Samara Beach
Samara Beach
4.5
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
82 within 5 kms
Attractions
11 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,690 reviews
Excellent
1,057
Very good
441
Average
146
Poor
36
Terrible
10
Dee
Dushore, PA43 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Beautiful and quiet beach.
A lot of nice restaurants along the beach.
Only one restaurant had a wooden/ rope “walkway” that they put out every day - I wish more restaurants did this because it is hard to walk in the hot sand.
You need to be careful not to get the sand in your sandals- your feet will get blisters from the coarse sand.
A lot of nice restaurants along the beach.
Only one restaurant had a wooden/ rope “walkway” that they put out every day - I wish more restaurants did this because it is hard to walk in the hot sand.
You need to be careful not to get the sand in your sandals- your feet will get blisters from the coarse sand.
Written March 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nancy K
Des Moines, IA19 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Very nice town with a wonderful beach and plenty of amazing restaurants!
We stayed at the Good Life Lodge - apartment was very nice with breakfast included. Great location with easy access to the beach, shops and restaurants.
We highly recommend visiting Samara, very friendly and walkable town.
We stayed at the Good Life Lodge - apartment was very nice with breakfast included. Great location with easy access to the beach, shops and restaurants.
We highly recommend visiting Samara, very friendly and walkable town.
Written February 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny S
Edmonton, Canada91 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
The sand is golden and water is warm. You can go out quite a way before it gets deep so is great for playing in the waves. There is also a lack of souvenir sellers so you can have a relaxing day without interruptions.
Written February 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GinaDe1234
Rutherford, NJ13 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
Very calm waters nice and warm. Great for swimming. Not like your a Caribbean beach is however, crystal Clearwater, the sand is more of a brownish color so the water doesn’t have that turquoise color if you’re looking for that. Horses ride up and down the beach, some people complain about horse droppings, but we didn’t find it a problem and there really wasn’t much. I actually thought the beach was very nice and very nice for walking.
Written January 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah B
3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
The beach is sadly covered in dog poo and horse poo. Dogs roam freely and wee everywhere including on sunloungers whether there is a person on them or not. One to miss if you are travelling Costa Rica!
Written August 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yugeidy UD
1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Solo
University homework:
I really liked the Samara beach hotel because the facilities are close to the beach and also because it has breakfast included. What I did not like is that the facilities are deteriorated and a recommendation is that they try to improve the real estate.
I really liked the Samara beach hotel because the facilities are close to the beach and also because it has breakfast included. What I did not like is that the facilities are deteriorated and a recommendation is that they try to improve the real estate.
Written March 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David S
Greeley, CO3 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Best beach I have seen yet in Costa Rica. Beautiful sand gentle current due to reef. Scenic and not over crowded.
Written March 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GlobalAsparagus
Ottawa, Canada48 contributions
Feb 2023
I have to disagree with some of the 5-star ratings below. Having read that Samara was a "beautiful and stunning" beach, and having been to at least half a dozen other beaches in Costa Rica over the years, I was a bit disappointed by the amount of horse and dog poop on the sand, not to mention random bits of plastic garbage (bags, empty coke bottles, etc.) that I saw near the busiest part of the beach. I didn't even want to swim there, although it didn't seem to stop most other people -- the beach was busy with swimmers and boogie boarders.
I did love the vibe of the town. It's a normal Tico town with unpaved roads, freely wandering horses and a slow pace, yet has all the conveniences you might need, like ATMs, grocery stores and taxis. The restaurants along the beach are fun and atmospheric to eat at and reminded me of southeast Asia.
If the beach itself were as clean as others I've been to, I would love to go back. I truly don't understand the obsession with riding horses on beaches....who wants to swim in horse poop? Not me.
There are also no garbage cans (that I saw, anyway), which may explain why waste gets left behind, including dog waste. I never saw a single owner pick up after their dog, and there were plenty of them.
I did love the vibe of the town. It's a normal Tico town with unpaved roads, freely wandering horses and a slow pace, yet has all the conveniences you might need, like ATMs, grocery stores and taxis. The restaurants along the beach are fun and atmospheric to eat at and reminded me of southeast Asia.
If the beach itself were as clean as others I've been to, I would love to go back. I truly don't understand the obsession with riding horses on beaches....who wants to swim in horse poop? Not me.
There are also no garbage cans (that I saw, anyway), which may explain why waste gets left behind, including dog waste. I never saw a single owner pick up after their dog, and there were plenty of them.
Written March 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shorelines
Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, Canada51 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
Beautiful beach with gentle surf. Warm water. Crowded in Feb 2023. Much younger crowd. Lots of families. Safe for kids. Crowded at sunset. Kept clean by a man with a cart who collects trash daily.
Written March 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Megan
Nantucket, MA8 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
This was my first time to Samara Beach as well as Costa Rica and I was so amazed at the wonderful time we had. I live in a resort town in the US’s Northeast so I came for the weather but also the place. We did so much research as to where to go and Samara foot the bill. We know lots of people who head south to CR during the winter so we didn’t want to go someplace where we would see people we already know. It’s vacation from everything and everyone! I have read some negative reviews and I wouldn’t pay much mind. It all depends on your attitude. I knew about the dogs. I knew about the horses and I knew it wasn’t going to be Disneyland. It’s a different country, culture and a way of life that is different from where I come from. I vacation to see different places, meet different people and enjoy their culture. No white washing for me, thank you very much. Now about Samara. It’s beautiful. The beaches are very active with people enjoying themselves. Whether it’s soccer, frisbee, yoga, surfing, fishing or just walking, there is lots to see with friendly faces all along the way. I was in Samara for 5 weeks and I did not have one uncomfortable situation or concern. There are so many places to eat and drink. Go down every street there are lots of hidden gems of great places to eat. Prices range like everywhere in the world. Remember it’s a resort town. Lots of Ticos come here to vaca as well!
We rode bicycles the whole time but rented a car for a week so we could explore out of Samara. We headed to Nosara and Carrillo for beautiful beach days. Surfing and swimming.
We rented a house in one of the neighborhoods which had a pool for extra water fun.
Overall, it was better than I imagined. We have travelled all over the Bahamas and island in the Caribbean and this is the only second place we are committed to coming back to.
See you next February Samara friends!
We rode bicycles the whole time but rented a car for a week so we could explore out of Samara. We headed to Nosara and Carrillo for beautiful beach days. Surfing and swimming.
We rented a house in one of the neighborhoods which had a pool for extra water fun.
Overall, it was better than I imagined. We have travelled all over the Bahamas and island in the Caribbean and this is the only second place we are committed to coming back to.
See you next February Samara friends!
Written February 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rdjcdc
isla mujeres9 contributions
Curious about taxi costs and shuttle services from Liberia airport to Samara ? Any suggestions?
Around the World
Berlin, Germany528 contributions
Sorry. We rented a car.
Kimberly M
Palmer Rapids, Canada149 contributions
Hi There,
Heading to Samara staying a month, is there a certain part of Samara Beach that is better for swimming. This will be our first time in Samara. We are staying in the Azura but want to go out for dinners and lunches will it be a long walk? Any info appreciated on where to go and things not to miss seeing. Entertainment? Want to relax but also like fun
ShadowCanada
Fredericton, Canada682 contributions
Just wondering if anyone would have contacts - emails _ for rental agents or realtors in the Samara area?
Mo R
Amsterdam, The Netherlands5 contributions
We have a stay in Samara planned from 24-26 March. Is the beach still open to the public? Or are there restrictions because of corona/covid-19? What about hotels, restaurants, shops, tours?
Daniel H
3 contributions
All,
We’ll be in Playa Samara for three weeks, and then one week in Heredia near San Jose. I have three questions about SIM cards:
One, is it possible to buy a SIM card with a data plan?
Two, what company (or companies) have service in Playa Samara?
And Three, if I cannot buy a plan, how much should I spend to get daily and frequent use of GPS service?
(Bonus question) Is there a cheaper way to get gps service besides using a cell phone?
Thank you!
GraemePartridge
Burgess Hill, UK54 contributions
We had a free phone and £5.00 credit from the car hire company (only used it once for a short call).
I downloaded the maps on my own phone before travel from google, more accurate and reliable than the sat nav they gave us, plus it only works of gps, so no data needed.
There is wifi everywhere in CR
Akasi86
2 contributions
How to get from Samara to Tamarindo by public bus
Akasi86
2 contributions
Since I have been searching for this topic extensively and only found a few posts (with little infos) I wanted to share the "how to" with my fellow travellers.
First of all, take the bus from Samara to Nicoya (atm there is one at 5:30, 6:30, 8 am, 10:15 am, 12:15 pm, 1:40 pm, 2:45 pm, 4:15 pm...). L). The bus schedule can be found at the "bus station" in Samara. Make sure to wait for the bus at the right side (the main street leading to the beach, on the left side (when going toward the beach).
Take the bus to Nicoya and then take a bus to Santa Cruz. please note, you need to go to another bus station: "la pampa". Its only a few blocks away.
From Santa Cruz you get into the bus to Tamarindo.
The buses in Nicoya and Santa Cruz drive fairly regularly. I dont have the schedule but never had to wait longer than 20 mins. I think in Nicoya they drive every 20 minutes (I am not sure though, someone told me that) and in Santa Cruz every half an hour,
Depending on how quickly you catch each bus, the whole trip takes between 3-4 hours, Maybe even a bit less, if lucky with the connections and all.
Good luck!
Ps: I took the 10:15 bus in Samara and all worked fine connection wise. Not sure about the late buses. Costs, around 4 €.
Enjoy and get some cheap food along the way (i took a lunch break in santa cruz) bc it is expensive in Tamarindo.
amunoz4242
Mesa, AZ4 contributions
What is the best place to fly into if I want to go to Samara?
sjgcliff
Portsmouth, UK111 contributions
4 hour shuttle bus from San Jose airport
québécoisQuébec
Quebec City, Canada45 contributions
Quelles sont les excursions proposées? Est-ce agréable pour le vélo? Est-ce près de la ville?
Merci de vos suggestions.
Diego P
Belen de Escobar, Argentina121 contributions
No puedo responder ya que no hice esa actividad mil disculpas!
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Claim your listingSamara Beach - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Samara Beach
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Samara Beach:
- Turtle Tour Near Samara Beach (From C$76.90)
- Wildlife and Mangrove Kayaking Tour Río Ora (From C$89.04)
- Ocean Kayak and Snorkeling to Chora Island (From C$64.76)
- Sunset and Snorkeling for the whole family (From C$74.20)
- Explore Mountain views & Ocean Vibes (From C$204.06)
- Hotels near Samara Beach:
- (0.01 km) Hotel Locanda Samara Beach
- (0.02 km) Camping Los Cocos
- (0.03 km) Locanda Samara Beach
- (0.05 km) Ocean view Penthouse with top location
- (0.05 km) Hotel Casa Valeria
- Restaurants near Samara Beach:
- (0.02 km) El Ancla
- (0.04 km) Locanda
- (0.15 km) Restaurante Casa Esmeralda
- (0.14 km) Ahora Si Veggie Restaurant & Bar Paradise
- (0.20 km) Bohemia Café
- Attractions near Samara Beach:
- (0.02 km) True Blue Vue Integrative Holistic Massage
- (0.03 km) Pato's Surf School
- (0.07 km) C & C Surf School
- (0.13 km) Samara-Carrillo Info Center
- (0.18 km) Ticos Surf School