Samara Costa Rica

• Samara Costa Rica
• Map of Samara with Hotels
• South of Samara: Carrillo
• North of Samara

Samara is perfect for soaking up sun and beach life in an unpretentious, laid-back atmosphere. The little village is set in a large half moon bay with a broad sandy beach, that stretches for over 4 km and is shaded by palms and old fig trees.

The bay of Samara is protected by a coral reef and the shallow water with very gentle surf is perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

The small town of Samara feels fairly authentic and is also an affordable, traditional weekend and vacation retreat for Costa Ricans, as it is easily accessible from the interior by a paved road. Accommodations and hotels in Samara offer a choice of budget rooms, homely B&Bs, to boutique hotels and vacation rentals.

Samara's main drag leads directly to the beach where seaside restaurants, lounges and bars feature sand floors, beach artwork, and a relaxed vibe. In Samara you find all ingredients for a beach vacation: there are souvenir and art shops, supermarkets, tour operators, restaurants with local fare or gourmet cuisine, bars with night entertainment, and surf and Spanish schools right on the beach.

    Activities in Samara:

The best spot for snorkeling is in Cangrejal, at the far northern end of Samara, where the reef closes up to the beach. In dry season you enjoy crystal clear waters with colorful fish, manta rays, and star fish in the submarine fauna.

At the extreme southern end of the reef is the 5-hectare islet of Isla Chora, a wildlife reserve which protects large colonies of maritime birds. With a kayak you can paddle to the island and enjoy escapism on a pink sand beach.
Other kayak tours can be made into the river estuary of the Rio Ora or Rio Buenavista.
A popular new sport in Samara is SUP, where you paddle through the ocean while standing on a surf board.

The chest-deep water and easy surf in the bay is perfect for beginners learning to surf. More challenging waves for experienced surfers are found 12 km south of Samara, on Playa Camaronal.

Professional Sport fishing tours are offered from the nearby port of Carillo.

For activities on land you can ride on horseback to the Tobacco waterfalls with its three cataracts and natural swimming pools. Or go on a Canopy Tour in Santo Domingo, three km inland from Samara. All hotels in Samara can book these tours and activities for you.

On a tour by bicycle you can easily reach the neighboring beaches of Samara:
to the north is the large and deserted beach of Playa Buenavista. To get there drive through the community of Cangrejal and continue for 2 km through the forest until the estuary of the Rio Buenavista.
From Samara to the south you get to the picturesque bay of Carrillo with its turquoise clear water.

Samara Nightlife:

A selection of night venues in Samara:

Early Evening	Lo Q Hay Pub is a beach lounge with oversized sofas to lounge on while eating your lunch or sipping a cocktail, beer or a fruit shake. Nice for sunset and later with the colored lights on the trees and mellow music playing. La Vela Latina on the beach is a relaxed hangout for sipping a cocktail at sunset and after. Lively bartenders, snacks and American football when it's the season.
Night	Tabanuco is a beach restaurant with bar that often has reggae nights, ladies night and other music events. It's a stylish yet unpretentious place with a big tree growing in the middle of the dance floor. Las Olas on the north end of the beach of Samara has Mexican food, pool tables and a bar, favoured by locals. Sometimes there is dancing until 1:30 am when it's time to head to Tutti Fruttis just down the beach. Don't walk alone on the beach at night.
Late Night	Bar Arriba on the main street of Samara is a fun bar with an Italian feel. It usually fills after 11 pm. There is a pool and ping pong table as well as a dart board The Tutti Frutti disco on the beach is Samara's late night venue, open on Saturdays until 4 am or later. Not the most luxurious place, with a fairly mixed crowd, it's good for dancing to reggaeton, salsa, and reggae until the early morning hours.

See also: Map with Restaurants, Bars and Hotels in Samara

Getting to Samara:

Samara can be reached quite comfortably on the 35 km paved road from Nicoya, or, if coming from the Tempisque bridge via Hojancha and Carrillo on a newly paved road. Daily direct busses connect to San José. Unfortunately the small airport of Carrillo doesn't serve flights any more to San Jose, nor other destinations in Costa Rica.