Wandering around in sleepy Santa Teresa, you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd woken up at the end of the world. This remote beach town has only recently started to attract the less than intrepid traveller. Situated at the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula, getting here takes effort. The bumpy and dusty road in has only recently been graded, and unless you're driving a vehicle capable of crossing rivers, other than the main road through the hills, you're going to have to return exactly the same way that you came.
For years Santa Teresa was the haven of surfers looking for remote escapes to ride big waves, hippies and yoga lovers seeking untouched paradises, and a place that was passed word of mouth between nomadic backpackers. Then Tom Brady and his model wife Gisele Bündchen bought some property here, a mini-celebrity boom followed, and the word started to get out about the lush and wild Pacific landscape and totally relaxed vibe that this tucked away part of Costa Rica offers.
It's here that you'll find Nantipa. Santa Teresa's first boutique luxury resort with an authentic Costa Rican feel. The Costa Rican pura vida "relaxed life" motto is on full display at this welcoming and sustainability-oriented property. Every element here is inspired by the ocean and sky – right down to the resort's name, which means 'blue' in the native Nicoya tribal language. While many luxury properties in Costa Rica are large developments or chains, Nantipa is intimate and everything is local, from the design all the way down to the fresh tropical fruit served at your table. Nantipa sits in one of the world's five Blue Zones, recognized by UNESCO for the healthy lives and longevity shown by its population, and the resort is a stalwart in reducing the use of single-use plastic and the preservation of local nature.
Beachfront villas here feature kitchens and private infinity-edge pools, and all the suites and bungalows on the property look out towards the miles of stunning coastline that the Nicoya is renowned for. An elongated pool winds through the resort,loungers and pillows right on the beach beckon for the brilliant sunsets that paint the area, and cocktails designed by a famed New York mixologist from the Mulberry Project help you to settle in to this blissful spot.
The award-winning Manzu restaurant sits out on the beach, looking out on the miles of wild coastline, crunching surf, and extends from a fine dining area out to casual beanbag pillows and hammocks on which to sprawl and enjoy the surroundings. Manzu features a special 6-course dinner under the stars package for couples, with a private table set up out on the beach, and is about as romantic as it gets.
You might think you're going to be roughing it in this remote location seemingly at the end of the world, but Nantipa has changed the face of Santa Teresa. You've now got barefoot luxury in the most captivating of places.
Useful links
https://www.nantipa.com/