Santa Teresa Surf Camps & Surf Hotels: 5 Great Picks For 2027
Santa Teresa has firmly established itself as the thinking traveler’s alternative to Tamarindo, with perhaps a touch of the Silicone Valley vacationer’s dream about it, but also good cafes, and ENDLESS surf.
Both here and Tamarindo are blessed with continuous swell off the SW Pacific swell channels, and both are surely among the best surf towns in Costa Rica, but Tamarindo is now a pumping party place that’s as much for bachelor shindigs as it is for serious surfers and learners.
Santa Teresa, meanwhile, has emerged as a hub for boutique and luxurious surf camps, but also classic backpacker hostel stays and eco lodges close to the waves.
Beach breaks run the whole length of a long shoreline, offerning waves and whitewash for everyone from complete beginners to advanced surfers, too, making it prime territory for surf camping and improving.
This guide to some fine Santa Teresa surf camps runs through a handful of options that we think look lavvveelllyy.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
>>This is just one part of our complete overall guide to surfing in Costa Rica
>>This is also a part of our complete guide to surf camps
Quick-click links to our top surf camps in Santa Teresa
- Zopilote Surf Camp – Jungle bungalows right next to the beach with 2x surf sessions daily
- Cafecito Surf School & Guesthouse – Daily surf lessons at a bargain Santa Teresa surf hostel
- Shaka Costa Rica – Make mates, surf every day, enjoy what tropical chilling is all about
- El Chante Surf House – Romantic getaway with some luxury and calm for surfing couples
- Jakera Costa Rica – Meaningful experiences that combine learning Spanish and surfing
Zopilote Surf Camp
Jungle bungalows right next to the beach with 2x surf sessions daily
Zopilote is one of the original surf camps around Santa Teresa, having first opened its doors back in 2005 when a wandering Austrian surfer looking for a cool place to open their camp happened on by.
Now, let me tell you, I can see why he was enamored. The location is a major selling point. You’re just two minutes’ walk from the sands of Playa Hermosa, a long and relatively mellow beach break that’s generally more forgiving than the punchier waves further south – think of it as Santa Teresa’s beginner zone.
We particularly like the small-scale setup here. There are just four two-story wooden cabins, with space for a maximum of 16 guests, plus a swimming pool, hammocks and a leafy communal area for chilling between sessions.
Surf coaching is handled by local instructors, with groups capped at just four people and lessons tailored to your ability. There’s also a decent selection of rental boards, from longboards to shortboards, so you can experiment with different shapes as you progress.
More experienced surfers have the peaks of Santa Teresa and the reefs around Malpais within easy reach. A cracking option for those who want proper coaching without the crowds or party atmosphere of more central Santa Teresa, and to experience this run of coast as I think it should be experienced: Wild, in the jungles, and with surf right on the doorstep each morning.
Cafecito Surf School & Guesthouse
Daily surf lessons at a bargain Santa Teresa surf hostel
Cafecito Surf School & Guesthouse is one of those small, locally run places that looks like it gets the balance between proper surf coaching and a sociable atmosphere just right.
Run by Lenin and Chelsea, it’s tucked into the heart of Santa Teresa, around three or four minutes’ walk from the beach.
The surfing is the real highlight. Lessons are taught by local coaches with a maximum of two students per instructor, and there’s video analysis included in the multi-lesson packages.
You can book individual sessions or opt for four- and seven-night surf camps, which combine daily coaching with local excursions, yoga and plenty of time to explore.
We particularly like the accommodation setup. There are just two four-bed dorms and one private room, all with AC, plus a communal kitchen and shared spaces that should make meeting fellow travelers pretty easy. The camp packages also include two meals per day.
A cracking option for solo surfers who want personal attention in the water, a home-away-from-home vibe, and none of that big-camp feel.
Check prices and availability at Cafecito Surf School & Guesthouse
Shaka Costa Rica
Make mates, surf every day, enjoy what tropical chilling is all about
Shaka Costa Rica has an almost ridiculously good reputation among past guests, boasting a whopping 4.9/5 rating on Tripadvisor from more than 370 reviews – plus similar stats on good old Goog. That’s an excellent record, and one that makes us particularly keen on this laid-back surf retreat just back from Playa Hermosa, north of Santa Teresa.
The setup is geared toward grown-up travelers who want the sociable side of a surf camp without the no-holes-barred hedonism of a Tamarindo-style backpacker party atmosphere.
Surfing takes center stage, with daily lessons from Monday to Saturday at Playa Hermosa, where the softer high-tide waves are great for learning and the lower tides offer faster sections for improving surfers.
They do an Ultimate Surf package, which includes unlimited board use, daily yoga, chef-prepared meals and accommodation with AC – basically everything you need for a solid surf week included under one price. There’s also a swimming pool and communal spaces for hanging out between sessions.
One other perk…Unlike many surf retreats, Shaka lets you arrive on any day of the week, making it a top choice for those – like us – who never run Sat to Sat when traveling.
El Chante Surf House
Romantic getaway with some luxury and calm for surfing couples
El Chante might not be quite as well known as a number of the other places in the region, or even on this list, but therein lies the charm. The place is a proper boutique surf lodge with plenty of character and a lovely location.
It’s tucked into the palm jungles just back from Playa Hermosa beach. You’ll wake to the calls of howler monkeys and the rustlings of lizards in the cottonwoods.
Then, the day goes something like this: Wake up, head to the beach for sunrise, stretch out with a yoga class, fill yourself on healthy local fruits for breako and then hit the waves for a guided surf class. After, it’s chill by the pool and hang with other guests.
The fact that you’re literally two minutes’ walk from the beach at Hermosa is the real joy at El Chante. It’s arguably the best beginner beach on the Nicoya Peninsula and it’s right there, steps from the door.
Jakera Costa Rica
Meaningful experiences that combine learning Spanish and surfing
Jakera is a little different from your typical Santa Teresa surf camp. This is more of a full-blown Costa Rican adventure program, mixing time in the waves with Spanish lessons, yoga, volunteering and trips into the country’s spectacular interior.
Surfing takes place around Santa Teresa, where long stretches of beach serve up everything from mellow learner waves to punchy, hollow peaks when the Pacific swell gets going.
There’s good flexibility in the itineraries they offer. You can choose programs lasting one, two or four weeks, with surfing forming part of a wider schedule that might include turtle conservation projects, jungle hikes and a trip to Monteverde’s cloud forests.
The flagship four-week All In program includes four surf lessons, 16 Spanish classes and several volunteering activities.
Accommodation is in shared rooms, with breakfasts, lunches and weekend brunches included. This probably isn’t the place for advanced surfers chasing intensive coaching, but it’s a cracking option for solo travelers and gap-year adventurers who want to learn to surf while experiencing more of Costa Rica.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
