Santa Teresa in December: Weather, Surf and Beach Days, and What to Do

In December the dirt road through Santa Teresa turns pale with dust, and just before sunset the whole town drifts toward the water. Surfers walk back from the break with boards under their arms, yoga classes let out barefoot, and the cafes fill with people comparing waves. At the Nicoya Peninsula’s southwestern tip, December is here, with the green season only just finished, the high season beginning, and long, bright days.

The beach at Santa Teresa in the dry season · Illustration

What is the weather like in Santa Teresa in December?

December is hot, bright and mostly dry in Santa Teresa, a clear break from the soaking weeks of November. Rain still falls on a few days, but it is usually a brief passing shower rather than the long afternoon downpours of the green season.

Month	Average high (°F)	Average low (°F)	Rain days	Sea (°F)
November	81.3	75.6	16.5	83.5
December	82.5	76.0	4.9	84.7
January	84.2	76.5	1.2	85.5

Mornings start warm and already bright, with the sun climbing over the hills behind town. By midday the heat is real, so the best hours for a long walk on the sand or a surf session are early and late. Afternoons are made for shade, a cold coconut or a hammock.

You can have dinner outdoors in a T-shirt on most nights, but bring something light in case an ocean breeze starts blowing. When rain does come, it tends to be short, and the road can turn muddy before the dust returns. In a dry stretch the dirt road throws up clouds behind every quad bike and truck, so a light scarf or bandana is handy.

The light is the real treat. Days are long enough to fit in a morning surf, a late lunch and a sunset, and the sea, warmer than most people expect, stays pleasant at any hour. Sunscreen matters more than a rain jacket.

Can you swim in Santa Teresa in December?

The ocean is warm in December, but conditions can make a long swim unsafe at any time of day. That warmth is the easy part. The harder one is the Pacific itself, which is the reason surfers come here.

The long beach in front of town is open to the ocean, and waves are often the main event. Some days they are friendly enough for bodyboarding and playing in the shallows, on others they are heavy and the water pulls hard.

Mornings are typically cleaner for surfing, and beginners will find lessons and board rentals along the main road. Snorkeling is not the draw here, since the beach is built for waves rather than calm, clear coves.

Rip currents pose a serious threat, drowning several U.S. tourists each year, and at most beaches no lifeguards are on duty and nothing warns of dangerous conditions.

Nervous swimmers do better wading in the shallows than going out past the breaking waves. Bring a rash guard, a hat and plenty of water.

What to do in Santa Teresa in December

Santa Teresa is a surf and yoga town strung along a dirt road behind a long beach, and it is also a base for outings to Mal Pais, Montezuma and Cabo Blanco. Small hotels string up lights, cafes hang decorations, and visitors arrive for the start of the high season.

The big Christmas events happen in San Jose, with the Festival de la Luz, a night parade of illuminated floats, in early and mid-December, the Tope horse parade on December 26 and the Zapote festival from Christmas to New Year’s. Here the celebration is quieter and lives on the beach and in the restaurants.

Posadas and Christmas lights mark the first weeks of the month, and local restaurants lean into the season with family tables and special menus. Expect the main road to feel festive after dark, with music drifting from open-air bars and people strolling between dinner and a late drink.

Surfing and the beach routine

Surfing is the reason most people come. The beach offers a number of breaks from one end to the other, and because the weather stays dry, storms cut into your time less often. Beginners can take a lesson with one of the many schools along the road, while experienced surfers head out early when the wind is lightest.

The best rhythm is simple. Surf in the morning, rest through the hottest hours, then come back to the sand for the last light. Sunset is the town’s daily gathering, with surfers still in the water, people on the sand and cafes along the road filling up. The tide changes how much beach is available, so walk early if you want a wide, empty stretch.

Bring more sunscreen than you think you need. The sun is strong and the reflection off the water adds to it, so a rash guard and a hat are worth having even on a cloudy morning.

Yoga, cafes and slow mornings

Yoga is the other pillar of the town. Studios and open-air shalas schedule classes at sunrise and late afternoon, which suits December’s heat, and many welcome drop-ins. A class before breakfast leaves the rest of the day free for the beach.

Breakfast here means smoothie bowls, fresh fruit, eggs with gallo pinto (rice and beans) and strong Costa Rican coffee. At midday, order a casado, the classic plate that comes with rice, beans, salad and plantain, along with your choice of fish, chicken or beef. Fresh fish is the natural pick in a beach town, and a cold fruit drink from a roadside stand is the best answer to the afternoon heat.

In the evening the dining scene stretches from simple sodas to restaurants with wood-fired ovens and tables under the trees. Wandering the road at dusk and choosing whatever smells best is a perfectly good plan.

Walks, small shops and the town itself

When you want a break from the water, visit the small shops and cafes along the road, but watch carefully for traffic. Small shops sell handmade jewelry, beachwear and surf gear, and the road is lined with cafes where you can sit with a book for an hour or two.

The dirt road is dusty in the dry season, which is the mood of December, so closed shoes are less useful than sandals and a cloth to cover your face when traffic passes. Walk on the beach side whenever you can, and keep an eye out for the quad bikes that share the road.

A two-day itinerary for Santa Teresa in December

Day 1 starts early, with a coffee and a surf lesson while the water is cleanest and the heat is still gentle. The day is about getting the feel of the beach, so stay close to the sand. Daylight lasts about eleven and a half hours, which leaves room for a full day without rushing.

By late morning, head for a smoothie bowl or a plate of fresh fish at a casual spot along the road, then rest through the hottest part of the day. Dinner can be a relaxed table at one of the open-air restaurants, followed by a slow stroll back along the lit road.

Day 2 begins with a sunrise yoga class, which suits the cooler morning air. Afterward, take a long breakfast at a cafe and spend the late morning browsing the small shops and arts stalls in town. Lunch can be a simple casado at a local soda.

In the afternoon, rent a bicycle or walk along the road to a quieter stretch of beach, away from the main surf crowd. Come back for a final sunset and dinner somewhere with a view. If a shower rolls in, shift to a cafe, a massage or a long lunch under a roof and wait for the sky to clear.

Is Santa Teresa busy in December?

Yes, December is when the town begins to fill, because it marks the start of the high season. The surf and yoga crowd arrives, and the holiday weeks bring families and groups who plan far in advance.

The early part of the month is calmer, with quieter beaches and easier tables at restaurants. The weeks around Christmas and New Year’s are the busiest, and rooms, rental cars and popular dinner spots go first. Book early for those holiday weeks and for anything with a view. For the first half of the month, you can plan with more flexibility, although the best small hotels still fill up.

Even at its busiest, Santa Teresa keeps its barefoot feel, and the crowd is spread along a long beach. The pinch points are the road, which has to carry cars, quad bikes and pedestrians, and the sunset spots, where everyone gathers at the same hour.

Surf lessons and yoga classes may also book up during the holiday weeks, so check availability early. A table at a popular restaurant is easier at the start of the evening than at the usual dinner hour.

What to pack for Santa Teresa in December

Pack light and think about sun, sand and dust. The days are hot and the evenings are warm, so most of your wardrobe can be beachwear.

Sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat, since the sun is strong all day.
A rash guard, which protects you from the sun and from board rash.
Sandals and flip-flops, because the road is dusty and the beach is never far.
A light scarf or bandana to cover your face when the road is dusty.
A reusable water bottle for the heat.
A thin layer for breezy evenings.

Good to know before you go

The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, ‘Exercise increased caution,’ due to crime; it says petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica and that violent crime also affects tourists, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault.

December is the start of the high season, so book rooms first, then cars and any lessons you want. The dirt road through town is dusty in the dry season and can turn muddy after a rain, so allow extra time for getting around.

Because the holiday celebrations are centered in San Jose, check the dates if you plan to pass through the capital on the way. Rip currents are a real concern on this coast, so ask locally about conditions before entering the water.

Santa Teresa in December vs November and January

Moving the trip earlier to November means a very different feel. The green season is still in charge, with rain on most days, a muddier road and a quieter town. Rooms are easier to find and the beach is emptier, but you trade bright days for a more unpredictable sky. The sea is slightly cooler, though still warm.

Moving later to January brings the driest weather, with almost no rain, hotter afternoons and a warmer sea. The high season is in full swing, so the town is busier and the dust is at its peak. It is the driest of the three months shown, but it cannot guarantee sunshine and it is less suited to anyone hoping for a quiet beach.

December sits between them. It has the green hills and the first dry days, with the festive mood and a town that is lively but not yet packed. Choose November for quiet and flexibility, January for the surest sun, and December for a balance of both.

Is December a good time to visit Santa Teresa?

Yes, December is a very good time to visit, especially for surfers, yoga fans and anyone who wants long bright days and a warm sea without the downpours of the green season.

Those who prefer a quiet, empty beach, or who dislike dust and holiday crowds, may be happier in another month. If you have young kids along, ask the hotel or a surf school about that day’s conditions, keep them within arm’s reach, and keep them out of the water whenever conditions are uncertain.

Once you get there, stroll the beach at an easy pace to check the water, then check with a nearby surf school or your hotel about conditions before you head in. Settle into the rhythm of early mornings and late afternoons, and keep the hot middle of the day for shade and a long lunch.

What makes December special is the mood. The hills are still green from the rains, the sunsets draw the whole town to the sand, and the Christmas lights on a dusty dirt road give the place a festive, barefoot charm you will not find at any other time of year.

Sources

Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 9.6458N 85.1698W, checked October 8, 2026
Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 8, 2026
sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 8, 2026
U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Information, Safety and security (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html), checked October 8, 2026
U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Advisory, issued April 1, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/costa-rica-travel-advisory.html), read via the State Department open data API on October 8, 2026