The Nicoya Peninsula is one of those places where two towns an hour or two apart can feel like entirely different vacations. One is famous for yoga and surf. Another revolves around long beaches, sunset dinners and stylish small hotels. A third has wild green hills, three beautiful waterfalls, monkeys in the trees and the feeling that nature is always a little closer than you expected.
If you’re choosing among eco lodges on Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, the location matters just as much as the room. Montezuma, Nosara and Santa Teresa all offer beautiful coastal experiences, but each has its own rhythm. Finding the right one can make the difference between a lovely trip and a week that feels perfectly suited to you.
Anamaya Resort is a yoga and wellness retreat in Montezuma, on the southern tip of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. We’re especially fond of this corner of the coast. But we also understand the appeal of Nosara’s yoga community and Santa Teresa’s surf-and-restaurant scene. Here’s how to choose.
The peninsula in a nutshell
- Montezuma: Waterfalls, jungle wildlife, a smaller bohemian town and dramatic ocean viewpoints.
- Santa Teresa: Long surf beaches, sunset culture, boutique hotels and an energetic restaurant scene.
- Nosara: An internationally known yoga and surf community, with wellness resorts and beach access.
- Tambor and Paquera: Quieter Gulf of Nicoya settings, with useful access to boat excursions and wildlife refuges.
- Cabuya: A small, relaxed community near Cabo Blanco for travelers who like a slower coastal atmosphere.
- Samara: A gentler beach-town option with its own lodging and family-friendly appeal.
Why the Nicoya Peninsula Is So Special
The southern and central Nicoya Peninsula combine Pacific beaches with tropical forest, small coastal communities, wildlife refuges and a changing landscape of hills, river valleys and coves. You can move from an open beach with surf to a shaded river gorge in a surprisingly short distance.
It’s also known as part of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Blue Zone, a region associated with research and public interest in longevity and community life. That background adds another dimension to wellness travel. The more immediate attraction is the lifestyle you experience while you’re here: time outdoors, beautiful food, movement, social connection and the chance to slow down.
What’s fascinating is how differently each town expresses those qualities. Nosara has a strong international yoga identity. Santa Teresa blends surf, restaurants and boutique hospitality. Montezuma retains a quirky, nature-oriented character with spectacular waterfalls and forested hillsides.
The peninsula’s protected areas add depth to the experience too. Cabo Blanco was Costa Rica’s first protected nature reserve, and Curú Wildlife Refuge is an important place to observe regional wildlife. The forests support howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins, coatis, reptiles and hundreds of bird species.
Travel between the towns isn’t always as simple as the map makes it appear. Roads, ferries and seasonal weather can influence route choices. It pays to choose a base near the experiences you’ll actually enjoy rather than expecting to visit every community as a casual daily outing.
Montezuma: Jungle, Waterfalls and a Sense of Discovery
Montezuma has a personality all its own. It’s a small coastal town with independent cafés, beautiful beaches, forested hills and an artsy history that makes it feel different from a conventional resort destination. The jungle is wonderfully close, and the famous three-tiered Montezuma waterfalls run through the gorge beside town. Anamaya guests have it even easier: they walk down to the falls on our own private path, right next door.
What makes Montezuma especially appealing for nature lovers is how easily different experiences fit into the same day. You could listen to howler monkeys at sunrise, visit the waterfalls, explore a quiet beach and finish with an ocean-view yoga class or a relaxed dinner. There’s no need to turn every outing into a major expedition.
At Anamaya, that relationship between nature and wellness is built into the location. The retreat sits high above Montezuma, with Pacific views, a forested river gorge and two open-air yoga decks. Howler monkeys are almost guaranteed to be heard during a week’s stay, while collared aracaris, parrots, motmots, raptors and many other birds move through the surrounding habitat.
Guests can enjoy a beautiful infinity pool, spa treatments and a kitchen that’s entirely gluten-free and dairy-free, where we use organic ingredients when we can. Retreat stays generally run Saturday to Saturday, combining seven nights of accommodation with three meals daily. Yoga, spa and excursions are selected separately, so you can shape the week to suit yourself.
Anamaya also has a particularly personal history. The main building was once founder Geoff McCabe’s own home, built after he fell in love with Montezuma in 2004. The retreat grew around that home in 2009, and guests still respond to its welcoming, lived-in character. Geoff later founded nearby Rancho Delicioso, an eco-village reflecting his interests in ecological building and community.
International travel publications have noticed the result. National Geographic chose Anamaya for its Best of the World 2026 wellness experiences, and Travel + Leisure placed Anamaya among its Top 5 Can’t-Miss yoga retreats in a worldwide selection.
For a closer look at the natural setting, explore our Montezuma waterfalls guide and wildlife field guide.
Best for: Nature-loving travelers, solo wellness guests, couples, yoga enthusiasts and people who want ocean views and small-town character rather than a busy resort strip.
Nosara: Yoga Culture and Beautiful Beaches
Nosara, especially the Guiones area, is one of Costa Rica’s best-known yoga destinations. The community attracts surfers, yoga teachers, wellness travelers and people who like an active coastal lifestyle. Morning surf sessions and afternoon classes are part of the culture, and there are many places to eat, practice and explore.
If you’ve already followed a particular yoga teacher or school online, you may find that Nosara is where some of their retreat programs take place. It’s a good destination for travelers who want to be surrounded by a larger established international wellness community.
The lodging choices vary quite a bit. Some are dedicated retreat centers, others are boutique hotels with yoga available nearby.
Blue Spirit: Dedicated Retreat Programs
Blue Spirit is well known for yoga and meditation retreats, with accommodations, group facilities and a location overlooking a long Pacific beach. The important distinction is that guests usually join particular programs, so the feel of a stay depends on the teacher and event.
Bodhi Tree: An Established Yoga Resort
Bodhi Tree Yoga Resort offers a polished yoga-oriented environment with studios, spa services, dining and an established wellness identity. It’s a logical choice for travelers who want a dedicated yoga resort in the Nosara area rather than a small remote cabin.
Lagarta Lodge: A Boutique Hotel Near a Reserve
Lagarta Lodge offers a more hotel-centered experience near a nature reserve, with beautiful coastal and river landscapes. It suits guests who want comfortable boutique lodging and coastal views more than a retreat schedule.
Best for Nosara: Travelers who want access to multiple yoga options, surf and an established wellness community, with choices ranging from dedicated retreat centers to boutique hotels.
Santa Teresa: Surf, Sunset Culture and Boutique Comfort
Santa Teresa is famous for its long beaches, surfing and relaxed-but-busy coastal social scene. It’s a place where people may organize their whole day around tides, sunset light and discovering a new restaurant. The energy can be exciting, especially if you enjoy being out and about.
There’s more to Santa Teresa than surf, though. The hills and coastal landscape support beautiful boutique hotels, private villas, spas and yoga experiences. You can enjoy a quiet retreat-style stay while still being close enough to visit the beach or restaurants.
Nantipa: Barefoot Luxury with Wellness Options
Nantipa offers upscale beachfront accommodation, dining and wellness experiences in Santa Teresa, including yoga, meditation and spa treatments. Travelers who want the beach and refined hotel service to define their holiday may find it especially attractive.
Casa Chameleon: Private Luxury Above the Coast
Casa Chameleon focuses more on secluded boutique luxury, hillside views and carefully designed private spaces. It’s the kind of stay that may be particularly appealing for a honeymoon or private couples’ escape.
Santa Teresa also offers small hotels and independent vacation accommodation in a wide range of styles. If you enjoy choosing a restaurant spontaneously and arranging your own surf sessions, the town can make a good base.
A day trip from Anamaya to Santa Teresa is also possible for many guests, depending on plans and current transport conditions. Anamaya runs a weekly sunset outing to Playa Hermosa, just north of town, with an optional surf lesson, and beginners can also walk from Montezuma to the gentle waves of Playa Grande. Our Santa Teresa guide and surf and yoga retreat page cover the details. That means you don’t necessarily have to choose between Montezuma’s nature-rich atmosphere and enjoying an afternoon of Santa Teresa beach culture.
Best for Santa Teresa: Surfers, couples seeking stylish accommodation, social travelers and people who enjoy a lively dining scene alongside beach time.
Cabuya, Tambor, Paquera and Other Quieter Corners
If you’re drawn to quieter coastal communities, look beyond the three best-known destinations. Cabuya, near Cabo Blanco, has a small-town atmosphere and access to coastal landscapes that feel wonderfully unhurried. It’s appealing for guests who enjoy a slower pace and don’t need a full collection of resorts or restaurants outside the door.
The Tambor and Paquera areas offer different views of the Gulf of Nicoya, with routes toward Curú Wildlife Refuge and marine excursions. These can be useful bases for travelers who prioritize boating, exploring the gulf or combining nature activities with a peaceful accommodation setting.
Farther up the peninsula, Samara offers another kind of beach-town holiday, with a coastline and atmosphere distinct from Montezuma or Santa Teresa. Families and travelers seeking a gentler beach rhythm often consider it, although the experience depends on the accommodation and exact beach location.
The great advantage of the Nicoya Peninsula is that you can choose a village whose character matches you. Not every trip needs the best-known surf town or the most luxurious hotel. Sometimes the right little road, comfortable room and quiet restaurant are more than enough.
For nature experiences around the southern peninsula, see our guide to day trips from Montezuma, including Cabo Blanco, Curú and Tortuga Island.
A Side-by-Side Guide to the Three Main Wellness Destinations
| If you love… | Montezuma | Nosara | Santa Teresa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature atmosphere | Forested gorge, waterfalls, monkeys | Coastal vegetation, beaches, wildlife habitats | Long beaches, hills, surf coast |
| Yoga scene | Boutique retreat-centered | Large established yoga community | Studios, hotels and private experiences |
| Beach rhythm | Small-town beach exploration | Surf and yoga beach culture | Surf, sunsets and restaurants |
| Wildlife focus | Very strong near forest and waterfalls | Strong in surrounding habitats | Variable by location and property |
| Ideal travel style | Retreat week with nature outings | Practice-oriented wellness stay | Independent surf and boutique-hotel trip |
None of these descriptions is meant to make one destination sound better at everything. A surfer who’s thrilled by Santa Teresa’s waves may find Montezuma quieter than they want. Someone hoping to spend a peaceful week among monkeys, waterfalls and ocean-view yoga decks may feel the opposite.
The right place is the one that sounds like your version of a happy morning.
What About Sustainability Credentials?
Many properties on the peninsula describe their environmental programs, from building materials and water management to community projects, and Costa Rica runs its own sustainable tourism certification (CST) through the Costa Rica Tourism Board. Reading the specifics is the best way to compare places that interest you.
At Anamaya, the sustainability story is more personal and practical. Founder Geoff’s interest in ecological building helped shape the original home and retreat. The team chooses eco-friendly materials and supplies, buys local food for the kitchen and hires from the surrounding community whenever it can.
One of the strongest examples is Anamaya’s installation of electrical transformer covers to help protect monkeys. Rather than just photographing wildlife, Geoff shared information about reducing a real hazard faced by the monkeys living in the area.
You can read the full details in How Sustainable Is Anamaya? and explore our eco lodge versus eco resort guide if certification is important to your decision.
What Makes Anamaya Different from Other Nicoya Yoga Stays?
It’s the combination of setting, personal history and retreat life. Anamaya sits at one of the high points above Montezuma, with a Pacific panorama and surrounding forest. The three-tiered Montezuma waterfalls are right next to the property, reached by Anamaya’s own private path. The grounds and nearby habitats bring howler monkeys, capuchins, birds and the sounds of the jungle into everyday life.
Then there’s the sense of welcome. Anamaya began as Geoff McCabe’s own home, and the retreat grew around the original house. Shared meals and yoga sessions make it easy to meet people, which is one reason the stay works especially well for solo travelers. You can have adventures when you want them and plenty of time to relax when you don’t.
The kitchen is 100% gluten-free and dairy-free. The yoga decks overlook the ocean, and spa treatments add another lovely way to spend an afternoon. It’s a distinctive blend for travelers who want the natural pleasures of an eco lodge without giving up the rhythm of a wellness retreat.
Explore the full experience in our eco lodge yoga retreat in Costa Rica guide, or have a look at the rooms and ocean views.
When Should You Visit the Nicoya Peninsula?
On the Pacific side of the peninsula, November through April is generally the drier season, with more sunny days and warm beach weather. May through October is generally green season, when the hills become lush, afternoon showers are common and waterfalls can be especially dramatic.
A lot of guests assume that a tropical holiday should happen only in the sunniest months. That’s understandable if you’ve traveled a long way for beach time. But the green season has its own beauty, particularly if you’re interested in photography, waterfalls, wildlife and a quieter pace.
The best dates depend on what you want to do. Surf conditions aren’t identical on every beach. Boat excursions depend on ocean conditions. Hiking routes may become more slippery after rain. Choose the season to match your favorite activities rather than a single broad rule.
For a detailed comparison, read our best time to visit a Costa Rica eco lodge guide and green season article.
Getting Here and Getting Around
The southern Nicoya Peninsula is accessible through a combination of international flights, domestic connections, road travel and the Gulf of Nicoya ferry. Travelers often arrive in Costa Rica through San José or Liberia, then choose a domestic flight toward Cóbano/Tambor or an overland route according to their destination and schedules.
The best arrival plan is different for Montezuma, Santa Teresa and Nosara. Flights and roads can change, and the shortest route on a map isn’t always the simplest journey in practice. If you’re joining a retreat, coordinate transportation with the property so your arrival fits its schedule.
At Anamaya, the retreat team can help guests understand how to get to Montezuma and how excursions fit into the week. Our location and travel information is a useful starting point.
