I used to rush through trips—always chasing the next sight, the next bus out of town to the next city. See it all. Do it all. Move fast.

But somewhere along the way, I discovered the magic of slowing down. The joy of becoming a “townie.”

There’s something comforting about seeing familiar faces on the street. About the waiter who remembers your name and your drink order. That small sense of belonging makes travel feel less like passing through and more like feeling home.

And the best part? When you linger, locals let you in. You hear about hidden trails, tucked-away cafés, and even get invited to things like beach bonfires and birthday parties.

As a solo female traveler, I’ve found that staying local offers its own kind of freedom. Fewer hours in transit. More time to sink into leisure. More space to breathe, get your bearings and feel safe to relax and explore. And that’s exactly how I chose to spend my 8 days in Santa Teresa.

Arrival to San Jose:

Once you arrive to San Jose International, walk over to the domestic terminal to catch a local hopper plane with Green Airways. Ideally, pre booked so you don’t have to wait.

This flight is fun. From its amazing window views, barefoot pilots, to the in flight cooler of water and beer, I promise you are off to a great start.

Once landing in Tambor, just a quick 25 minutes later, be ready to pay an airport tax of 3 USD, credit cards accepted. It may be worth it to arrange transportation ahead of time, or you could wing it like I did. I was lucky to share a taxi ride with another passenger into Santa Teresa, splitting the cost of 50 USD.

Where to Stay:

1. Canaima Eco Chill house

For about 80 USD, Canaima Eco Chill house was a laid back jungle bungalow dream. This Artisan crafted eco hotel is situated off an inclined dirt road, 12 minutes to the beach. The rooms are spacious with day beds on the terrace.

You will need wheels if you plan on coming and going with ease, otherwise enjoy the steep climb as apart of your daily workout. The rooms have adjacent balconies with a porch swing and friendly cats to keep you company.

2. Outsite

For digital nomads Outsite is a co-living-space community that caters to a global office lifestyle. The space has a shared work space, yoga area, pool, full-size kitchen and is located inside a gated community. During my stay the team at Mudwter was there for a company retreat and content creation. The concept caters to young professionals with the space and amenities to do business.

3. Mint

For some cliff-side luxury I was lucky to book at Mint rather last minute when I got dates screwed up. From an ocean view infinity pool to the private rooftop and savory Swedish Breakfast, just book it and thank me later. It’s gorgeous, modern-minimal and I met some lovely people.

Here I spent one glorious afternoon nibbling on passionfruit and house made banana bread while reading by the pool. A full breakfast is included during your stay, and not to be missed. House-made tropical jams, baked biscuits, coffee, eggs and fresh coconut juice out of the shell. 

4. Amor de Mar

Since Montezuma is only a 35-minute taxi ride from Tambor Airport, I chose to spend my last night at Amor de Mar. This beachside eco-lodge sits on a beautify property with sunset views. The town is small but lively, with mostly locals and other travelers who have drifted over from Santa Teresa.

Where to Eat:

1. Satori

Having no shortage of sushi in town, I chose to eat at Satori two nights in a row. With live music, ambient candle lighting, fresh open air, local vibes, amazing fish and Mojitos, it was certainly a recipe for a repeat dining experience. I ordered the tuna nigiri with the snapper avocado roll, properly named I love Santa.

Tip: the Snapper, Tuna and Mahi Mahi are all local fishes, while the Salmon is flown in. Eat sustainable and fresh and always choose the fish that is local to the waters.

2. EatStreet

On the main road, EatStreet is a food hall concept with five different mini restaurants. Come here for ceviche, tacos, breakfast, vegan bowls, smoothies, coffee and cocktails. The ceviche here fresh and spicy, and worthy of a repeat meal.

3. Local Soda

I meet some travelers at the beach who had just caught forty pounds of Yellowfin Tuna , and was invited to a local Soda (cafe) where the catch was prepared with an orange teriyaki glaze. Our bill for 4 people was roughly 28 USD including a hefty tuna-mango appetizer and a round of beers.

Tip: Monday nights are happening at Banana Beach. Come for the sunset crowd, fire spinning, a cash prize surf competition, house DJ and drumming. It’s a great place to make new friends, watch the sun disappear behind the horizon and feel the energy of other travelers. 

4. Organico

If you meander into town, keep an ear out for the sounds of bossanova vocals, saxophone, drums and guitar at Organico. Order the tuna tartare and Piña colada.

For after dinner cocktails walk over to CoColores for candle light caipirinha’s accompanied by friendly house cats.

More places to Eat in Santa Teresa:

• El Patio is a great outdoor spot for breakfast or lunch. Burritos, salads, sandwiches and açaí bowls. I ordered the bagel breakfast sandwich, filling me up until dinnertime.
• Earth Café has a chill vibe with rainbow iguana‘s eating mangos in the tree canopy. The breakfast burrito was amazing! 
• Cafca Café has the best açaí bowls, but if you come for a hot breakfast order the avocado toast and hot mint tea.
• Playground Selina is situated just off the beach path. This is another great café for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I sat down for a ginger beet smoothie and enjoyed the patio after a long afternoon at the beach.

Day trips from Santa Teresa

• Mal Pais is roughly a 15-minute drive and has a smaller, more local feel to it. I met some new friends at a beach hostel who were playing a gig at a pizza spot called Donna Teresa in Mal Pais. Naturally, I followed the music and caught a ride with other travelers who had acquired a retro van requiring a push-to-start engine. 
• Montezuma Waterfall is situated on the very southern coast of the Nicoya Peninsula, about 45-minutes from Santa Teresa. There a a few different routes, but I rode the four wheeler through Cabuya, down the coast to Montezuma. Complete with muddy ditches and winding country roads, this route will give you a Charlize Theron in Mad Max kind of Furiosa feeling. The waterfall is the main attraction in Montezuma.
• Have lunch and a fresh green juice at Anamaya and ask your server how to get down to the falls. Let’s just say there is a secret passageway.
• Just 25-minutes outside of Santa Teresa, check out La Selva Brewery in Cabuya to taste some local beers in a rustic farm-style setting. Take the back roads on a 4×4 and be sure to bring a bandana, it’s a dusty ride.

On the road to Cabuya

From the moment I arrived in Santa Teresa, I felt at ease—like I already knew the rhythm here. The town hums with surfers chasing the next wave, yogis stretching into sunrise, nomads tapping away at laptops, and families and children wandering barefoot to dinner.

Whatever you choose, Santa Teresa reminds you that life doesn’t have to be complicated.Take a yoga class. Paddle out into the waves. Eat fresh papaya on a shaded terrace.

And maybe that’s the real gift of this place: the chance to slow down, belong for a while, and remember that simple is enough.

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