Santa Teresa has many fun activities to explore! Such as surf lessons, yoga retreats, snorkeling, fishing, bioluminescence tours, horseback riding, and ATV rides. The problem is that many of these activities come with a hefty price tag. Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is overall an expensive destination to visit, so money-saving hacks can make a huge difference in reducing your budget. So here are my top free activities to explore on your next vacation to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica.
1. Have a beach day
Access to the beach is free, and there are plenty of beaches to explore near Santa Teresa. From Santa Teresa Beach, Carmen Beach, Playa Cocal Beach, and Playa Malpais Beach, you have a wide variety to choose from. If you are wondering which beach to visit during your stay, I got you covered! Santa Teresa Beach is great for surfers, has many waterfront restaurants to choose from, and lifeguards are available in the designated swimming areas. Carmen Beach is rockier but has many beautiful seashells and rocks to collect. Mal Pais has impressive tide pools that become warm under the sun. While Playa Cocal has soft golden sand and turquoise waters. It takes approximately one hour to walk from one end of Santa Teresa Beach to the other, so there is plenty of room for everyone to soak up the sun.
2. Discover the wildlife
My husband and I had fun documenting and locating all the different birds, sea creatures, monkeys, wild animals, lizards, and insects in Santa Teresa. Costa Rica is known for having incredibly diverse wildlife and contains over 500,000 species of wild animals. Some of the most notable animals we saw in Santa Teresa were howler monkeys, raccoons, armadillos, opossums, the bare-throated tiger heron, hermit crabs, iguanas, and sandpipers.
3. Watch the sunset
The sunset at Santa Teresa Beach is absolutely gorgeous, with the sky looking like a freshly painted canvas. Sunset occurs between 5:20 PM and 6:30 PM, which is why you will find most restaurants empty during this time. I found that every sunset was a little different, making this one of my favourite things to do in Santa Teresa.
4. Try a co-working space
Currently, the Selina Resort is offering a one-time, free day pass for their co-working space. If you are looking for a quiet place to finish some work or have a conference call, then this is a great place to check out. They even let us print some documents while we were there for free!
5. Visit the organic market
On Banana Beach at 3:00 PM every Saturday, local vendors and businesses set up tables and stands to sell their wares. It is a great place to browse goods and learn more about the community. When visiting I saw a variety of products, including clothing, bathing suits, fruit, veggies, jams, desserts, and jewellery.
6. Visit a waterfall
Montezuma waterfall is a popular tourist attraction and a short distance from Santa Teresa. Technically you will need to pay for transportation, but access to the waterfall is free. If you drive your own vehicle make sure to park on the street, to avoid the 1000 colones parking charge. The trail to the waterfall is not kept up and can be muddy and slippery, especially during rainy season. Make sure to wear shoes that strap on or waterproof hiking boots. Flip-flops are not suitable. Do not try to transverse the trail when it is raining, and walk slowly, as the rocks can be very slippery.
7. Collect microplastic
It may not be an exciting activity for some, but if you are environmentally conscious and want to give back, this activity might be for you. Nantipa, which is located between Carmen and Santa Teresa Beach, offers metal buckets and garbage disposal containers for those interested in picking up microplastic. When picking up garbage it is important to protect your hands, as some items may be sharp or unsanitary. I would suggest purchasing tongs and wrapping the ends with rubber bands, or purchasing a garbage picker, if available. I personally purchased gloves from a local grocery store and 10 medium garbage bags for less than 2000 colones. This allowed me to pick up larger pieces of trash. A great thing about this activity is it allows you to walk on the beach, while also giving back to the community.
8. Get a free beer!
Currently, EatStreet in Santa Teresa is offering a free beer to those who review them on Google! With how much food costs in Santa Teresa, why not? Eat Street is one of my favourite restaurants in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. Their tuna burger, vegan chocolate chip cookie, and turmeric latte are amazing!
9. Collect Seashells
There are so many beautiful shiny stones and seashells to be found on the beaches in Costa Rica. I found many gorgeous red, blue, gold, and white stones on Carmen Beach, which is just south of Santa Teresa. There are also many different types of shells to discover. Please keep in mind that only commercial collectors are allowed to remove sea shells from Costa Rican Beaches. This means that although you can collect the shells for fun, you must leave the shells at the beach when you are done. It is also not recommended and sometimes illegal to bring shells through customs, so it is best to leave them behind. The rocks on the other hand are fine to collect in moderation. Make sure the rocks are clean and contain no sea life before taking them home.
10. Get a free coffee
Currently, Somos Cafe is offering free coffee to anyone who reviews their business. This is a great way to try a local cafe, without breaking the bank. Any money you can save is great in my books. When visiting Somos Cafe I tried their Chaga Boom smoothie, which was super thick! My husband opted for the cold brew, which contained a citrus wedge! It was cool and refreshing.
Comment your favourite free activity in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica below!
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