The peninsula, town by town
Where on the peninsula?
The southern Nicoya Peninsula is really a string of distinct places — a party-surf town, a quiet fishing end, a waterfall village, a strict nature reserve. Here's where each one sits and what it's for.
Santa Teresa
The center of gravity for the southern Nicoya Peninsula — a sand-road surf town that grew into a full-blown scene of beach restaurants, design hotels, yoga shalas, and a wave that breaks all day.
Mal País
The quieter, fishing-village end just south of Santa Teresa — rockier, calmer, and more local, where the road bends toward the Cabo Blanco reserve.
Montezuma
A bohemian beach town on the peninsula's east side — waterfalls, a tight village core, and a slower, artsier rhythm than the surf coast.
Manzanillo
Explore the Manzanillo area north of Santa Teresa. Use the local guide to plan an independent visit, and compare the actual meeting point for any guided outing.
Cóbano
Plan the Cóbano part of your trip, including connections between the airport, nearby towns and the coast. Confirm the actual pickup point rather than treating every peninsula booking as a Cóbano departure.
Paquera
Use Paquera as a starting point for planning ferry connections and nearby excursions. Boat trips, kayak outings and transfers can have different meeting points even when a provider groups them under the same destination.
Curú Wildlife Refuge
Plan a visit to Curú with the reserve guide and the listed nature or water experiences. Compare entry, guides and transport separately, and confirm the actual meeting arrangements with the operator.
Tambor
Explore stays and excursions listed around Tambor. Check the actual property location, boat departure or activity meeting point before combining plans with Santa Teresa or Montezuma.
Pochote
Explore the Pochote listings and nearby trip options. Confirm the specific departure point and whether transport is included; a provider's wider Tambor-area label may cover more than one location.
Playa Carmen
The crossroads beach where the Santa Teresa road meets the sea — central, walkable, and home to the town's most consistent beginner peak.
Playa Hermosa
The long, open beach just north of town — emptier sand, big sunsets, and the area's workhorse surf when the swell is up.
Cabuya
A tiny, off-grid village at the tip of the peninsula by the Cabo Blanco reserve — known for its low-tide island cemetery and end-of-the-road calm.
Cabo Blanco
Costa Rica's oldest protected area — the absolute-reserve rainforest and coastline at the peninsula's southern tip, reached from Cabuya and Mal País.
Nicoya
The historic inland town that gives the peninsula its name — a Blue Zone hub of longevity, colonial history, and the gateway you pass through by road.
