Santa Teresa, Mal País & Montezuma
We first visited in April 2022 — our car was in the shop, so we took a shuttle and used taxis to get around. We enjoyed the whole area; it had a much different feel than Sámara, where we lived. Santa Teresa is built around surfing and also has high-end places to stay and eat — the food scene was really good. Mal País is mostly places to stay and surf, and Montezuma is super chill, feeling like a small town on an island in Thailand.
April was dry and dusty; we went back in September when it rained and things got muddy. You can also do the Isla Tortuga day trip from here, which we enjoyed.
Watch Santa Teresa, Mal País & Montezuma
What we'd tell a friend
- Stay close to the main strip unless you have a car.
- Base yourself in Santa Teresa and day-trip the other areas.
- Spend a full day chilling in Montezuma — Mal País doesn't have much.
- Go to Isla Cabuya, the cemetery island.
- Eat at Kooks.
Who should come here?
- You love to surf
- You want a rapidly grown tourist town (Santa Teresa)
- You want to be off the beaten path but still touristy
- You want to walk everywhere
- You don't want to get dusty or muddy
The Dufresnes Verdict
Questions we actually get
Is Santa Teresa worth visiting?
Yes — it's built around surfing, with a genuinely good high-end food scene, and Montezuma next door is super chill. It's touristy but still has an off-the-beaten-path feel.
How many days do you need?
About a week — enough to base in Santa Teresa and day-trip Montezuma, Mal País, and an island trip.
Do you need a car?
Recommended. We managed one trip with shuttles and taxis, but without a car, stay close to the main strip — the area is spread out and walkability is low.
When should you go?
We went in April (dry and dusty) and September (rainy and muddy). Both worked; it's a trade-off between dust and mud by season.