Costa Rica Surf & Yoga Holiday: What It’s Like to Stay at Nautilus Villas

Costa Rica is famous for its surf and yoga retreats, and Santa Teresa is one of the most popular towns for both. With so many wellness hotels, surf camps, and boutique stays available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right spot.

After researching different options, I personally decided to stay at Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas in Santa Teresa. In this post, I’ll share my full experience, including the location, rooms, yoga and surf classes.

If you’re also planning a surf and yoga holiday in Costa Rica, this review can help you decide if Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas is the right fit.

Where Is Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas Located?

Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas is located in Santa Teresa, a lively beach town on the Nicoya Peninsula in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Once a hidden surf spot, Santa Teresa has transformed into a hub for digital nomads, surfers, and wellness travellers. Expect a mix of yoga studios, surf shops, boutique cafés and restaurants (check out my restaurants review!), and a laid-back, bohemian vibe.

Map of Costa Rica — The yellow star marks Nautilus Villas

How to Get to Santa Teresa

If you’re flying internationally, you’ll likely land at San José International Airport (SJO). From there, you have three main options to reach Santa Teresa:

Domestic Flight – Quickest way since the flight only takes 30 minutes. Green Airways and Sansa Airlines fly to Tambor Airport, about 30 minutes outside Santa Teresa. Tickets are around 250 CHF round trip. Bonus: incredible aerial views!
Private Transfer – Comfortable for groups. The drive takes 6–7 hours, and Nautilus can help you to arrange a private transfer.
Shared Shuttle / Public Bus – Cheapest at ~50 CHF per person. Good for solo travelers on a budget. Once again, check with your accommodation whether they can help you organize this transfer.

We flew with Green Airways and had a great experience. Just double-check luggage allowances before you book since they are lower than those of standard airlines!

Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas: Location Within Santa Teresa

Santa Teresa is essentially one long main road parallel to the beach. Santa Teresa is not very walkable, it is quite spread out and there are no boardwalks.

Nevertheless, Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas location is one of its biggest perks:

Direct footpath to the beach right in front of the hotel
Walking distance to Eat Street, Soda Pura Vida, Del Soul Surf Shop, a supermarket, ATV rentals, and a tour operator

You could easily stay very local within Santa Teresa and still have everything you need.

Santa Teresa Beach — A 3 mins walk from Nautilus!

Villas and Rooms

As the name suggests, Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas offers private villas instead of traditional hotel rooms. We stayed in a one-bedroom villa with:

Spacious living room
Fully equipped kitchen
Large bathroom
Comfortable bedroom with lots of storage
Patio with hammock, seating area, and drying line

The design is simple but tasteful. The villas are actually connected townhouses, but still feel private and peaceful.

Food Options

Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas has a wellness café next to the lobby. The menu leans healthy and plant-forward – perfect for breakfast after yoga and family style dinners. We only tried the coffee (which was excellent), but opted to explore Santa Teresa’s restaurants for our meals.

Pro tip: For dining recommendations, check out my Santa Teresa restaurant guide!

Prices and Value

Accommodation in Santa Teresa ranges from hostels to luxury beachfront resorts. Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas sits comfortably in the mid-range.

We paid ~120 CHF per night for a one-bedroom villa in December (just before Christmas). While this is not necessarily cheap, compared to other yoga and surf retreats in Costa Rica, Nautilus offers excellent value for the amenities provided.

Wondering how much a 1 week trip to Costa Rica may cost you? Check out this 1 Week Costa Rica Budget Breakdown!

Yoga at Nautilus

The open-air yoga deck at Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas is definitely a highlight! Elevated among the trees, it’s breezy, spacious, and surrounded by nature. The prices for a group Yoga lesson are the following (Status December 2023):

Single class: ~13 CHF
Multi-class pass: ~11 CHF per session

There is a weekly schedule that is posted on their website and on their social media. The instructors had wonderful, calming energy, and each class felt different. Even with some background noise from the main road, the atmosphere was veeeeery relaxing.

Surf Lessons in Santa Teresa

Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas also offers surf lessons, though my experience was mixed.

The good thing was that my group lesson became a private lesson for the same price due to low sign-ups (~70 CHF private vs. 55 CHF group).

The instructor was fine, but Playa Santa Teresa is not beginner-friendly. The waves are powerful and more suited for intermediate surfers. For beginners, I highly recommend lessons at Playa Hermosa (15 minutes away) where the waves are apparently gentler. Nautilus offers surf lessons at both locations, depending on the day and hour.

We mostly ended up renting our own boards instead. For rentals, I recommend Del Soul Surf in Santa Teresa or Jackalopes Surf Shop in Playa Hermosa.

Del Soul Surf Shop — Our go to surf shop in Santa Teresa!

Amenities

Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas has everything you’d expect from a boutique wellness hotel:

Outdoor pool with lounge chairs
Yoga deck on site
Wellness café
Daily housekeeping
Reception/concierge to organize ATV rentals, transfers, and tours

They also run an active WhatsApp group for guests, with updates on classes, surf conditions, and community activities (such as evening activities and “family style” dinners).

Nautilus Pool — The beautiful pool! (Source: Booking.com)

Final Thoughts

We had an amazing time at Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas in Santa Teresa. The combination of spacious villas, great yoga, and direct beach access made it the perfect accommodation for us. While the surf lessons weren’t ideal for beginners, the overall experience was excellent, and I’d happily stay here again.

To conclude,iIf you’re planning a Santa Teresa surf and yoga retreat in Costa Rica, Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas is a great mid-range choice that balances wellness, price and comfort.

FAQs About Nautilus Surf & Yoga Villas

Is Santa Teresa good for beginner surfers?
Santa Teresa Beach has strong waves that are better suited to intermediate surfers. Beginners will have a better experience at nearby Playa Hermosa. I’ve also heard that Tamarindo might be better for beginner surfers!

What is the best time of year to visit Santa Teresa for surfing?
The dry season (November–April) offers consistent waves and sunny weather.

Is breakfast included at Nautilus?
Breakfast is not included by default, but you can buy healthy options at the on-site café.