Planning to travel to Costa Rica and spend some time in Samara? This little beach town of Guanacaste has a lot to offer. You will never get bored as there’s a lot of activities to try and a bunch of places to discover.
Located on the Pacific coast, Playa Samara is a must-see in Costa Rica. Its unique vibe will charm all travelers who are seeking an authentic experience while having access to all the comfort and activities that a touristic village can offer. Nestling between the mountains, the jungle and the ocean, Sámara is the ideal place to go for its laid back vibe, its beautiful beach and its healthy atmosphere.
Surfing
Samara’s waves are just perfect to learn how to surf. Playa Samara has a calm beach breaking wave which is ideal for beginners, or low-intermediate surfers that want to practice their surfing abilities. Walking on the beach, you’ll find different surf schools that offer lessons from $50, you can also choose to go by yourself and rent a board for a few days.
Experienced surfers will have a lot of fun too, if they’re going to Buenavista beach. Located just north of town, it can easily be reached by a 30 minutes walk, or 5 minutes car ride from Samara.
Horseback Riding
Another way to explore the local life and the surroundings of Playa Samara is to go on a horseback riding. This is the perfect tour for nature lovers who want to discover secret trails. Riding a horse in Samara is like following the path of the locals, as Guanacaste region is an historic land of cow-boys. Horse Jungle offers various guided tours between jungle, river and beach. With its passionate and trained staff, you’ll get the chance to observe and learn about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica and enjoy the freedom feeling of galloping in the sand.
Fishing
Samara Costa Rica is a great place to go fishing. You can choose between an inshore or an offshore tour. When choosing an inshore trip, you go fishing to about 200 feet (61 meters) deep and stay within a few miles of shore. For the offshore trips, the boat usually goes 15 to 20 miles (30 kilometers) out, 3000 to 4000 feet deep (1000 meters). You may have a chance to catch Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Cubera Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack, Marlin, Tuna and Wahoo.
Canopy Ziplining
If you want to go to zipline in Costa Rica, you are probably planning to go to Monteverde or La Fortuna, as those places host ones of the biggest ziplines in the country and in all Central America. But you should know that in Playa Samara, you can also get your adrenaline dose. The family-operated business WingNuts created in 1999 an epic adventure in a dry tropical forest. The main circuit includes 10 cables, 2 rappels and the latest attraction is a 1300 feet cable(500meters) that offer two types of rides on it: the traditional Superman horizontal flight mode and the Canopy surfing, where you ride a surfboard standing up while you fly through the jungle!
Going to Belen Waterfall
To get to Belen Waterfall, you need to rent a car or a motorcycle downtown. You can also choose to hitchhike. It takes around 30 minutes to get there from Samara. This small cascade and series of swimming holes is a popular local’s hangout. In comparison to other waterfalls in Costa Rica, this one is not really high (3-4 meters) but it’s gorgeous and the entrance is free. There are also plenty of flat surfaces to spread out a towel and relax.
Kayaking from the beach to Chora Island
Another popular activity in Samara is to rent a kayak and paddle toward the Isla Chora. This desolated little island has been declared a National Wildlife Refuge (Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre) in 2002. It takes around one hour to reach its white sand beach. During the trip, you may see turtles or whales if it’s the season. Once there, just relax and observe the bay from the other side or go snorkel. This expedition costs around 45$ and it includes snack and snorkeling equipment.
Whales watching and Turtles nesting
Pacific coast of Costa Rica is a migratory route of Humpback Whales heading south for the birthing season at certain times of the year. The best time to see whales in Costa Rica is from August to October and then December through March. The best recommendation to go whale watching is to book a tour in the morning. Tour prices range from around $50 per person for a half-day trip, including snacks and snorkeling gear.
Beaches around Samara are major grounds in the world for turtles. You will watch the circle of life as sea turtles arrive on the beach to nest their eggs. You can also admire little babies joining th ocean. You will be impressed about the genuineness of nature. The best months to admire the beauty of the nature is the rainy season, September and October.
Yoga class
Yoga is a big deal in Costa Rica and in Samara too. The country has become one of the most popular locations in the world for yoga retreats. But we can understand why : What a better place to practice yoga than being surrounded by nature, with the smooth music of the waves? In Samara, you will find yoga classes for every level, for every taste, either in English or in Spanish.
Visiting the beaches around
Samara is a small village with all the amenities you need: shops, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets… and the beach is gorgeous. But there are many more to discover around. For a different feel with lots of palm trees, you can head to nearby Playa Carrillo – one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Further south, you can head to Camaronal, which is a famous surf spot. It’s not recommendable swimming there because the waves tend to be huge and the undertows quite treacherous, but its mystic and wild atmosphere will charm you. To discover another beautiful beach with white sand and clear water, you can head to Barrigona, north of Samara. Try to be there during sunset for a magic moment.
Samara sunset happy hour
Speaking about sunset, don’t miss the happy hour from 4 pm on Samara beach. When the sun starts to go down, you can enjoy a cocktail laid on the beach, listening to some music in one of the different bars and restaurants: Locanda, El Ancla, Las Olas, Gusto Beach, La Dolce Vita. Most of them offer good promotions and happy hour to guarantee a good moment watching the sun disappear in the Pacific Ocean.
