How to Get Here
Santa Teresa is easily accessible via land, ocean and air. Transportation services feature a wide range of prices, from shared scheduled transfers to private helicopter rides. The most popular ways to get to Blue Surf Sanctuary are:
San José International Airport (SJO)
For guests arriving in San Jose (SJO), there are two main options: the fastest route would be connecting to the local 18-minute flight to Tambor, followed by a 30 minute drive to Santa Teresa, or the scenic route driving to Puntarenas, crossing the Gulf of Nicoya via ferry boat, followed by the 50 minute drive to town.
Paquera Pier
Daily ferry services connect Puntarenas to Paquera. Tickets must be purchased in advance to secure space for guests and car (www.quickpaycr.com). This is a picturesque and scenic way to enjoy the Gulf of Nicoya and the islands. The ride takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes and departs on schedule 4 times a day each way. We advise arriving to check in 30 minutes ahead of departure.
Liberia International Airport (LIR)
For guests arriving in Liberia (LIR), private transfers or driving are the best options. The total driving time is about 3 hours, including a stretch of the road from Naranjo Beach to Paquera that is not paved but is currently under contract for improvements.
Tambor Airport
The Tambor landing strip is located within a 35-minute drive from Blue Surf Sanctuary. Two commercial airlines offer scheduled flights daily – Sansa and Aerobell – with 12-seat Caravan planes, and both depart from San José International Airport. Inter-regional flights from Arenal are under negotiations and charter flights can land from anywhere in Costa Rica.
If you want us to help you schedule your transportation to and from Blue Surf Sanctuary please contact us.
Travel FAQ
What are the closest airports to Santa Teresa?
Costa Rica has two international airports.
- Juan Santamaría International Airport, located in Alajuela, near the capital.
- Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport, located in Liberia, Guanacaste.
Depending on where you fly from, each airport has different internal flights throughout the country.
From San Jose, you can take a 30-minute domestic flight to Santa Teresa.
From Liberia, it can be a 1h30m or a 30-minutes flight. It depends on whether the flight includes a layover in San Jose.
Both flights will arrive at the nearest airport, Tambor. From there, it will be a 30-minute drive to the town.
How do I get to Santa Teresa?
There are two domestic flights that will arrive at Tambor. From Tambor, you can take a 30 minute taxi (30 min) to Santa Teresa. It’s better to coordinate your international flight to arrive a minimum of two hours before your domestic flight, which you can book online! So that you don’t need to spend the night in San Jose.
Please contact us and we will help coordinate your transfer from the airport to Blue Surf Sanctuary.
How long is the flight from NYC/LA/Europe?
New York under 5 hours. Los Angeles 6 hours. Europe 10 hours (all times are approximate).
Do I need a vaccination?
Costa Rica does not require visitors to have a Covid-19 test, vaccination, or travel insurance. However, it maintains the requirement for the mandatory use of masks and the protocol for washing hands and taking temperatures. Please check out www.visitcostarica.com for all the latest travel updates.
How do I get around town when I arrive in Santa Teresa?
Our team would be happy to help you book an ATV, Golf Cart, Car or Bike to get you around town, please reach out prior to your arrival.
