Santa Teresa in November: Weather, Swimming, Surf and What to Do

In Santa Teresa in November, when afternoon grows late, surfers head back from the beach carrying boards beneath their arms, and the dirt road shines orange from dust and the low sun, as clouds gather above the hills. The town smells of wood-fired pizza, coconut and sunscreen. November brings the green season to the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, a month of verdant hills, mild seas and a calmer, shoeless take on a well-known surf town.

The beach at Santa Teresa in the rainiest months · Illustration

What is the weather like in Santa Teresa in November?

November is hot, humid and wet in Santa Teresa, with rain that falls on more days than not but rarely lasts all day. The month sits at the tail end of the rainy season, and the hills are at their greenest.

Month	Average high (°F)	Average low (°F)	Rain days	Sea (°F)
October	80.9	75.4	25.6	85.5
November	81.3	75.6	16.5	83.5
December	82.5	76.0	4.9	84.7

Mornings are usually the best part of the day. Early sunshine is common, the air already feels warm, and the water catches a gentle light, so this is when surf lessons, yoga on an open-air deck and long beach walks fit best. November has frequent rain, and heavy downpours can turn the dirt road to mud.

Nights stay warm enough that you will not want more than a light layer, and the air never really cools. Wear quick-drying clothes, sandals and a thin rain shell, and expect things left damp to stay damp. The rain has eased noticeably from the month before, so gray stretches are shorter and the sun comes back more often.

Since daytime lasts slightly less than twelve hours, darkness arrives early at night. Dinner is usually eaten after a sunset that often puts on a show when clouds break at the horizon.

Can you swim in Santa Teresa in November?

The water is warm in November, but swimming conditions depend on the surf and rip currents. Marine data puts the surface water in the low 80s, a shade warmer than a daily average since it reflects afternoon highs.

Warm does not mean gentle. Facing the open Pacific, Santa Teresa has a long beach that is first and foremost a surf beach, with waves that can get sizable and a current that pulls.

Rip currents prove fatal every year, leading to multiple drownings among U.S. tourists, but most beaches in this area lack both lifeguards and warning signs. At your lodging, find out what the sea is doing that day, obey flags wherever they exist, and regard the water’s edge as somewhere to wade, float or play, never swim by yourself, and keep children close enough to touch.

Families and nervous swimmers should ask locally about conditions and stay out of the water when the surf is rough. Surfers face thinner lineups than in the dry months. Pack a rash guard to block the sun and prevent chafing against your board, plus sunscreen to put on again once each session ends.

What to do in Santa Teresa in November

November here is about the sea, the trees and the slower rhythm of the green season. The one fixed date on the calendar is November 2, All Souls’ Day (Dia de los Difuntos), a national holiday.

It is a quiet, family day across Costa Rica. In the highlands, the coffee harvest starts toward the end of the year, though it is not something Santa Teresa itself is known for.

The town is a long strip of dirt road with small hotels, cafes, juice bars and bakeries tucked among the trees. There is no formal center, and that is part of its charm. Mornings are for moving, afternoons for resting when the rain moves in, and evenings for a table outside once the downpour passes.

Surfing and the beach

Surfing draws the crowds here, and you will find no shortage of lessons, places to rent gear, and boards leaning on fences around town. In November there are fewer people in the lineup, which is a plus for beginners who want space and for experienced surfers who want waves without the crowd. The beach breaks are long and sandy-bottomed, and lessons are easy to arrange locally.

Go early, when the wind tends to be lighter and the surface cleaner. Midday heat is strong, and afternoon storms can roll in quickly. If lightning appears, get out of the water right away. Waves vary a lot from one day to the next, so ask a local instructor which stretch is best that morning.

Yoga, food and slow afternoons

Santa Teresa has a deep yoga culture, with open-air studios among the trees where classes often run at sunrise and late afternoon. The rain gives these a particular mood, with the sound of water on the roof and the smell of wet earth. Drop-in classes are common, and many travelers build their days around one morning and one evening session.

The food leans toward fresh fish, ceviche, smoothie bowls, tacos and wood-fired pizza, alongside the Costa Rican plate called a casado (rice, beans, a salad, plantains and a choice of meat or fish). Order gallo pinto, the rice and beans mixed together, at breakfast with eggs and fresh fruit. Cold coconut water straight from the shell fits the weather perfectly.

Rain-friendly outings

When showers move in, you can shift to a cafe with a covered porch, a massage, a cooking class or a long lunch. Between squalls, forest walks near town are lush and loud with birds, and monkeys sometimes show up in the trees along the road. Wildlife is a chance, never a promise, and a local guide helps a great deal in spotting it.

Sunset is the daily gathering. People drift to the beach with a drink or a coconut, watch the surfers catch the last waves, and wait to see whether the clouds part. Some evenings the sky turns pink and gold, and other evenings it simply goes gray and dark, which is part of the green season.

A two-day itinerary for Santa Teresa in November

Day 1 starts at sunrise, when the light is soft and the air is at its coolest. Take a surf lesson or a long beach walk, then eat a late breakfast of eggs, gallo pinto and fruit at a cafe along the main road. Spend the late morning swimming or reading in the shade before the clouds build.

At midday, find a covered spot for lunch, such as a casado at a small family-run soda or fish tacos at a beach shack. If the afternoon rain arrives, treat it as a siesta, with a massage, a nap or a book on a porch. When the sky clears, walk to the beach for sunset, then settle into a dinner of fresh fish or wood-fired pizza.

Day 2 begins with a morning yoga class, ideally an open-air one under the trees, followed by a smoothie bowl. Spend the late morning exploring the dirt road on foot or by bike, stopping at craft stalls, bakeries and small shops. If you want a second surf session, this is the time.

In the afternoon, the rain card is a cooking class, a long lunch or an indoor workshop. If the weather holds, walk along a quieter stretch of sand or look for tidal pools at low tide. Finish with a relaxed dinner and an early night, since the day starts with the light.

Is Santa Teresa busy in November?

No, November is one of the quieter months here, a stretch between the summer high season and the dry-season rush that arrives toward the holidays. Many travelers avoid the rain, so the surf lineups are thinner, restaurant tables are easier to find and rooms are generally easier to get.

The ones who do come are surfers, yoga students, remote workers and travelers who like green hills and fewer crowds. delete

If you want a specific surf school, yoga retreat or a particular small hotel, reserve ahead anyway, because the best small places are limited. Rental cars and transfers are easier to arrange than in the peak months, though the road conditions after heavy rain deserve patience.

What to pack for Santa Teresa in November

Think light, quick-drying and ready for sun and sudden rain.

For the surprise afternoon showers, pack a lightweight rain jacket.
Quick-drying shirts and shorts, since humidity keeps everything damp.
Sandals and a pair of closed shoes, for the muddy road and any forest walk.
Bring sunscreen and a rash guard, because you will be in the water for hours under strong sun.
Insect repellent, for the evening hours when the air is still and humid.
Bring a dry bag so your phone and documents stay safe once the rain starts.

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.

November falls toward the end of the rainy season, so a heavy storm is possible and the dirt road can be muddy or rutted. Allow extra time for any drive, and avoid planning tight connections on rainy days.

Most beaches do not have lifeguards, so treat the ocean with care. delete

Santa Teresa in November vs October and December

Moving four weeks earlier brings far more rain, with showers on most days and a stretch that feels properly wet. The sea is a touch warmer, but roads are muddier and some small businesses are closed. If you want the emptiest town and the greenest hills, October delivers, but you pay for it in gray skies.

Moving four weeks later brings a clear change. Rain drops sharply, mornings and afternoons are usually sunnier, and the town begins to fill with holiday visitors, so rooms and tables are harder to find and prices follow the demand. The beach is easier to enjoy all day, and you can plan with more confidence.

If you prefer solitude, lower rates and lush scenery, stay with November. If you want dependable sunshine and do not mind the crowd, shift to December. Travelers who like to surf in smaller lineups will be happiest in November.

Is November a good time to visit Santa Teresa?

Yes, for travelers who like a green, quiet, warm-water version of this surf town and do not mind an afternoon shower. If you surf, practice yoga, work remotely, or simply like the idea of a beach shared with only a handful of others rather than a crowd, this place suits you well.

It is a weaker fit for anyone who needs a guaranteed dry day, plans a lot of time on unpaved roads or wants every restaurant open. If the weather is the main thing on your mind, another month will suit you better.

On arrival, walk the beach at the first light, pick out a cafe with a covered porch and ask a local surf school how the waves look. Then let the days settle into their rhythm, with mornings in the water, afternoons under a roof and sunsets when the clouds allow. November’s particular gift here is the sense of having a famous beach almost to yourself, with the hills glowing green behind it.

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