The best time of year to visit Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa is a year-round destination — it's warm every month, the surf rarely sleeps, and even the rainy season has its devotees. But the experience does change with the seasons, and the right timing depends on what your group is after: dry skies and a buzzing town, or emptier beaches and better value. Here's how the year breaks down.

The two seasons

Costa Rica's Pacific coast runs on two seasons rather than four. The dry season (roughly December to April) brings sunshine, low humidity and dusty roads — this is the postcard version of Santa Teresa and the busiest stretch of the year. The green season (roughly May to November) brings afternoon rains that turn the hills lush; mornings are often bright and clear, with showers building later in the day. Temperatures stay remarkably steady all year, generally in the high twenties to low thirties Celsius (low eighties to low nineties Fahrenheit).

December to April — dry season

This is peak season for good reason. Reliable sun, warm evenings and a lively town make it the easiest time to plan a trip where everything goes smoothly. The trade-off is crowds and higher prices, especially over the Christmas–New Year window and Easter week (Semana Santa), which are the busiest dates of the entire year. If you want this period — particularly the holidays — book well ahead, because the best villas go first.

May to November — green season

Don't write off the green season. May, June and into July often deliver gorgeous mornings with rain arriving only in the afternoon, and the landscape is at its most beautiful — everything is green, the gardens are full, and the crowds thin out. You'll usually find better value and a more relaxed pace. The wettest, most unpredictable stretch is typically September and October, when some businesses take a quieter month; if your group is flexible and budget-minded, though, even these months can be rewarding and very peaceful.

When's the surf best?

Santa Teresa has surf all year, which is part of its appeal. Generally the bigger, more consistent swells arrive during the green season (around May to November), making it the favourite window for experienced surfers chasing size. The dry season tends to be a touch smaller and cleaner — friendlier for beginners and mixed-ability groups. Whenever you come, there's a break to suit you, as we cover in our guide to planning a group surf trip.

Wildlife and special moments

Costa Rica's Pacific is a humpback whale corridor, with watching opportunities across parts of both seasons. The nearby Cabo Blanco reserve and the wider peninsula are alive with monkeys, birds and coatis whatever the month. Green season's lushness also means the most dramatic skies and sunsets — Santa Teresa's golden hour is something of a local ritual year-round.

So when should your group come?

For most groups wanting the surest weather and the liveliest atmosphere, January to April is the sweet spot — just book early and brace for higher rates. For better value, fewer people and a greener backdrop, aim for the shoulder months of May, June or November, when you get much of the upside with far less of the crowd. Whichever you choose, a private estate makes the weather almost irrelevant: with the pool, shaded terraces, games room and chef's kitchen, an afternoon shower just becomes part of the rhythm.

That's the quiet advantage of basing your group at Tanit Villa — there's always somewhere to be, rain or shine, across the 700 m² estate and its grounds. If you have rough dates in mind, the easiest next step is to tell us your timing and we'll let you know what's open.

Family dinners on the deck, monkeys in the trees, and serene rainy nights — we couldn't have asked for a better experience.