At a glance
- From Santa Teresa
- About 4 hours on the paved road via Paquera and Nicoya. The coast road (2½–3½ hours) is a dry-season 4x4 route
- From the airports
- Liberia airport (LIR): about 2 hours, paved. San José airport (SJO): about 4½ hours. No scheduled flights to Sámara
- Swimming
- Calm: a coral reef offshore breaks the waves. Still keep children within reach and away from river mouths
- Best for
- Families with young kids and pre-teens; easygoing couples; first-time surfers
- Facilities
- The town is right behind the beach: restaurants, supermarkets, tour desks and surf schools
- Getting there
- 35 km on a paved road from Nicoya; see our Sámara guide
- Surf
- Small, forgiving waves: a good place for a first lesson
What is Playa Sámara like?
A wide bay, more than 7 km of sand from end to end, backed by palms and the low buildings of a small Costa Rican beach town. Out at the mouth of the bay, a coral reef breaks the Pacific swell, so the waves that reach the beach are small. At the south end sits Isla Chora, a 5-hectare island reserve with a pink-sand beach you can paddle to.
Is Playa Sámara safe for swimming?
It's one of the calmest beaches on the Nicoya Peninsula's Pacific coast, and that's why families come. The reef does the work that headlands or lifeguards do elsewhere. Calm isn't the same as risk-free: watch children at all times, avoid river mouths, and ask about conditions when a big swell is running.
Insider tip: Take the kids to Isla Chora on a guided kayak-and-snorkel trip rather than on your own. It's about a 20-minute paddle, a guide knows the water, and a double kayak with a parent works for younger children.
What is there to do?
- Kayak and snorkel to Isla Chora.
- Dolphin-watching boat trips.
- Horseback rides and dry-forest hikes in the hills.
- A first surf lesson in the small waves.
- Day trips to calm Playa Carrillo, turtle-refuge Playa Camaronal or wild Playa Barrigona.
When is the best time to go?
December to April is dry and sunny, and busiest around Christmas, New Year and Easter week. The green season, May to November, brings afternoon rain and quieter beaches; September and October are the wettest months. The paved road from Liberia is open year-round. See the best time to visit.
Where should you stay near Playa Sámara?
- Families with young kids: as close to the sand as you can, such as the family-owned, beachfront Samara Tree House Inn, or Villas Kalimba, whose villas have full kitchens and a pool steps from the beach.
- Families and groups watching the budget: Samara Pacific Lodge, near the centre, with family rooms and a pool.
- Couples: a small hotel in Carrillo's hillside village, or a secluded resort at Punta Islita.
More on the area, and how it compares with Santa Teresa, in our Sámara and Carrillo guide.
Nearby beaches
Frequently asked questions
Is Sámara beach good for kids?
Yes. An offshore reef keeps the water calm, the sand is wide and the town is walkable, which makes Sámara one of the best-suited beaches in Costa Rica for families with young children. Keep kids within reach, as on any beach.
How far is Playa Sámara from Santa Teresa?
About 4 hours on the paved road via Paquera and Nicoya. The coast road takes 2½ to 3½ hours, but only in the dry season and in a 4x4, with unbridged river crossings. See Santa Teresa to Sámara.
How far is Sámara from Liberia airport?
About 2 hours on paved roads via Nicoya, the easiest airport for Sámara. From San José airport it's about 4½ hours.
Can you get to Isla Chora?
Yes, by kayak or on a guided kayak-and-snorkel trip. The small island reserve sits at the south end of Sámara bay, about a 20-minute paddle from the beach, and has a pink-sand beach.
Do you need a car in Sámara?
Not if you stay near the centre: hotels, supermarkets, restaurants and the beach are all within walking distance. You'll want one, or a driver, for Carrillo, Barrigona or Nicoya.