In this series of posts, we answer common travel questions about Costa Rica. This question is about whether Santa Teresa or Samara would be a better fit for a family with teenagers who want to learn to surf and experience some culture.
Question
“We are planning a spring break trip with our teenage kids ages 15 and 17 to Costa Rica and want to learn to surf, enjoy the culture, see waterfalls, wildlife, etc.
I have a bunch of questions. How is the crime? I hear mixed reviews about Santa Teresa. Everything from very safe to don’t go out at night.
We would like the kids to learn to surf, but don’t want the surf to be too big. Is Santa Teresa/Mal Pais still ok?
Would you suggest going to Samara too, or maybe Samara vs. Santa Teresa? We want the kids to see something other than all-inclusive resorts and enjoy some culture.”
Answer
Both places can be nice if you have enough time (at least a few nights in each spot) and neither really has that resort feel you are trying to avoid.
For surfing, Santa Teresa and Mal Pais have bigger waves for advanced surfers but there are also beaches with smaller waves to learn on. The beginner lessons are often held at Playa Hermosa (one of many beaches named this around the country), which can have less intense waves.
Samara has smaller waves because of a rock/coral formation offshore and because it’s in a cove. But you can still take lessons, and it is a really good spot to learn. We did surf lessons with our oldest son in Samara, and the conditions were perfect for learning and advancing our skills. The waves were medium-sized and fun.
Both towns are very different but offer some culture mixed with tourism.
Santa Teresa is a lot more remote (farther drive) and over the last several years has been developing a lot. It attracts a 20- to 30-year-old crowd, but all ages visit/live there, including lots of families. Overall, though, it has sort of a laid-back party/surf atmosphere.
Santa Teresa doesn‘t have a town center and is basically one long strip of businesses, hotels, and restaurants. The road parallels the beach and there are vacation homes and small hotels in the rainforest-covered hills.
Samara has more of a concentrated downtown near the beach. It is set up for tourism but still has an authentic feel. It’s easier to walk around on the streets and go to different shops and restaurants. There is a nice boardwalk area in the center of the beach. Samara, in our opinion, is more ideal for families with kids or young teenagers, while Santa Teresa would be exciting for older teens and college-age kids.
To answer your question about safety in Santa Teresa, most incidents happen late at night so if you are just going out to dinner and staying out until 9 or 10, you should be fine. If you plan on staying out late for the party scene, it’s just like anywhere in the world, you have to be cautious. Same thing for most beach towns in Costa Rica that have any kind of late-night bar/club scene.
We hope this summary gives you some ideas, and your family has a great time!
Looking for more information about traveling in Costa Rica? Check out these articles:
Samara: Guanacaste’s Most Overlooked Beach Town – Samara is one of our favorite places in Costa Rica’s northwestern region.
Santa Teresa: Costa Rica’s Trending Beach Town – Hip restaurants, shared workspaces, beach parties, and a growing population of young expats make this town feel like the next big trend.
Rental Car Discount – Renting a car is a great option for active families. Use our discount to save and get free extras like a second driver, surf racks, and cooler.