Welcome to Santa Teresa Costa Rica!

*We work with a local concierge service which can help with all your travel needs from booking villas and hotels to flights and ATVs, day trips and much more. Chabad Santa Teresa receives a commission for each item booked.

How to arrive

  • Flight from San Jose
    There are regular domestic flights between San Jose (SJO) and Cobano, which is a 25 minute car ride to Santa Teresa.  There are two airlines that fly from SJO to Cobano: SansaAir and Green Airways. You can visit their websites flysansa.com - costaricagreenair.com or book via WhatsApp here at no additional cost.

  • Taxi 
    There are generally taxis waiting at Cobano airfield. To ensure you have a ride, pre-book here. The taxi cost anywhere between $30 and $50.

  • Driving From San Jose
    The car ride from San Jose to Santa Teresa takes between 5-7 hours.
    There are two routes to choose from: 
    1. Drive directly from San Jose to Santa Teresa around the Nicoya Peninsula.
    2. The more common (and faster) option is to drive which requires takeing your car on a ferry midway through your drive. The ferry leaves from Puntarenas every few hours and arrives at Paquera which is about a 1.5 hr drive from Santa Teresa. You can book tickets for the ferry at quickpaycr.com or at the location. (Only half of all tickets are sold online, so even if you cannot buy a ticket online you may be able to buy at the location in Puntarenas)

  • Tip: use waze, as Google maps tends to lead one through a river somewhere near Tambor.

  • Shuttle
    There are shuttles that go from SJO airport to Santa Teresa. Reach out to the shuttle service here.
     

Best Time to Visit Santa Teresa

  • Dry Season (December to April): Ideal for outdoor activities, surfing, and beach days. Hot, dry weather. It is also the peak tourist season, so expect more crowds and traffic and somewhat higher prices.

  • Green Season (May to November): Lush landscapes, quieter atmosphere, and budget-friendly options. Higher chance of rain, but great for wildlife viewing. Surfing conditions vary, suitable for intermediates and advanced surfers.

Our location

 

 

Safety Tips:

  • Avoid visits to the beach at night

  • Take EXTRA CARE while driving an ATV or motorbike. This cannot be stressed enough. The roads are bumpy and unsafe, and there are ATV fatalities multiple times a year.  

  • The roads can be difficult to navigate and it is therefore recommended that a 4 wheel drive vehicle be used. It is also recommended to avoid driving through rivers after rainfall as the rivers may be stronger then they appear and may pull the car down stream.

  • Petty (non-violent) theft is not uncommon and it is imperative to look after your belongings.

  • Emergency: 911

  • Police station: +506-26400856
    Clinic: +506-26420208
    ST/ Unimed (also has the X-ray machine): +506 2640-0644
    Santa Teresa lifeguard for ocean emergencies: +506-2640-0911
    Chabad +50689029749
     

Hotels and Villas 

(you can reach out directly to the concierge service to book these and other options at no extra cost)

Villas

  • For beachfront and ocean view villa recommendations or to find a private chef please reach out here

Sim card

  • Esimo is an app that you can download and purchase data plans with no need for a physical sim card. Try it out here (use code RABB760 at checkout to get $2 off)

  • Or you can purchase a Claro Sim at SJO airport at the baggage claim (recommended package cost $20 with data and calling)
    Otherwise you may purchase sim cards at many convenient stores throughout the country.
     

Currency

  • The local currency is the Costa Rican Colon.
    Money can be exchanged at the airport or at a bank.

     


Currency data courtesy coinmill.com

 

Things to do

  • Surfing (click here to book a surf lesson)

  • Montezuma waterfalls (click here to book)

  • Tortuga Island (click here to book)

  • Scuba diving (click here to book)

  • Fishing / whale watching (click here to book)

  • Horseback riding (click here to book)

How to get around

  • ATVs and other off road vehicles are commonly used to get around (please use extra caution as ATVs can be dangerous) 
  • Click here to reserve an ATV 
  • Take EXTRA CARE while driving an ATV or motorbike. This cannot be stressed enough. The roads are bumpy and unsafe, and there are ATV accidents multiple times a year.  

Other Chabad throughout Costa Rica

  • Chabad Jaco
    Jewishjaco.com
    +13476698770

    • There is a Kosher Restaurant and hostel in Jaco called Izo's Place. For more information or to book a hostel or outing please reach out to them directly here

  • Chabad Tamarindo
    JewishTamarindo.com
    +972586331228

  • Chabad San Jose (this is a community Chabad Shul)
    chabadcostarica.com
    +50688570770

    • Kosher options in San Jose
      Chabad of San Jose sells Kosher meat and has a catering service.
      There is a kosher store here
      There are regular food products with kosher symbols that can be purchased in Pricesmart (membership based), Auto Mercado (Pas Yisroel bagels), Walmart and others.

Mikvah

  • At the moment we do not have a Mikvah. If Mikvah is needed please contact Mrs. Chana Dubinsky at here

Shabbat and Holidays

  • Join us at Chabad where you can expect anywhere between 40 and 100 fellow Jewish brothers and sisters mostly Israeli backpackers on their post army trip. The Shabbat food is delicious and plenty, with Challa and Israeli dips, fish (when available) and meat dishes. 

  • Shabbat Schedule:

Friday night:

Kabalat Shabbat at 6:30 p.m

Friday night dinner at 7:30 p.m

Sabbat morning:

Morning prayer at 09:00

Shabbat lunch following prayer

  • Registration for Shabbat meals is required, you may register here
    If you would like to sponsor a Shabbat in part or in whole please reach out to us here

    We look forward to seeing you. Shabbat Shalom!!

Shabbat and Halachic Times

 

Kosher

Restaurant: 

  • We run a Kosher take out (eat ins are also welcome) which is operated and located at Chabad. At the Kosher take out you can enjoy delicious Kosher Schnitzel, fries, salads, humus, smoothies & more! Please note that orders do not need to be done in advance.
    You may view the menu here

  • Operational Hours
    Sunday - Thursday  12:00pm - 5:00pm

Food products:

  • At Chabad you can purchase meat and poultry as well as wine (and Challa with prior notice) depending on availablity. 

  • Local Supermarkets carry the basic products with kosher symbols (cereals, mayonnaise, chips, canned foods etc.). The large grocery store located closest to Chabad is Super Ronnies 1. There are grocery stores throughout town. There are no Cholov Yisroel or Pas Yisroel products in the local supermarkets. You could find milk alternitives in local stores.

Minyan

  • Typically we have Minyan for Kriat Hatorah on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 am. (breakfast served at 9:00)
  • On Friday night we typically have a Minyan for Kabblat Shabbat 
  • On Shabbat morning we Shacharit begins at 09:00 am. On some Shabbatot we have a Minyan
  • Minyan for holidays vary and is hard to predict
  • Disclaimer: No Minyan is guaranteed in Santa Teresa at the moment.

How is Chabad funded?

  • Chabad does not receive funding from "Chabad Central Offices" or any government organizations.

  • Around 1/3 of our funding comes from Chai Club members (monthly donors).

  • The rest is raised from community members and visitors like you.

  • Please consider joining our Chai Club or making a one time donation at ChabasST.com/Donate