#Nicoya Peninsula — Toorizta Articles

Things to Do in Montezuma: Book the Boat and the Night Paddle, Walk to Everything Else

Waterfall, Cabo Blanco, Isla Tortuga, ATV and the glowing night paddle: what each takes and costs in Montezuma, and the three to book before you arriv

A man and woman ride small whitewater waves on surfboards near shore in Nosara

Things to Do in Nosara: Book the Surf Morning and the Turtle Night, Leave the Rest Loose

Nosara runs on two clocks: the morning surf at Guiones and the dark-moon turtle nights at Ostional. What to book ahead and what to walk into. Ask us.

A forested coastline curves around a calm turquoise bay with a sandy beach and small rock outcrops

Getting to Santa Teresa: the Ferry Sails Eight Times a Day

The Puntarenas ferry to Paquera sails eight times a day, and the last hour into Santa Teresa is the slow one. Which arrival to book. Ask us.

Silhouetted people watching a vivid orange sunset over the ocean from a beach in Santa Teresa

Bioluminescence Near Santa Teresa: the Moonrise Decides Your Night

A bioluminescence kayak or boat near Santa Teresa only glows on a dark night. Use NASA moonrise times to pick the date, and book it 48 hours ahead.

Silhouette of a car ferry crossing the water at sunset with a glowing orange sky

Getting to Santa Teresa: the Ferry Timetable Picks Your Arrival Day

Naviera Tambor sails Puntarenas to Paquera eight times a day, and only some tickets sell online. Which sailing to aim for, and how to plan it. Ask us.

Waterfall cascading down a rocky cliff into a turquoise pool, surrounded by lush jungle trees

The Montezuma Waterfall Is Three Falls and Two Trails. Pick the Right One.

Three falls, two entrances, and a riverbed scramble harder than the photos suggest. Which Montezuma Waterfall route suits your group, and what to skip

Aerial view of a forested island with white sand beaches and boats anchored in turquoise water

Isla Tortuga From Santa Teresa: the Ride to the Boat Is Not Included

The Isla Tortuga boat leaves from the gulf side, not your beach, and the ride to the dock is not in the price. What a seven hour day with kids needs.

Cars and trucks loaded on a vehicle ferry deck, crossing a bay toward green hills

Getting to Santa Teresa: the Ferry Runs Eight Times a Day

Naviera Tambor sails Puntarenas to Paquera eight times a day, so the ferry is not your risk. Daylight is. How to plan your Santa Teresa arrival.

Secluded sandy beach with scattered rocks, lined by dense tropical forest and palm trees along the shore

Santa Teresa Without a Surfboard: Cabo Blanco Is Shut Mondays and Tuesdays

Cabo Blanco closes Mondays and Tuesdays, per SINAC. How to plan a non-surf day in Santa Teresa around the gate, the tide and the moon. Ask us.

A surf instructor high-fives a student standing on a surfboard in the waves at Santa Teresa

Your First Surf Lesson in Santa Teresa: Which Beach, and Which Hour

Playa Hermosa for your first wave, Playa Carmen when it is small, and the break beginners should leave alone. How to pick a Santa Teresa surf lesson.

Glowing blue bioluminescent waves wash over dark rocks and sand at night on the shore

In Santa Teresa, Book the Moonless Night First

Santa Teresa's glow tour only sails on moonless nights, and the boats leave from the Paquera dock, which you drive to yourself. What to book first.

Silhouette of a surfer carrying a surfboard along the beach as the sun sets over the ocean

Getting to Santa Teresa: Which Ferry Your Landing Hour Lets You Catch

Naviera Tambor sails Puntarenas to Paquera eight times a day, the last at 10pm. Which crossing your landing hour allows, and when to fly instead.

How to Get to Santa Teresa: Work Backwards From the 3 p.m. Ferry

Eight gulf crossings a day, and the 3 p.m. is the last with light to spare. How to pick your route to Santa Teresa from the hour you land. Ask us.

Getting to Montezuma: Should Your Car Ride the Ferry?

Naviera Tambor sails Puntarenas to Paquera eight times a day. Whether your rental car rides along decides your Montezuma arrival. Here is how to choos

Guests relax in a resort pool lined with palm trees and a stone wall, with wooden deck and umbrellas nearby

Where to Stay in Santa Teresa: Playa Carmen, the Town Road, or Playa Hermosa

Santa Teresa is one road with four pockets. Which to book for walk-to-dinner ease, quieter sleep and no rental vehicle, plus the Cabo Blanco catch.

Aerial view of a curved sandy beach with turquoise waves, rocky shoreline, and palm trees along a forested coastline

Montezuma or Santa Teresa: Where Should Your Group Sleep?

Montezuma is walkable and quiet. Santa Teresa is surf, dinner and one long road. How a group of friends picks one Nicoya base, and what it costs. Ask

A blue jeep on a rural road seen through a vehicle window, with palm-dotted hills in the distance

Should Your Rental Car Ride the Ferry to Montezuma?

Montezuma is walkable and the bus reaches Cabo Blanco. Here is what a rental car on the Paquera ferry really buys you, and the operator's real times.

Rocky shoreline overlooking a beach town lined with palm trees and a jungle-covered hillside in Montezuma, Costa Rica

Where to Stay in Montezuma: the Town, the Hill, or the Cabuya Side

Montezuma's base decision is the hill, not the hotel list. How town, hillside and the Cabuya side differ, plus the two days Cabo Blanco is shut. Ask u

A car ferry crosses calm blue water with forested islands and hills in the background

Getting to Montezuma: Which Ferry Crossing to Aim For

Eight ferries a day cross to Paquera. Which one you catch sets your arrival in Montezuma, and your last morning. Naviera Tambor's published times.

Golden-hour light over a Pacific beach and palms on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula near Nosara

The Nosara Costa Rica Travel Guide: Surf, Yoga, and the Nicoya Life (2026)

A local's guide to Nosara, Costa Rica: where to surf, the yoga scene, best beaches, when to go, how to get there, and where to stay in the Nicoya Blue