Where to stay
Central to all of it.
From Armonia, Playa Hermosa is a short ride north and Santa Teresa is a 90-second walk — base yourself in the middle and surf a different beach every day.
The wide, breezy beach just north — more room to spread out, longer waves to ride, and long barefoot walks at low tide.
A few minutes north of the main beach, Playa Hermosa opens up wide and breezy — the place to come when you want more sand and fewer footprints.
Its name simply means "beautiful beach," and it earns it: a long, generous sweep of shoreline backed by green hills, with more space between you and the next towel than you'll find in the busier center. The wind picks up here in the afternoons, which surfers and kite-watchers love, and the sunsets are every bit as good as Santa Teresa's — just quieter.
One quick note: Costa Rica has several beaches named Playa Hermosa. This is the one just north of Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula — not the Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste or near Jacó.
Hermosa's waves tend to be a little longer and more spread out than the punchier peaks of Santa Teresa, which makes it a favorite for longboarders and improving surfers looking for room to practice. With more beach to choose from, it's easier to find an uncrowded peak — especially in the mornings before the wind comes up.
Hermosa is where you go to slow down without leaving the area. Spend a morning surfing or walking the length of it, watch the kites and the wind, and you'll feel a world away from the center — even though it's just up the road. Pair a Hermosa morning with a Santa Teresa sunset and you've had the best of both.
From Armonia, Playa Hermosa is a short ride north and Santa Teresa is a 90-second walk — base yourself in the middle and surf a different beach every day.