On a February morning, the sand on Samara’s long bay is hard and cool underfoot. Dog walkers, early surfers and a few fishermen share it under a sky with hardly a cloud, while the smell of fresh coffee drifts from the cafés behind the beach road.
What is the weather like in Samara in February?
February in Samara is hot, sunny and almost entirely dry, a classic dry-season month on the Pacific side of Costa Rica.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 88.7 | 75.3 | 1.3 | 85.1 |
| February | 90.8 | 75.9 | 1.0 | 85.6 |
| March | 91.5 | 76.7 | 2.7 | 86.9 |
Mornings start warm and bright, and the best hours for walking, running or a surf lesson come before the sun climbs. By midday the heat is strong enough that most people look for shade, a smoothie or the water. Afternoons stay hot and the light turns golden and low toward evening, which is when the beach fills with people watching the sunset.
Rain is a rarity. When a shower does come, it is brief and usually in the afternoon, and many February days pass without a single cloud worth mentioning. Rain is not the thing to plan around, though weather can always surprise you, so a light layer is still sensible.
Nights stay warm, warm enough to eat dinner outside in a T-shirt and sleep with a fan or air conditioning. The days are a little under twelve hours long, so the sun sets in the early evening and dinner tends to start early. Light cotton, a hat and plenty of sunscreen are the wardrobe, and the sea is warm all day long.
Can you swim in Samara in February?
Yes, the sea is warm, but rip currents are very dangerous.
Bring a rash guard for long hours in the sun, water shoes for rocky spots at low tide and a snorkel mask if you plan to look around the reef.
What to do in Samara in February
February is for the outdoors. Days run on a simple rhythm, beach and activities in the morning, a long lunch in the shade, then the sea or a hammock until the sunset crowd gathers on the sand. The town is small and walkable, with a main beach road lined with open-air restaurants, surf shops, small hotels and craft stalls.
Food leans on the sea and the farm. Look for ceviche, grilled fish with rice and beans, and the casado, the plate of rice, beans, salad, plantains and a choice of meat or fish that is the everyday lunch. Breakfast is often gallo pinto, rice and black beans stir-fried together and served with eggs. Fresh fruit juices, coconut water straight from the shell and cold local beer are the drinks of the afternoon.
Surf lessons and the main beach
Early morning is a comfortable time for a lesson before the heat builds.
Stand-up paddleboarding suits the calm mornings too, and the shallow bay is good for paddling out toward the island with a guide. If you prefer to stay on the sand, the long beach is made for walking at low tide, and the shade of the palms at the edge is where families spread out towels. Bring water and a cover-up, because the sun is strong from mid-morning.
Playa Carrillo and Isla Chora
Playa Carrillo, the next bay along the coast, is a wide crescent of pale sand backed by coconut palms and a favorite for a half-day escape. It is quieter than the town beach, with a few small restaurants and plenty of space to settle under the trees.
Isla Chora, the small island that sits in the bay, is a landmark you will see from every beach. Kayak and paddleboard trips go out toward it, and snorkelers sometimes spot fish around the rocks. The sea conditions decide whether a trip makes sense on a given day, so ask the operator that morning and follow what the local guides say.
Horseback rides, yoga and slow mornings
The dry season is the best time for horseback riding on the beach and through the hills behind town, with dusty tracks, open pasture and views over the bay. For greater comfort in the heat, choose an early or late ride. Riders of every level can find a gentle outing, and guides match the horse to the person.
Samara also has a quiet yoga and wellness scene, with open-air studios in the trees and morning classes before breakfast. A class at dawn followed by a smoothie bowl is a very Samara way to start a day. In the evening, many people walk the beach road for dinner and a drink, with music from a bar or two drifting over the sand.
Envision Festival at Uvita
The Envision Festival, a gathering of music, art and yoga, usually takes place at Uvita in late February, and the dates change every year. Uvita is on a different stretch of the Pacific coast, so it is a separate trip from Samara rather than a day out, and it suits travelers who plan the whole vacation around it. If it fits your dates, it adds a lively, creative week to the dry-season coast.
If you stay in Samara instead, the month still feels festive in a quieter way, with bonfires on the beach and live music in a handful of bars. Check the dates before you book anything around the festival, because they move from year to year.
A two-day itinerary for Samara in February
Day 1 starts early, because the cool hours are short. Walk the beach at first light while the sand is firm, then take a surf lesson or a paddleboard session before the sun gets strong. Breakfast is gallo pinto or fruit and eggs at a café on the beach road.
Spend the hot middle of the day in the shade, with a casado or fresh fish at an open-air restaurant, then a rest or a swim in the shallow bay. In the late afternoon, go for a horseback ride in the hills behind town, when the light turns gold and the heat eases.
End with sunset on the sand and dinner at one of the restaurants by the beach. If the weather turns, spend the afternoon in a craft shop, a café or a yoga class.
Day 2 heads out of town. Take a taxi or drive to Playa Carrillo for the morning, with a long walk along its palm-lined sand and a swim before the crowds arrive. Bring water, a hat and a book, and plan a late lunch after you leave the beach.
Come back to Samara in the afternoon for a kayak or paddleboard trip toward Isla Chora, if the sea looks cooperative that day. Ask the guide whether conditions are good, and skip it if they are not. Finish with a slow evening of ceviche, a cold drink and music on the beach road, the right way to close a dry-season trip.
Is Samara busy in February?
Yes, February is one of the lively months in Samara, since the dry season is when most visitors come to the Pacific coast.
The town fills with North American and European travelers escaping winter, along with Costa Rican families on vacation. The beach road, the restaurants at sunset and the surf schools are busy in the mornings, though the bay is large enough that the sand never feels packed. Rooms in the best-known hotels and small guesthouses are harder to find, and rental cars go quickly, especially around weekends.
Book early as a habit, especially if you want a beachfront room, a specific dates range or a rental car. Restaurant tables are easier to get at lunch than at the sunset hour, so arrive a little before the rush or reserve a table at the places you most want to try. Surf lessons, horseback rides and boat trips fill on good-weather days, so line them up when you arrive rather than on the morning itself.
The quiet corners are still there. Walk a little way down the beach from the main road, or go early in the morning, and the bay feels almost empty. Weekdays are calmer than weekends, and the mood stays relaxed even at the busiest hours.
What to pack for Samara in February
Pack for sun, heat and beach, with one light layer for the evenings. A small daypack makes the walk from town to the beach easier.
- Water shoes, for rocky patches at low tide and the walk to the water.
- A refillable water bottle for hot days on the beach and on horseback.
- A light layer or sarong for breezy evenings on the sand.
- A small dry bag, to keep phone and camera safe on boat and paddle outings.
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.
February is the dry season, so the roads are dusty and the beach days are reliable, but the sun is strong and the demand for rooms and cars is high. Book rooms and rentals early, and line up surf lessons and rides when you arrive.
Samara is small and walkable, but a car or taxi helps for Playa Carrillo and trips further afield.
Most beaches do not have lifeguards or warnings about unsafe conditions. Carry water and sun protection everywhere, even on short outings.
Samara in February vs January and March
Moving the trip earlier to January brings slightly cooler air and a sea just a little less warm, with the same dry skies. The town is busy with holiday visitors in the first weeks and then settles into a steadier rhythm. The Pacific coast is in full dry-season mode, so little changes for beach and surf plans.
Moving to March means more heat and a warmer sea, and a few more chances of a passing shower. Skies stay mostly clear, and the heat becomes the main thing to plan around, with long midday breaks in the shade. Crowds can build as spring vacations approach, and rooms may be harder to find around school breaks.
Choose February if you want the balance, with sunny days, a warm sea and heat that is strong but still manageable. Shift to January if you prefer slightly cooler mornings, and to March if you want the warmest water and do not mind the heat. Either way, February remains the easiest middle choice for a classic dry-season beach week.
Is February a good time to visit Samara?
Yes, February is a very good time to visit Samara, especially for travelers who want sun, warm water and an easygoing beach town.
It suits families, beginner surfers, couples and anyone who likes early mornings on the sand and long lunches in the shade. Travelers who dislike heat or crowds, or who want green hillsides and misty forests, may prefer another month or another part of the country. If you do come, book rooms and a car early, then spend your first morning walking the bay at low tide before you plan anything else.
What makes February special here is the feel of the dry season at full strength, with bright mornings, golden evenings and a bay that stays inviting from dawn to dusk. It is a month of sandy feet, fresh fruit juice and a sunset that arrives right on time.
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