(The Quality Edit) ““Everyone comes here to surf”— a sentiment that was echoed over and over again during my six days in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. It’s on the Nicoya Peninsula, which was once identified as one of the world’s five “blue zones,” where the highest concentrations of centenarians reside. Each zone has shrunk as the years pass, and now Santa Teresa is just south of the highest populations of individuals that live to be 100 years or more.
The key to their longevity is living a purposeful life (plan de vida), community, physical activity is ingrained in their day-to-day life (less organized exercise), and a nutrient-dense traditional diet, much of which exists in part due to lagging modernization.
In Santa Teresa the roads are largely filled with ATVs, motorbikes and small diesel 4X4s in the tiny surf town of just 3,000 people. Playa La Lora is popular for surfers because of its consistent break and diverse waves across all tides. Visitors and transplants alike largely go for a more bohemian approach to life filled with surfing, yoga and pilates, weekly evening surf competitions and bonfires on the beach.
And, there’s a brand new hotel that just opened right on La Lora surf break. Sister property to Nosara, Costa Rica’s Sendero, Hotel Fermata opened in December 2025. Here’s how to embrace pura vida and a healthier lifestyle during your visit, and hopefully, you’ll take home some of the spirit of Santa Teresa.
Read the full article at The Quality Edit
By Rae Witte
