Overview Compare Minivan Taxi Bus To Stay
How to get from Tamarindo to Santa Teresa
Santa Teresa is a surfer’s paradise on Costa Rica’s northwest coast. Once a quiet fishing village, it exploded in popularity in the early 2000s thanks to its beautiful beaches, lush jungles, variety of wildlife, and world-class waves.
Santa Teresa is a world of its own. It is still quite detached from the rest of Costa Rica because of its unpaved roads, but you’ll find here more than enough comforts and natural luxury to keep you happy and entertained for weeks on end.
New to Santa Teresa? Our compact Santa Teresa guide shows you the best areas to stay, restaurants you don’t want to miss and many more tips for your visit to Santa Teresa!
3 ways to get from Tamarindo to Santa Teresa
There are 3 ways you can travel the 190 km from Tamarindo to Santa Teresa: a 5-hour minivan, a 5-hour private transfer, or an 8.5-hour bus and ferry. Rates range from $15.50 (8,000 CRC) to $270 (144,000 CRC).
The minivan is our preferred ride for the Tamarindo to Santa Teresa route. It’s convenient and although it’s a shared ride, you will be picked up and dropped off at your hotels. A ticket costs $50 (27,000 CRC) for the 5-hour journey.
Travelling from Tamarindo to Santa Teresa in a group? A private transfer is a more flexible option as you can choose to depart anytime you want. Rates start from $270 (144,000 CRC) for a 4-seater minivan.
Taking public transport from Tamarindo to Santa Teresa is an adventure in itself. You will have to take 4 buses and 1 ferry, an 8.5-hour journey through paved streets, across a strait, and then through rough gravel roads. Does this sound seductive to you? If yes, then you’ll only need to spend $15.50 (8,000 CRC) for this journey.
Where to stay in Santa Teresa?
Still looking for accommodation? Don’t forget to check out our favourite places to stay in Santa Teresa at the bottom of this page.
Tamarindo to Santa Teresa by Minivan
As the public bus is quite a complicated journey for the route from Tamarindo to Santa Teresa, we recommend booking a minivan instead.
The driver will pick you up from your hotel in Tamarindo, travel 5 hours going south to Santa Teresa, and then drop you off at your hotel’s doorstep in Santa Teresa.
Interbus, Tropical Tours, and Tamarindo Shuttle are the three companies offering shared rides. Note that they require at least 3 passengers on board to push through with the trip. Ticket prices from Tamarindo to Santa Teresa start from $50 (27,000 CRC).
Tamarindo Shuttle does not have a specific schedule. For the other two, you can see below:
Minivan schedule from Santa Teresa by Minivan
Tropical Tours and Tamarindo Shuttle can be booked via their respective websites. With Interbus, you can buy your tickets online via BookAway, our preferred booking website for its excellent customer service.
Tamarindo to Santa Teresa by Private Transfer
If you’re travelling in a small group, you can also consider taking a private transfer. It’s quite expensive, but you can enjoy the comfort of your own private ride for the 5-hour journey.
Rates start from $270 (144,000 CRC) for a vehicle that can fit four people.
Check Private Transfers with BookAway
Tamarindo to Santa Teresa Bus + Ferry
Taking a bus and ferry from Tamarindo to Santa Teresa is nowhere near as convenient as the other options. But it’s a cheap alternative for the adventurous at heart.
The unfavourable road conditions between these two towns don’t allow for buses to operate directly. Instead, you’ll have to go all the way to Liberia and Puntarenas by land, hop on a ferry back to the Nicoya Peninsula (Paquera), and then travel by land again to Cobano and finally, Santa Teresa. A total of 4 buses and 1 ferry!
If you still want to push through with this option, you need to leave Tamarindo early. Or else we can’t guarantee that you’ll arrive in Santa Teresa on the same day.
PRO TIP: As you’ll be taking a lot of buses, we strongly urge you to be mindful of your luggage. Make sure your bigger bags are inside the luggage compartment before boarding each bus and don’t forget to get your luggage ticket. As for your smaller bags, try to put them in front of you (or between your legs) instead of the overhead bin.
Step 1: Tamarindo to Liberia by Bus
From Tamarindo, you’ll have to travel 80 km northeast to reach Liberia. You should be able to get a La Pampa bus every hour from 03:30 to 17:00 daily.
A ticket costs around $3 (2,000 CRC) and travel time is 1.5 hours.
Step 2: Liberia to Puntarenas by Bus
Upon arrival at the bus station in Liberia, we recommend asking around for the buses bound for Puntarenas. Simply say “Puntarenas” if you can’t speak in Spanish.
They should be available in the same station. But in some cases, you might be pointed to Pulmitan Bus Station just down the block.
From Liberia, you’ll then have to travel southeast to Puntarenas for around 3.5 hours. Buses depart almost every hour from 05:00 to 15:30.
You can buy a ticket for $5 (3,000 CRC). Buses park at Puntarenas Bus Stop, located 2 km east of Puntarenas Port.
Step 3: Puntarenas to Paquera by Ferry
From the bus terminal in Puntarenas, you can take a 5-minute taxi ride to Naviera Tambor Ferry Port. That should cost around $5 (3,000 CRC).
At the port, hop on a ferry bound for Paquera. A ticket costs $1.30 (1,000 CRC) per person. You can easily buy a ticket at the port, but you can also buy one beforehand on quickpaycr.
Travel time is a little over an hour.
Ferry schedule from Puntarenas to Paquera
Step 4: Paquera to Cobano by Bus
Buses are usually available in Paquera in time for ferry arrivals. Take one bound for Cobano, located 40 km southwest.
From Paquera onwards, expect some rough roads. It’s really scenic though, probably enough to take your mind off the bumpy ride.
The journey should take 1.5 hours. You can buy a ticket from the driver for $3 (2,000 CRC).
Step 5: Cobano to Santa Teresa by Bus
At the same bus station you arrive in Cobano, you can finally take a bus bound for Santa Teresa.
Also here, you can just buy your ticket from the driver. That should cost around $3 (2,000 CRC). Travel time is 50 minutes.
Our favourite places to stay in Santa Teresa
Lua Villas - Treating Yourself
It’s impossible not to feel relax as soon as you step into this tropical oasis. Everywhere you look in Lua Villas, there’s a piece of nature. There’s also a swimming pool, outdoor jacuzzi, open-air yoga space and even private yoga lessons on offer.
Instead of just a room, here you’ll get villa style accommodation with private kitchens, patios with garden or pool views and plenty of space to make yourself feel at home. The interior is spectacular.
- Swimming pool and jacuzzi
- Yoga deck
- Stunning gardens
- Spacious and beautiful villas
Studio rooms start from $80 per night
Cuatro Vientos Lodge & Apartments - Mid Range
After a day of cycling, snorkelling or surfing in Santa Teresa, you want to return home to a place that makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. That’s exactly how Cuatro Vientos Lodge & Apartments makes you feel.
The interior of this place oozes tranquility with it’s use of rustic wood, nuetral colours and open-air design. The hosts are incredibly friendly, and welcome you to make use of the communal cooking facilities and terrace areas.
- Beautiful design
- Great location
- Wonderful hosts
- Barbeque facilities
Double rooms start from $50-80 per night
Salty Enthusiasts Share House & Villas - Budget Friendly
It’s not easy to find budget-friendly accommodation in Santa Teresa, especially somewhere that’s actually nice to stay in. Salty Enthusiasts sits more in the mid-range catergory, but it’s one of the best affordable places to stay in Santa Teresa, and it’s beautiful.
The hotel feels like a massive treehouse, meant for relaxing and providing comfort. You can opt for either a dorm bed or a private room. Both are super clean, comfortable and thoughtfully designed. It’s a great place to meet other people too. They have lots of communal areas to chill out, and a shared kitchen.
- Close to the beach
- Sociable atmosphere
- Choice of dorm or private room
- Shared kitchen
Double rooms between $15-50 per night
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Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
