At a glance
- From Santa Teresa
- About 4 hours on the paved road via Paquera, Nicoya and Sámara. In the dry season, a 4x4 on the coast road is shorter
- From Liberia airport (LIR)
- About 2½ hours, via Nicoya and Sámara
- Swimming
- No. River mouth, strong waves and crocodiles in the estuary
- Best for
- Turtle lovers; couples and families with older kids on a guided nesting visit
- Facilities
- A ranger station, a shelter and a campsite. Everything else is in Carrillo or Sámara
- Getting there
- 12 km south of Sámara, past Carrillo, over the Río Ora bridge; reachable from Sámara all year
- Surf
- A reliable beach break with bigger waves, for experienced surfers
What is Playa Camaronal like?
Wild and open: 4.6 km of beach between Carrillo and Punta Islita, running into the estuary of the Río Ora. Since 1994 it has been the Camaronal Wildlife Refuge, set up to protect the nests of three sea turtle species: leatherbacks, olive ridleys and hawksbills. A ranger station, a simple shelter and a campsite are all you'll find on it.
Can you see turtles at Camaronal?
In nesting season, yes. Don't expect arribadas on the scale of Ostional, but Camaronal and neighboring Corozalito have grown into small arribada beaches of their own, with tens of thousands of olive ridley nests a year by 2019. At Corozalito, the arribadas have all come between August and January. Nesting times vary by species and year, so ask at the ranger station, or your hotel in Sámara, what's happening before you go, and visit at night only with a guide or the rangers.
Can you swim at Playa Camaronal?
No. The waves are bigger than in Sámara bay, the river mouth has crocodiles, and it's a protected nesting beach. For a calm swim, go to Playa Carrillo or Playa Sámara.
Insider tip: Keep well away from the Río Ora estuary with children. Crocodiles turn up in river mouths along this coast, and they're hard to spot in murky water.
How do you get there, and where should you stay?
Camaronal is 12 km south of Sámara, past Carrillo. From Santa Teresa it's about 4 hours on the paved road via Nicoya and Sámara; in the dry season the coast road via Coyote and Islita is shorter for a 4x4, with the Río Bongo to ford. There's nowhere to stay on the beach apart from the campsite: base yourself in Sámara or Carrillo, or at Punta Islita.
Nearby beaches
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim at Playa Camaronal?
No. It has bigger waves than nearby Sámara, a river mouth with crocodiles, and it's a protected nesting beach. Swim at Carrillo or Sámara instead.
Which turtles nest at Camaronal?
Leatherbacks, olive ridleys and hawksbills. The refuge was created in 1994 to protect their nesting beach. Ask the rangers what's nesting before you visit, and go at night only with a guide.
How far is Camaronal from Sámara?
About 12 km south, past Playa Carrillo. It makes an easy half-day trip from a Sámara or Carrillo base.
Is Camaronal good for surfing?
For experienced surfers, yes: it's a reliable beach break with bigger waves than Sámara. Beginners are better off in Sámara bay.