What Mariel tells every guest

On land

Waterfalls, ATVs, day trips.

The freedom to find quieter beaches and waterfalls is what makes a Santa Teresa week feel like a week.

01
Montezuma Waterfalls
45-min east · three-tiered hike
Forty-five minutes east of Santa Teresa, the Montezuma waterfalls are the best free swimming holes on the Nicoya peninsula — a three-tiered cascade that drops through rainforest into a deep, swimmable pool. The lower tier is a 15-minute walk from town; sandals with grip help on the slick rocks. Strong swimmers hike to the middle pool for a 7-meter jump from a worn-smooth ledge. The upper tier is for experienced climbers only — fatalities have happened.
TipPair the morning with lunch at Playa de los Artistas a few minutes back toward the village (Thu–Sun only).
Duration
Half-day · 45-min drive + hike + swim
Season
Year-round · fuller flow May–Nov
Booking
Walk-up · free entry · small tip for the trail attendant
02
Pozas La Florida
Hidden waterfall · short hike
Pozas La Florida is the locals' waterfall — a chain of clear, jade-green plunge pools hidden in the hills behind Cobano, quieter than Montezuma and free. The hike from where you park is about twenty minutes through cattle pasture and forest. The reward is a sequence of pools deep enough to swim, with smooth boulders to lie on between dips. No fees, no signs, no crowds. Bring water shoes and someone who knows the turnoff.
TipAsk us for directions — the entrance isn't on Google Maps.
Duration
Half-day · ~20-min hike + swim
Season
Best May–Nov when water flows full
Booking
Walk-up · free · 4WD or ATV recommended
03
Coco Lito
Beach day · 45min toward Tambor
Forty-five minutes north toward Tambor on a dirt road that gets quieter every kilometer, Coco Lito is the deserted-beach day Costa Rica owes you. White sand, mangroves at the north end, almost no one — even in dry season you'll share it with a handful of locals. There's nothing to buy on the beach, so pack lunch, water, and shade. An ATV or 4WD handles the road.
TipTime the visit around mid tide — high tide eats most of the sand.
Duration
Full-day · pack a lunch
Season
Year-round · calmest seas Dec–Apr
Booking
Self-drive · no booking
04
Sunset Horseback Ride
On the beach · golden hour
Sunset beach horseback rides leave the southern end of Playa Santa Teresa about 90 minutes before the sun drops — local outfitters lead small groups along the surf line as the sky turns. Most rides last 90 minutes; the horses know the route by heart. No experience required, but long pants, a hat, and reef-safe sunscreen all help. Year-round, but the dry season has the most reliable golden hour.
TipBook day-of by 2pm. Three operators work the south end — ask us which we trust this season.
Duration
~90 minutes · sunset window
Season
Year-round · driest skies Dec–Apr
Booking
Book same-day by early afternoon
05
ATV Adventure
Self-drive · dirt roads · waterfalls
The ATV is the single best decision a Santa Teresa week makes. Once you've got one at the villa, the coast unlocks — Hermosa for the longboard wave, Mal País for the tide pools, the back roads for waterfalls and beaches you wouldn't find on foot. Rentals run by the day or week; we arrange a Michael Streik ATV to be at the gate when you arrive. The dirt road from town to the villa is dusty in dry season — bandana and goggles help.
TipRenting for the full stay is almost always cheaper than rebooking taxis. Helmets are included.
Duration
Daily or weekly rental
Season
Year-round · roads dustier in dry season
Booking
We arrange · ATV at the villa on arrival

Questions

Activities FAQ

What's the most popular activity to do from Santa Teresa, Costa Rica?

The Tortuga Island boat day is the headline trip — daily departures from nearby Tambor with snorkeling at two stops, lunch on a beach, and a chance of dolphins or whales (Jul–Oct) on the ride back. Montezuma waterfalls and the ATV-everywhere day are the close seconds.

How do I get to Montezuma waterfalls from Santa Teresa?

About a 45-minute drive east on Route 624 through Cobano. Park in town, walk 15 minutes up the marked trail to the lower pool. There's a small attendant tip at the trailhead; entry is otherwise free.

When can I see bioluminescence in Santa Teresa?

Year-round, but the effect is strongest on new-moon nights — book within three days of any new moon for the best chance. Zuma Tours runs evening boat trips into a quiet bay in the Gulf of Nicoya; tours fill fast around the new moon, so reserve a week ahead.

Do I need to book activities in advance?

Tortuga Island fills in dry season — book the day before. Bioluminescence fills a week ahead near new moons. ATV rentals we arrange before your arrival. Montezuma waterfalls, the Mal País tide pools, and sunset horseback rides are walk-up or same-day.

Do you arrange tours from the villa?

Yes. Mention what you want to do in your inquiry and we'll line it up with our trusted local operators — Zuma Tours for boats and bioluminescence, Michael Streik for ATVs, and our preferred guides for waterfall hikes.

Which activities work for families and kids?

Tortuga snorkeling, Montezuma falls (lower pool), Mal País tide pools, and Coco Lito beach days all work well for kids. ATV rentals are age-restricted per local rules. Casa Calyx is ages 10+, but the activities themselves welcome younger ones if you're staying nearby.

What's the best season for activities in Santa Teresa?

Dry season (December–April) gives the cleanest weather and roads — best for ATV, boat tours, horseback rides. Green season (May–November) brings fuller waterfalls, fewer crowds, and bioluminescence is unaffected. Whale-watching peaks July through October.

ATV on a dirt road through the Santa Teresa jungle

All bookable through us

Ask in your inquiry.We'll line up the week.

Tortuga boat day, Michael Streik ATV at the gate, bioluminescence reserved around the moon — we coordinate it all before you land.

Book on Airbnb See more stay guides

Beyond the beach.A week's worth of days.

A week of days, not just beach days.

Boats, snorkels, glow.

Tortuga Island Boat Tour

Bioluminescence Tour

Playa de los Artistas (Montezuma)

Mal País Tide Pools

Tortuga booked,ATV at the gate.

Waterfalls, ATVs, day trips.

Montezuma Waterfalls

Pozas La Florida

Coco Lito

Sunset Horseback Ride

ATV Adventure