At first light in December, the curved beach of Samara is mostly empty except for a few joggers, a horse and rider at the waterline, and pelicans skimming the swells. By midmorning the sand is dotted with umbrellas, and the palms along the road behind it carry strings of Christmas lights.
The rains have just let go of the Nicoya Peninsula, the hills are still green, and the season is turning toward its busiest weeks. For a beach week with surf lessons and long dinners outdoors, this is the month Samara starts to fill, and the sea is usually calm here, though conditions change from day to day and beach to beach.
What is the weather like in Samara in December?
December in Samara is hot, sunny and mostly dry, the first real stretch of dry season after a long green one. You can feel how much the picture changes from the month before and the month after.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 83.6 | 75.0 | 18.3 | 83.3 |
| December | 85.6 | 74.9 | 5.5 | 84.4 |
| January | 88.7 | 75.3 | 1.3 | 85.1 |
Warm, bright mornings greet you here, and for strolling the beach, going for a run or trying a surf lesson, the time ahead of ten is when conditions feel easiest. By early afternoon the sun is strong, and shade, a cold drink and a swim become the plan. Evening brings the chance to dine outside in a T-shirt, and the soft breeze off the bay keeps the night pleasant rather than humid.
Rain is the exception now, not the rule. When it comes, it is usually a short shower or a gray, damp afternoon that clears quickly, and a few days can pass with nothing at all. The roads and trails are still green from the wet months, so the landscape looks lush even as the dust begins to rise on the dirt tracks.
Days are a little over eleven and a half hours long, so the sun is up early and sets by early evening, a good rhythm for beach mornings and dinners after dark. The tropical sun is intense even on hazy days, so sunscreen and a hat matter more than a raincoat. The sea stays warm and welcoming all day long.
Can you swim in Samara in December?
The water is warm enough that you can linger in it for as long as you like, and stepping in brings no sudden gasp. Samara sits within a wide bay protected by an offshore island and a reef, which generally gives the main beach calmer, shallower water that appeals to families and beginning surfers. In December the sea is often at its friendliest of the year, though conditions always shift with tide and swell.
The calm belongs to the bay, not to the whole coast. Rip currents create a major danger along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, killing multiple U.S. tourists annually, and most beaches have no lifeguards or warning flags.
Check with a surf shop or the front desk about the day’s safest stretch, remain in the bay’s sheltered section, and even where the water is shallow, keep kids close enough to grab. Beaches beyond the bay, such as the palm-backed one at Carrillo, can have more movement.
Snorkeling is possible when the water is clear, but visibility varies, and the bay is better for floating, paddleboarding and kayaking than for serious underwater viewing. Bring a rash guard for long sessions in the sun, water shoes for rocky patches, and a dry bag for your phone. Nervous swimmers will feel best wading in the shallows near the center of the beach, where other people are around.
What to do in Samara in December
December in Samara is about the beach, but it is also the month when the holiday mood arrives. Restaurants string lights, hotels hang wreaths on open-air lobbies, and the evening promenade along the sand fills with strollers carrying ice cream. The festivals people talk about happen mostly in San Jose, and Samara’s version is quieter: music from bars, family dinners, and a growing number of visitors in sandals.
The bay, morning to sunset
The main beach is the center of everything, a long curve of pale sand with the village directly behind it. Start early. The light is soft, the sand is cool, and you may see locals riding horses at the water’s edge or fishermen pulling in their boats. By midmorning the beach turns social, with volleyball games, beginner surfers and beach bars opening their chairs.
From the sand, Isla Chora, the island just offshore, gives you the postcard picture, and the bay stays so gentle thanks to the reef around it. Paddleboards and kayaks are the usual way to get a closer look, ideally in the morning before the breeze stiffens. Sunset is the other fixed appointment of the day, with people drifting toward the beach bars as the sky turns orange over the water.
Surf lessons, horses and beach walks
If you are new to surfing, Samara ranks among the nation’s most welcoming spots, since its waves tend to stay gentle and rolling instead of punishing. Local schools run lessons from the sand, and December’s warm water means you can stay in long enough to actually improve. Experienced surfers tend to head for more demanding breaks along the coast, so the main beach feels relaxed and beginner-friendly.
Horseback rides along the beach and through nearby hills are a classic, especially in the cooler early hours. Bring water and a hat, because shade is patchy.
What to eat and drink
Seafood is the heart of the menu: ceviche with lime and cilantro, grilled fish of the day, and whole snapper served with patacones, the twice-fried green plantain disks. For a reliable lunch once you have surfed in the morning, casado fits the bill, the standard mix of rice, beans, salad, plantain and whichever protein you choose, and many restaurants serve it too. Cold fruit shakes, fresh coconut water and local beer are the usual answers to the afternoon heat.
At Christmas, tamales appear in homes and on some menus, wrapped in banana leaf and often shared among family. Bakeries sell sweet breads, and small cafés in the village serve strong Costa Rican coffee for early starts. For a casual dinner, look for open-air spots with plastic chairs and a view of the sand, where grilled fish and cold drinks cost less in effort than in fuss.
Christmas lights and the San Jose festivals
Early and mid-December bring Christmas lights and posadas, and the Festival de la Luz, a night parade of illuminated floats, lights up San Jose. The Tope, a horse parade, follows in the capital on December 26, and the Zapote festival runs from Christmas to New Year’s. These are in San Jose, a long way from the beach, so they suit travelers who are combining the city with Samara rather than those staying put.
In Samara itself, expect a gentler version of the season: lit-up restaurants, live music at beach bars and informal gatherings. The village is small enough that a holiday evening feels like a neighborhood party. It is also the start of the high season, so the energy builds through the month as more visitors arrive.
A two-day itinerary for Samara in December
Day 1 is for the beach and the village. Be at the main beach by first light, while the sand is still close to deserted and the glow is gentle, and afterward eat a hearty breakfast at a little café in the village: gallo pinto (rice and beans), eggs, and coffee. Before the sun gets strong and while the water stays calm, book a surf lesson or a paddleboard session in the morning.
When the day is at its hottest, stay in the shade: a leisurely seafood lunch at an open-air restaurant, a swim, and then a siesta at your hotel. In the late afternoon, wander the village shops and craft stalls, then walk back to the beach for sunset, which comes early with only about eleven and a half hours of daylight. Dinner can be grilled fish at a table near the sand, with the evening promenade still going after dark.
Day 2 is for moving along the coast. Set out early for Carrillo, whose sandy arc is lined with palms, and swim there only once you have checked local conditions, because the main bay’s calm does not extend that far. Return to Samara in the afternoon for lunch and a fruit shake.
Finish with a slow evening: a last sunset, a casado or a ceviche, and a drink at a beach bar with music. If a rare shower turns the afternoon gray, fall back on a long café stop, a massage or yoga class, or an unhurried browse through the village shops until the clouds clear.
Is Samara busy in December?
Yes, and it gets busier as the month goes on, because December is the start of the high season. The first weeks are livelier than November but still manageable, while the days around Christmas and New Year’s are the real peak, when families and groups of friends fill the village. North American visitors escaping winter are a large share of the crowd, and many Costa Rican families also take their vacation at the coast.
What fills up first are the rooms near the beach, the rental cars and the popular restaurants at dinner. Small hotels and houses are limited in a village this size, so book early for the holiday weeks and expect a little more flexibility in the early part of the month. For Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, ask restaurants directly whether reservations are needed.
The beach itself stays roomy because it is long and wide, so even on busy days you can find open sand if you walk a little. Surf schools and tour operators are in full swing, which means more choice but also more people at the popular times. Mornings remain the quietest part of the day, and that is when the village feels most like itself.
What to pack for Samara in December
Pack for sun, sand and warm nights, with one small layer for rare showers and air-conditioned restaurants. Light fabrics that dry fast will serve you better than heavy clothing.
- A wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen, since even when it is hazy the sun stays powerful.
- A rash guard and swimsuits, for long surf and paddleboard sessions.
- For stretches of stones and stretches of scorching sand, pack water shoes.
- A light rain shell, for the occasional short shower.
- Pack a dry bag so your phone and wallet stay safe while you are on the water.
- Insect repellent, for evenings near vegetation.
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, ‘Exercise increased caution,’ due to crime; it says petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica and that violent crime also affects tourists, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault.
December is a month of celebration and travel, so the main thing is to book rooms and cars early, especially for the days around Christmas and New Year’s. Plan arrival and departure days with some slack.
Petty theft happens at beaches, so keep bags in sight and leave valuables at the hotel.
Samara in December vs November and January
Moving the trip four weeks earlier means more rain, a greener landscape and a quieter village. November still has plenty of wet afternoons, some trails are muddy, and a few businesses are on a slower rhythm before the season begins. The sea is slightly cooler, but still warm, and the beach is easy to have to yourself.
Moving four weeks later brings the driest, sunniest weather of the whole stretch, with hotter afternoons and warmer water. January is also fully into the high season, so the village is at its busiest, and the sense of Christmas lights and festivals has passed. Surf schools and restaurants run at full speed, and the hills begin to dry and turn golden.
December sits between the two, with the first dry weeks, the holiday mood and room to breathe in the early part of the month. Travelers who want guaranteed sun and do not mind crowds should lean toward January, while those who prefer quiet and a green landscape can pick November. For the festive atmosphere and a balance of sunshine and calm, stay with December.
Is December a good time to visit Samara?
Absolutely, above all for people who love the beach, for families and for those new to surfing in search of mild seas and largely bright skies. The sea is gentle in the bay, the evenings are mild enough for outdoor dinners, and the holiday lights give the village a cheerful look. If you prefer a deserted beach or the lowest-key atmosphere, another month will suit better, and anyone allergic to crowds should avoid the days around Christmas and New Year’s.
On arrival, settle in and head straight to the main beach to see how the water looks, then ask your hotel or a surf shop about conditions before swimming anywhere beyond the bay. Book surf lessons or horseback rides for the first mornings, when the light is best, and keep the afternoons free for shade and long lunches. Visitors who want the capital’s festivals can pair a night in San Jose with the beach days.
What makes December in Samara special is the moment of transition: the green hills still holding the last of the rains, the first dry breezes on the bay, Christmas lights strung between palms, and a warm sea that invites you in at sunrise and at dusk.
Sources
- Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 9.8814N 85.5262W, checked October 8, 2026
- Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 8, 2026
- sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 8, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Information, Safety and security (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/CostaRica.html), checked October 8, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Advisory, issued April 1, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/costa-rica-travel-advisory.html), read via the State Department open data API on October 8, 2026