At a glance
- From Santa Teresa
- Tambor about 45 minutes; Curú about 1 hour; Paquera about 1¼ hours. Paved from Cóbano
- From the airports
- San José airport (SJO): about 5 hours via the Puntarenas–Paquera ferry. Liberia airport (LIR): about 3–4 hours by road. Scheduled flights land at Cóbano airport (ACO), between Santa Teresa and Tambor
- Swimming
- Calm, sheltered bays: Playa Tambor, Playa Curú and Isla Tortuga are the peninsula's easy swimming beaches
- Best for
- Families with young kids and anyone who wants to swim; couples looking for a quiet day, a boat trip or a small resort
- Facilities
- Hotels, restaurants and car rental in Tambor; groceries, an ATM and gas in Paquera; none at Playa Muertos
- Getting there
- By car from Santa Teresa or Montezuma; straight off the Paquera ferry; Isla Tortuga by boat only
- Surf
- None to speak of: this is the calm side of the peninsula
Why go to the Gulf side?
The Nicoya Peninsula has two coasts, and they're very different. Santa Teresa and Malpaís face the open Pacific: surf, strong currents and big sunsets. The eastern shore faces the Gulf of Nicoya, sheltered by the mainland and a scatter of islands, so the water is usually calm and clear. Few beach towns in Costa Rica have both within an hour's drive, and that's what makes Santa Teresa work for families.
Most travelers see the Gulf side as a day out from Santa Teresa or Montezuma, or as a first stop coming off the Paquera ferry.
Which Gulf beach is right for you?
| Place | From Santa Teresa | The water | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playa Tambor | About 45 min | Wide, calm cove; good swimming | Families with young kids; a resort or golf stay |
| Pochote and Playa Muertos | About 45–60 min, plus a 5-min boat | Usually calm; snorkeling; can be choppy | Adventurous couples and families happy with no facilities |
| Curú Wildlife Refuge | About 1 h | Gentle bay; swimming and snorkeling | Families, birders, nature lovers |
| Isla Tortuga | Boat day from Montezuma or Tambor | Calm, clear water; white sand | Couples and families: a full day out |
| Paquera | About 1¼ h | Ferry port, not a beach stop | Groceries, cash and gas on the way in |
Tambor and Bahía Ballena
Tambor is a quiet town on Bahía Ballena, a wide cove with brown sand shaded by palms and almond trees. The water is very calm, which makes it a great beach for swimming. It's about 45 minutes from Santa Teresa and 30 minutes north of Montezuma.
The stays are the peninsula's most resort-like: a large all-inclusive on the bay, the Los Delfines golf community, and Tango Mar, a boutique beachfront hotel with a 9-hole course. There's also car rental in town, and boats to Isla Tortuga leave from the beach. Tambor's airstrip, by the sea, now handles charters only; scheduled flights go to Cóbano airport (ACO).
A crocodile was spotted on Playa Tambor in June 2025. It's rare, but it's why locals avoid river mouths, especially around dawn and dusk. Follow any posted signs.
Pochote and Playa Muertos
East of Tambor, the hamlet of Pochote sits where a river meets the bay. From Camping Don Trino, small speedboats cross the river mouth in under five minutes to Playa Muertos, a pale-sand beach with no road access. There are no set times: just turn up. You can also paddle across by kayak at high tide in about 30 minutes.
The water is usually calm enough to snorkel, though it can be choppy and cloudy some days. There are no facilities at all, so bring water, food and shade. Weekdays are quietest; local families come at weekends and on holidays.
Curú Wildlife Refuge
Curú is a private refuge on a family farm, run by the Schutt family since 1933. The property covers about 1,496 hectares of dry and moist forest, mangroves and beaches, and the entrance is on the main road about 6 km from Paquera, followed by 2 km of farm track to the office on the beach.
- Swim and snorkel in the bay at Playa Curú, where the waves are gentle enough for kids.
- Walk the trails for howler and white-faced monkeys, deer, parrots and scarlet macaws. Some trails are open only in the dry season; the hike to Playa Quesera is about 5 km, 1½ to 2 hours each way.
- Ride to Playa Quesera on a guided horseback tour, or stay over in one of the refuge's six simple cabins.
Day visits run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., so arrive in the morning, and bring a card: the entrance doesn't take cash. You can buy day admission on the refuge's website. More in our parks and reserves guide.
Insider tip: With young kids, I plan the Gulf side as one easy day from Santa Teresa: Curú in the morning, when the animals are out and before the heat, then lunch and an afternoon swim at Tambor on the way back. You're home before dark.
Isla Tortuga
Isla Tortuga is the island day trip everyone asks about: a white-sand beach, turquoise water and snorkeling off the rocks. It's reached only by boat. Full-day tours leave from Montezuma and from Tambor beach, with pickups in Santa Teresa and Malpaís, and larger catamarans run from Puntarenas for travelers on the mainland. Since 2024 a coral restoration project has planted about 2,000 corals around the island.
It's busier than it once was, with jet skis at peak times, so go midweek if you can. Details in our Isla Tortuga profile.
El Chorro waterfall
South of Tambor, El Chorro is a waterfall that pours straight onto the beach. It's about 10 minutes' drive from Tambor plus a walk of roughly 10 minutes. It suits couples and older kids: the currents at neighboring Playa Cocalito are strong, and there are no railings on the cliff, so keep children close.
Paquera and the ferry
Paquera is the peninsula's ferry port: boats cross to Puntarenas eight times a day, in about 70 minutes. The town has larger grocery stores, an ATM and a gas station, handy because there's no gas station in Santa Teresa. Arriving on the ferry, Curú is your first stop and Tambor your first beach. See the Puntarenas ferry schedule and the driving map.
How to fit the Gulf side into your trip
- As a day trip from Santa Teresa: about 45 minutes to Tambor and an hour to Curú on paved roads from Cóbano.
- As your first stop off the ferry: Curú and Tambor are on the way to Santa Teresa, so a swim breaks up the drive.
- As a base with young kids: a few nights in Tambor for calm swimming, then on to Santa Teresa or Montezuma.
See the Nicoya Peninsula map for drive times, and things to do in Santa Teresa for more day trips.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you swim near Santa Teresa?
For calm water, cross to the Gulf of Nicoya side. Playa Tambor is about 45 minutes from Santa Teresa, and Playa Curú about an hour. Both are sheltered bays with gentle waves. On the Santa Teresa side, stick to the tide pools at low tide; see Malpaís beach.
Is Playa Tambor good for kids?
Yes. It's a wide cove with very calm water, a great beach for swimming, and the sand is shaded by palms and almond trees. As on any Costa Rican beach, keep an eye on children in the water, stay away from river mouths, and follow any posted signs.
How far is Tambor from Santa Teresa?
About 45 minutes by car, through Cóbano and then east on the paved road toward Paquera. Curú is about 25 minutes beyond Tambor, and the Paquera ferry dock a little farther.
Can you fly to Tambor?
Not on a scheduled flight. Sansa and Green Airways now fly to Cóbano airport (ACO), which opened in 2023, and Tambor's airstrip sees charters only. Cóbano is 25 to 30 minutes from Santa Teresa and on the paved road toward Tambor. See getting to Santa Teresa.
How do you get to Isla Tortuga?
Only by boat. Full-day tours leave from Montezuma and Tambor beach, with pickups in Santa Teresa and Malpaís, and larger catamarans come from Puntarenas. Most include snorkeling and lunch on the island's beach. See Isla Tortuga.
What is there to do at Curú?
Walk the forest trails and look for howler and white-faced monkeys, deer and scarlet macaws; swim and snorkel off Playa Curú; or ride a horse to Playa Quesera. It's a private refuge on a working farm, and day visitors can come from 7 a.m. and must be out by 4 p.m. See Curú and our parks and reserves guide.
How do you get to Playa Muertos?
From the hamlet of Pochote, east of Tambor, small boats cross the river mouth in under five minutes, with no set schedule. There's nothing on the beach, so bring water, food and shade, and take your trash home. See Pochote and Playa Muertos.
Is it worth staying in Tambor instead of Santa Teresa?
With young children who want to swim every day, a night or two in Tambor makes sense, and it's the first beach you reach off the Paquera ferry. Most couples still prefer Santa Teresa for its restaurants and sunsets, and visit the Gulf side for a day. See where to stay in Santa Teresa and Santa Teresa with kids.