Central America
Santa Teresa
Puntarenas · Costa Rica
Sanctuary Score
77 / 100
#36 in the Americas
“Costa Rica's surf-and-style headquarters where world-class waves, sunset gastronomy, and increasing crowds wrestle for the soul of the village.”
The ten pillars
Each scored 1–10 by hand. Their sum is the Sanctuary Score.
Nature10 / 10
Walkability7 / 10
Food8 / 10
Healthcare6 / 10
Climate stability8 / 10
Air & water8 / 10
Safety7 / 10
Connectivity7 / 10
Community7 / 10
Beauty9 / 10
At a glance
Tracked separately from the score — these describe the place, they don't rank it.
- Climate
- Tropical
- Sensory load
- 3/10 · calm
- Cost
- $$$$
- ~$1200/mo · 1BR
- Expat community
- High
Sources
Scores are set by hand against cited public sources — the curation stays auditable.
Is Santa Teresa your sanctuary?
The Index says life is good here. The assessment tells you whether it fits the way your nervous system actually works.
Find your sanctuary