Samara, Guanacaste

Sitting along the southern Pacific coast of the Nicoya Peninsula in the province of Guanacaste, Sámara is small sunny town with pristine beaches and picture-perfect scenery.

The town is both a popular beach resort community as well as a major component to the cattle and fishing industry in Costa Rica.

Sámara is considered to be one of the safest beaches, making it an ideal location for family getaways and low-key travel.

A Beach Getaway

A quaint little town, Sámara lies at the foot of a steep hill. The main road here leads straight into town and ends at the stunning Playa Sámara or Sámara Beach.

This beach is a great getaway if you want a quiet holiday or if you want a fun family vacation.

If you take a left before the road along the beach, you will find many affordable hotels and restaurants located here. Plus, this road leads to the lovely Playa Carrillo and if you go further south to the beautiful and luxurious Hotel Punta Islita.

What To Do

Sámara and its surrounding environment offer tourists an ideal place to relax and have a good time.

Here, a variety of exotic plants and animals can be found along the five kilometer strip of Sámara Beach, along with a stunning coral reef that lies just offshore. A short boat trip away is the gorgeous and remote Isla Chora.

In town, you will find everything from a supermarket to a number of gift stores, bars and nightclubs as well.

Sámara is perfect for a quiet holiday or a night out on the town, and an excellent place to use as a stopover for the nearby national parks and reserves.

With its ideal location along the Pacific Ocean, Sámara boasts countless aquatic and outdoor entertainment. Horseback riding, stand up paddle boarding, sport fishing, surfing, canopy tours, yoga and kayaking are just a few of the fun activities you can try out.

Where To Stay

There are a number of exquisite hotels, cabanas, resorts, and bed and breakfasts in the Playa Sámara area. One of the most popular and luxurious is Villas Playa Sámara Beach Front Resort.

The massive resort is surrounded by wildlife and an abundance of flora, so it's not even necessary to leave to experience everything Costa Rica has to offer.

Adventure opportunities are also available, such as sport fishing, canopy tours, kayaking and more, all of which can be booked through the hotel.

Travelers seeking a quaint vacation may enjoy Hotel Casa del Mar, a cozy B&B located on Sámara Beach.

Private access to the coast line and number of available amenities make this quiet hotel one of the areas finest.

This thriving farming and fishing village is unlike any other in Costa Rica, with some of the country's most prominent people having homes out here, such as president Oscar Arias Sanchez.

Map of the Area

Click to enlarge map - Map of the Area

Getting to Sámara

The town is a four hour drive from San Jose, but you can reach it much quicker if you arrive by plane at the Liberia International Airport and then drive out two hours south-west to Sámara, via the town of Nicoya.

Do keep in mind though that this tiny town also has its own airstrip for small planes but the nearest domestic airport is in Nosara about 20 minutes north of Sámara.