Learn Costa Rican herbal traditions in a hands-on tea workshop, then unwind with free time on Banana Beach. This three-hour experience blends sensory education with sunlit coastal relaxation—ideal for travelers seeking culture and calm.
Learn Costa Rican herbal traditions in a hands-on tea workshop, then unwind with free time on Banana Beach. This three-hour experience blends sensory education with sunlit coastal relaxation—ideal for travelers seeking culture and calm.
Morning light slants through the windows of a small tea room in Santa Teresa, and the scent of citrus peel and roasted roots hangs in the air like an invitation. Guests sit at a low table while a local host lays out jars of dried herbs, flowers and bark—each labeled with a use, a story, a taste to test. After crafting a personal blend, the group moves toward Banana Beach where the Pacific pulls at toes and offers a slow, sun-warmed exhale.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Pura Vida Bites · Santa Teresa, Puntarenas
Morning light slants through the windows of a small tea room in Santa Teresa, and the scent of citrus peel and roasted roots hangs in the air like an invitation. Guests sit at a low table while a local host lays out jars of dried herbs, flowers and bark—each labeled with a use, a story, a taste to test. After crafting a personal blend, the group moves toward Banana Beach where the Pacific pulls at toes and offers a slow, sun-warmed exhale.
Santa Teresa sits on the Nicoya Peninsula, an area shaped by volcanic uplift and wave-cut rock; the coastline’s reefs and sandbars have long supported fishing villages and, in recent decades, a surf-and-wellness community. Herbal traditions here mix Indigenous knowledge with Afro-Caribbean and Spanish influences—locals use plants like guava leaf, ginger and lemongrass for digestion, calming infusions and cooling tonics.
Expect a hands-on, sensory workshop: smelling, brewing and tasting paired with local honey and small bites, followed by unstructured beach time. The workshop educates rather than clinically prescribes—hosts emphasize sustainable foraging and respect for coastal ecosystems.
Practical guidance: arrive hydrated and sun-ready; the tea room is shaded but the beach is open sun. Workshops run about three hours—plan for light walking and standing. Bring a reusable water bottle, a small notebook for recipes, and a lightweight towel or mat for beach relaxation. If you want to bring home herbs, check local regulations on transporting plant material. This experience blends culture and coastal calm—an accessible half-day that pairs learning with the straightforward pleasure of Playa Banana.
easy.
3 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves light standing, smelling and mixing herbs, and short walks to the beach.
The full experience lasts about three hours, combining a roughly 1–1.5 hour hands-on tea workshop with free time at Banana Beach.
Hosts provide locally sourced herbs and may demonstrate sustainable foraging practices, but guests typically do not forage independently.
Private transportation is listed as an inclusion for this activity—confirm pick-up details with the operator when booking.
Infants must sit on an adult’s lap; check with the operator about suitability for older children and whether the tasting samples are appropriate.
The Nicoya Peninsula has pre-Columbian roots and a mix of Indigenous and colonial influences; plant-based remedies are an enduring part of local health traditions.
Hosts emphasize sustainable sourcing and low-impact practices; avoid removing plants from protected areas and follow guidance on transporting botanical materials.
Pura Vida Bites operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.




Morning light slants through the windows of a small tea room in Santa Teresa, and the scent of citrus peel and roasted roots hangs in the air like an invitation. Guests sit at a low table while a local host lays out jars of dried herbs, flowers and bark—each labeled with a use, a story, a taste to test. After crafting a personal blend, the group moves toward Banana Beach where the Pacific pulls at toes and offers a slow, sun-warmed exhale.
Morning light slants through the windows of a small tea room in Santa Teresa, and the scent of citrus peel and roasted roots hangs in the air like an invitation. Guests sit at a low table while a local host lays out jars of dried herbs, flowers and bark—each labeled with a use, a story, a taste to test. After crafting a personal blend, the group moves toward Banana Beach where the Pacific pulls at toes and offers a slow, sun-warmed exhale.
Santa Teresa sits on the Nicoya Peninsula, an area shaped by volcanic uplift and wave-cut rock; the coastline’s reefs and sandbars have long supported fishing villages and, in recent decades, a surf-and-wellness community. Herbal traditions here mix Indigenous knowledge with Afro-Caribbean and Spanish influences—locals use plants like guava leaf, ginger and lemongrass for digestion, calming infusions and cooling tonics.
Expect a hands-on, sensory workshop: smelling, brewing and tasting paired with local honey and small bites, followed by unstructured beach time. The workshop educates rather than clinically prescribes—hosts emphasize sustainable foraging and respect for coastal ecosystems.
Practical guidance: arrive hydrated and sun-ready; the tea room is shaded but the beach is open sun. Workshops run about three hours—plan for light walking and standing. Bring a reusable water bottle, a small notebook for recipes, and a lightweight towel or mat for beach relaxation. If you want to bring home herbs, check local regulations on transporting plant material. This experience blends culture and coastal calm—an accessible half-day that pairs learning with the straightforward pleasure of Playa Banana.