Surfing is just one of the many things tourists can look forward to when visiting Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, but it is certainly an experienced that should not be missed. When planning a vacation getaway to this part of the world with the intent to explore the pristine blue waters, it is imperative to find out all about surfing in Santa Teresa, particularly the best beaches and stores.

Finding the Best Gear Many tourists who travel to Santa Teresa and other neighboring towns in Costa Rica have never been into surfing or any kind of water sports until they found the perfect spot to learn. Incidentally, the first stop for every surfing enthusiast (or novice for that matter) is the gear shop where all the essentials are sold. Rental arrangements for surfing gear are also available for tourists who simply want to try the sport for the first time and see if they like it.

Excellent Surfing Hotspots

One of the best things about visiting Santa Teresa is that it is the perfect place for both novice as well as expert surfers. The waves are much more reliable and predictable compared to other beaches in the area. What’s more is that these perfect surfing spots are just a few steps away from the hotels so there is not much on-foot travel involved for tourists.

There are dedicated maps created for the sole purpose of directing people to the best surfing spots in the area. This makes it very easy to stake an area nearest to one’s accommodations, not to mention convenient for when you want to explore other surfing spots.

Water Safety

First time surfers are advised to stick to calmer waters (which are clearly indicated in the surfing maps) in order to avoid any untoward incident. The upside is that there are not that many surfing-related accidents over the past few years in Santa Teresa, and surfers tend to watch out for each other. Prior to hitting the surf, people are advised to know what the tides are like so they know exactly what to expect. The buddy system is quite an effective technique to maintaining safety in the water, especially for those who have not yet tested the waters.

Learning Surfing Basics from Experts

Among the best things about Santa Teresa is that it is not one of those highly commercialized tourist spots that almost mimic the busy life in the city. However, you can still get professional help if and when you need it, especially when it comes to learning water sports such as surfing. Many locals as well as foreign transplants offer basic surfing lessons to adults as well as children who are interested in learning this exhilarating sport.

While you might need to take quite a few sessions before you become good at it, there is no doubt that the learning experience itself would be one that is fun-filled and enjoyable. Soaking up the rays in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica is an experience that can be enhanced by trying various activities such as surfing and other watersports.

This is something that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, making it a great family activity while on vacation.

 
We all live very busy lifestyles, spend most of our time in our minds, planning, finding solutions….but to really tap into our intuition we need to connect to our hearts more. Your yoga practice is not only about creating more strength, but also about softening to go deeper, learning to allow, receive and expand more in your life. The ultimate goal of yoga is liberation and freedom, the dissolution of resistance, when life flows and we are happy exactly where we are and not missing anything. Come and practice with us here in Paradise and let Nature be your guide to go deeper and surrender into the Beauty. We offer daily classes, individual yoga vacation packages and retreats with experienced and certified teachers who are happy to inspire you

Location:

Montezuma yoga is located at Los Mangos Resort, which is in the middle of town, and easy to find. The yoga deck has a view of the ocean, and is the most popular place for visitors to practice yoga while on vacation.

Dagmar Spremberg:

Dagmar is the founder & director of Montezuma Yoga. While growing up in Germany all she could envision for herself was a life in the sunshine and under the palm trees. After 20 years of soul searching and many detours that let her explore city life in Los Angeles and New York, she found her dream life by the beach in the lush & tropical nature of Costa Rica . Through her own experience she learned and believes that everybody can live their dreams and that our work is to become clear and open to receive the gifts we all deserve.

In her yoga classes she emphasizes on softening and deepening of the breath as the key to unlock your potential and your intuition that will lead you to live the life of your dreams. What she has learned from living in nature is that we have all lost the deeper connection to source and that it is very important to return to nature to find stillness and to re-connect to our hearts and inner voices to live our life to the fullest.

When not in her home in Montezuma, Dagmar travels with her life partner Gaudan to teach vinyasa flow & hang music classes and retreats, that will guide you to get back into your flow and to celebrate stillness as well as finding your unique gifts.

Upcoming Retreats 2013/14:

June 22-29, 2013: Ibiza – Sold Out

Nov 23-29, 2013: www.thesanctuarycostarica.com/yoga-retreat-vacations/calendar#flow-nov23

Jan 4-11, 2014: www.anamayaresort.com/celebrating-stillness-vinyasa-flow-hang-music-retreat/

Contact:

Website: www.montezumayoga.com
Email: montezumayoga@gmail.com
Phone: 2642-1311

Montezuma Yoga Video

Focused on Yoga Retreats, Anamaya alternates between week long retreats with various mixed themes such as yoga+surfing, yoga & wellness, yoga & scuba diving, and month-long Yoga Teacher Trainings.

Contact:

Website: Anamaya Resort
Facebook: Anamaya Fanpage
Phone: +506 2642-1289
TIES: Anamaya Ecolodge
Yoga Journal: Anamaya in Yoga Journal
Yoga Finder: YogaFinder Listing

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Click for an AMAZING VPIX Virtual Tour of Kalapiti

Kalapiti is an amazing, luxury villa operating as a boutique hotel in the Delicias / Montezuma area. It has a lot to offer, but it has achieved an almost legendary status in the area based on its spectacular swimming pool, which is really something out of this world, and probably the primary reason that people rent the house.

Pricing

Kapapiti has three rental suites, that range from $250-$1100 per night depending on the season.

During high season, there’s a minimum stay, but most of the year you can stay for a single day if you wish.

Contact

Website: http://kalapiti.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/KALAPITI/191658710907170

We’re hoping to provide you with the best and most thoroughly researched information about the Montezuma area, including nearby beach towns. We tend to feature companies and websites that have a more eco-minded focus, or also because they are the best in their respective categories. Some have made an exceptional commitment to the town by supporting community projects, volunteers, or show leadership in helping with various issues.

All the towns in the Southern Nicoya Peninsula are growing, with more people moving to the area all the time. Although some are leaving, more area always coming. Those of us who live here are very concerned about this inevitable growth and development, and are hoping to attract great people who will tread lightly on this part of the earth. Condominium developers and people who want to open a McDonalds or a casino aren’t on our list of best friends, because these places tend to bring the type of tourist who isn’t as educated or concerned about the environment. Most of us who have moved here are happy to be away from that type of toxic culture. We live at near the end of the earth here. When there’s a Burger King and Starbucks in every beach town, where else will there be to go where we can enjoy an authentic culture free from the influence of big money and international corporations?

Costa Rica Scuba Diving – Costa Rica Scuba Guide – Cocos Island, Isla de Murcielagos, Catalina Islands, wreck dives, Tortuga Island, scuba shops, scuba certification classes, etc

Costa Rica Surfing – Surfing in Costa Rica – surf spots, surf reports, surf shops, and more

Costa Rica Yoga Retreats – Montezuma’s health and wellness center, Anamaya Resort, has yoga retreats and yoga teacher training, dance classes, aerial silk, and more.

Fire Dancing School – La Escuela del Sol – Montezuma Fire Dancing, Yoga, Surfing, and Spanish Language School

Manifesto Gathering – Manifesto Gathering, on January 18-23, 2008 will bring artists, musicians, and talented people from around the world to Malpais for several days of festivities

Santa Teresa Beachfront House for Rent – Santa Teresa’s most affordable beachfront house is now available for rent. Malpais beach house, beachfront villa. Beach hotel.

Rainsong Wildlife Sanctuary – Animal and Jungle Conservation Project located in Cabuya, but serving the entire southern
Nicoya Peninsula.

Costa Rica has become known as one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Tourists from around the globe travel year-round to visit its two coasts, Pacific and Caribbean, as well as the mainland, which has active volcanoes, white-water rafting, scores of gorgeous rainforest areas, and a plethora of jungle animals, birds, bats, insects, and all types of living creatures.

The tourism infrastructure is well developed, with everything from $10/night budget beachfront hostels in towns like Montezuma, to $1000/night five star resorts like the Four Seasons Papagayo. Eco and adventure travel is very popular here as well. Zip lining (canopy tours), guided night hikes, serpentariums, and biological gardens abound in many areas throughout Costa Rica.

The beaches of Costa Rica are a big draw, with surfing as the most popular activity, but Costa Rica also has one of the world’s top ten scuba diving sites at Cocos Island (Isla de Coco) which is also listed as an International Heritage site. Newer water sports such as Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) are quickly becoming popular as well, and most beach areas have at least one instructor or school that teaches it.

The Osa Peninsula get particular attention from lovers and protectors of wildlife, due to its many high end eco-lodges, many of which are run by solar power and nestled within forests of huge ancient trees. The Osa is said to be the world’s most biologically intense place on earth, with a greater diversity of species, per area, than any other place in the world.

Costa Rica – Costa Rica travel and tourism website – hotels, real estate, activities, surfing, yoga, all-inclusive resorts

All Inclusive Vacation Rental Vacations in Costa Rica – All our luxurious vacation villas come with a full food service meal plan – the best in fresh seafood, gourmet cooking, all in houses overlooking the beautiful Manuel Antonio Park and Beach.

Costa Rica All Inclusive Hotels and Resorts – Guide to Costa Rica’s all-inclusive hotels, resorts, yoga retreat centers

Guide to Costa Rica’s Beaches – Beach towns, surf spots, beach real estate, etc in Costa Rica

Cariblue Hotel Costa Rica Hotels, Resorts – Your Caribbean resort in Puerto Viejo, Limon, Costa Rica, the ideal place to relax and enjoy nature in comfort.

Costa Rica Rum Cake Company – Coconut & Chocolate – Tropicakes of Costa Rica uses a four-generationold family recipe, combined with local flavors to now export rum cakes internationally.

Costa Rica Map – Online – Costa Rica Maps, driving directions and travel guide – Detailed maps and directions to San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Arenal, Monteverde and many other destinations.

Costa Rica Dental Clinic, Cosmetic Dentistry – Colina Dental Clinic, with a staff of experienced cosmetic dentists and oral surgeons, offers first class dental services at affordable prices.

Costa Rica Rental Cars by Service Car Rentals – Service Car Rentals offers good value on quality cars and 4 wheel drive
utility vehicles with many drop off points within Costa Rica. Deal with a trusted local dealer whose emphasis is on service.

Costa Rica Hot Springs – The Blue River Resort / Hotel features hot springs – four spectacular natural mineral “green” hot spring pools and a large fresh water pool, a spa, botanical gardens, butterfly farm and more.

Costa Rica Hotels – Beach, Mountain & Nature Lodges – The Adventure Hotels of Costa Rica is a non-profit association of 64 small eco-friendly, owner-operated, value-priced hotels strategically located throughout Costa Rica. Pre-screened and selected for their overall quality, you’ll find a well run variety of beach, cloud forest, mountain, sport fishing, yoga and spa hotels and lodges, guaranteed to make your vacation to Costa Rica a memorable experience.

Discount Flights to Costa Rica – If you’re coming to Costa Rica on vacation or business, check out www.flightscostarica.org for the best airfare prices among different air carriers.

Move, Live & Retire in Costa Rica Video – Live and Retire in Costa Rica and learn how from this video which includes four interviews with people who have made the decision and successfully made the move to a tropical lifestyle.

Others:

Florida Acupuncture, Yoga, Reiki, Herbology, Acupuncture, Tui Na, and Food Therapy Center – The Complete Wellness Center works through methods of yoga, acupuncture and traditional Chinese Medicine to enhance your quality of life in body, mind and spirit.

In addition, many eco-minded couples and families are jumping onto the eco-village concept, and are buying empty lots within eco communties, hoping to build a small vacation home or even immigrate one day. A few such places are shown here in another article: Eco villages and eco real estate.

Purchasing real estate in Costa Rica is a very simple process, as long as it isn’t within 200 meters of the high tide line at the beach (this type of land has special rules.) Costa Rica’s real estate laws are primitive or non-existent, but they apply equally to both foreigners and Costa Ricans. The most important thing is to have a very trustworthy realtor and lawyer. Keep in mind that going with a “brand name” real estate agency is no guarantee of honesty or quality, since they are not regulated by the parent organizations, so the best thing to do is to check online for companies that have a good reputation and then to ask around to people who live in the area.

Real estate taxes are very low (less than 1%), but maintaining a property is often more expensive than people think, due to the high cost of imported materials, the often poor workmanship during construction, and the heavy wear-and-tear that results from Costa Rica’s harsh climate of intense sun and rain. Homes near the beach need even more maintenance. Luckily, a cute house can gain a good income as a vacation rental, usually enough to pay all these bills and generate a profit too.

Realtor.com – Website all about real estate. Did you know that the term “realtor” is a trademark?

Malpais Real Estate Real Estate in the Malpais and Santa Teresa area.

Montezuma Real Estate Real Estate in the Montezuma area.

Osa Peninsula Real Estate Osa Peninsula Real Estate with a focus on the Matapalo area.

Paquera Real Estate Paquera Real Estate – Naranjo Real Estate – Lepanto Real Estate – Curu Real Estate

Playa Coyote Real Estate Real Estate in the Playa Coyote, San Miguel, Punta Islita, and other beach areas in southern Guanacaste.

Costa Rica Real Estate – Montezuma Tropisphere Real Estate – serving Santa Teresa, Malpais, Montezuma, Manzanillo, Tambor and surrounding areas.

Wikipedia Real Estate – Wikipedia’s comprehensive article all about real estate. A good source of general information but not specifically about Costa Rica.

Why Costa Rica for sustainable communities? Costa Rica has nurtured a “green” image for decades, and although there are many problems and inconsistencies, in general, the country is walking its talk in many ways. For example, Costa Rica eliminated it’s army in the 1950′s and continues to be one of the world’s only countries without a military. It’s national park system is one of the largest in the world by percentage of land area covered. The United Nations chose Costa Rica for it’s Peace University. Costa Rica is on track to be the world’s first “carbon neutral” country. Costa Rica is often rated the “world’s happiest country” because of these and other factors.

So, many idealists from around the world that are unhappy with their own country’s cultures of violence and toxic lifestyles are looking for a stable place to immigrate, and Costa Rica often comes up at the top of the list.

Eco Village Wiki Eco Village Wikipedia article with all you need to know about them.

Eco Village Directory List – Top site listing all the world’s eco-villages.

Eco Village in Costa Rica – The latest eco village in the Montezuma/Santa Teresa area, located in Delicias, at the center of the peninsula, and includes an organic farm, tilapia ponds, a green building research center, and a volunteer project.

Costa Rica Eco Village – Pura Vida Sunsets – affordable lots in an eco-inspired community in Montezuma. Check the website for lots of information on tropical green building.

Eco-Community – Solar Vistas – Costa Rica’s first solar-powered community, located in the Malpais/Santa Teresa area. Uses the best of tropical green building technology and ideas.

Green Building, Costa Rica – Sustainable development, green construction and eco-house ideas that are applicable in the Montezuma, Malpais, and Tambor areas of Costa Rica.

Montezuma School – Escuela Futuro Verde – a new high-quality private school in Montezuma serving Malpais and Tambor as well.

Costa Rica Green Portal Pura-Verde.com – Costa Rica’s online guide to everything green, sustainable, healthy, and spiritual.

Craving a chic atmosphere with high quality healthy food and locally grown fresh organic fruit smoothies? Well, then Organico is the place for you! Settled in the heart of Montezuma, you can sip on anything from espresso to mango, papaya & avocado ice cream shakes. Here you can find vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options along with your typical Costa Rican dishes. Come and enjoy Montezuma with a taste of homemade gelato (vegan friendly) bread and cakes, cappuccino, the special pancake, ceviche, or a simple casado with secret and natural ingredients.

Natural products are available for sale: coconut oil, carao, spirulina, different natural herbs and much more!

Organico also provides yoga and a “book crossing” corner. Last but not least, the new Organico created the one and only Live Music project in Montezuma! Every Monday has “open mic” where anyone can play, and each day you can find eclectic bands and art expressions!

No doubt that Cafe Organico is one of the coolest spots in Montezuma. With healthy food prepared by its Italian owner and chef, and its regular “open mic” event, Organico is one of the favorite spots in Montezuma, adding a lot of color and flair to this already exotic tropical town.

Open mic night is Monday, generally starting at 4:30pm in the afternoon, and can go into the night.

Cafe Organico is owned by Liv Macchia, who has created an exceptional menu breathing new life into the business through various means such as by helping support the local music scene with its open mic night.

The current menu use mostly organic produce, and has a mix of Caribbean, Italian, Seafood, Vegan, Vegetarian and “Soul Food”.

Check out this video from New Years Eve 2011, with thousands of people in Montezuma’s town center:

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Yesterday we were very fortunate to come across a nest of baby turtles hatching and scampering down to the sea.

The tourists gathered around and protected them from birds and dogs, and helped a bit when they got stuck. You aren’t supposed to help them too much… they need to stretch out their muscles to get ready for swimming in the surf.

These baby sea turtles are probably Olive Ridleys, and they came from a natural nest on Playa Montezuma, very close to the protected nest area where there’s a project to protect them. It seemed a miracle that this nest wasn’t spotted by the volunteers or egg poachers, and we were happy to see all the babies make it into the ocean unhurt.