In November, the hills behind Samara are a deep, soaked green, and the morning begins with the sound of howler monkeys somewhere above the road and the first fishing boats rocking on a bay that is already warm. By afternoon the clouds stack up over the Nicoya Peninsula and the town settles into its rhythm of sodas, hammocks and long looks at the sky. This is Samara in the heart of the green season, a month for travelers who like their beach town quiet, lush and a little unpredictable.
What is the weather like in Samara in November?
November in Samara is hot, humid and wet, with rain on more days than not. November in Samara feels like the tail end of a very rainy October and the start of a much drier December.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days | Sea (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 82.7 | 75.1 | 28.4 | 85.5 |
| November | 83.6 | 75.0 | 18.3 | 83.3 |
| December | 85.6 | 74.9 | 5.5 | 84.4 |
The day’s finest hours tend to arrive early. The sun comes up over a humid, glowing coast, the air is already warm enough for shorts by breakfast, and the beach is most open for walking, swimming and surf lessons.
Clouds tend to build by midday, and the rain, when it comes, can be heavy, loud on the tin roofs and over within an hour or two. Some days it lingers into the night, and a few days stay gray from start to finish.
Evenings never really cool down, so you eat outside in a T-shirt and the main discomfort is humidity, not cold. The rain also keeps the dust down and the countryside bright, and when the clouds break near sunset the light over the bay turns copper and pink. Mud can make roads and trails messy, so schedule your longer excursions early and leave the rest of the day open.
The sea stays bath-warm all month, a touch cooler than in October after weeks of rain and cloud. Pack a light rain jacket instead of an umbrella, because wind frequently accompanies showers, and count on clothes on a line staying wet until the following sunny morning.
Can you swim in Samara in November?
Yes, the water is warm, but conditions still change from day to day. The curve of the beach is sheltered by a reef and by Isla Chora just offshore, which usually softens the waves and keeps the shallows gentle compared with the open Pacific beaches up and down the coast.
Conditions still change from day to day, and a calm bay is a habit, not a guarantee. After a big rain the water can turn cloudy near river mouths, and the sea can pick up a surge around high tide.
Several American visitors die in Costa Rica each year because of rip currents, yet at most beaches there are no lifeguards on duty and no signs warning you about dangerous water. Most beaches in Costa Rica do not have lifeguards or warnings about unsafe conditions.
Beginner surfers find the soft, rolling waves of the bay easy to learn on, and board and lesson shops line the beachfront. Snorkelers can try the reef side, though visibility often dips after heavy rain, so go on a clearer morning.
Conditions at Playa Carrillo can also change from day to day, so treat the water with the same caution. Bring a rash guard for surf and a dry bag for anything you carry down to the sand before a shower.
What to do in Samara in November
The month begins with All Souls’ Day, Dia de los Difuntos, on November 2, a national holiday. It is a quiet, family-centered day when cemeteries in Costa Rican towns see flowers and visits, and some shops and offices may keep shorter hours. Samara itself has no big festival to build a trip around in November, and that is part of the charm: the town runs at the pace of its residents, with surf lessons at dawn, fishermen unloading near the beach and cafés filling up when the rain starts.
Food in the rainy season leans on what the boats bring in and on comfort cooking. For the midday meal, sodas serve a casado, which is rice, beans, salad and plantain on a plate plus your choice of fish, chicken or beef, and in the morning gallo pinto turns up, rice and beans mixed with onion and pepper.
Ceviche, grilled fish with a squeeze of lime and cold coconut water suit the weather perfectly. Costa Rican coffee is worth a cup every morning, and the harvest in the highlands starts around the end of the year.
The beach and the bay
Samara’s main beach is a long, gently curved strip of pale sand backed by palms and almond trees, and in November it is the town’s living room. Early morning is the time for a long walk toward the quieter ends, where you may see pelicans diving and locals jogging at low tide. The beachfront restaurants fill at midday, and the shade of the trees gives the best spot for a long lunch.
Stay close to shore, watch the tide and leave the water when clouds darken, since the afternoon rain can bring wind with it. A beach day here suits families, couples and anyone who likes a slow rhythm.
Surf, horses and the green hills
In Samara, the classic thing to do is take a surf lesson, and the bay’s gentle waves mean that even someone who has never been on a board can enjoy an easy first lesson in the morning. Many travelers pair it with a horseback ride along the beach or into the hills, where the rainy-season greenery is at its thickest and the ground smells of wet earth. Both are best in the morning, before the clouds build.
Walks in the surrounding countryside can be rewarding for birds and monkeys, and a guide helps you actually find them. Trails turn slick and muddy after rain, so wear shoes with grip and keep your plan loose. Wildlife is always a chance, never a promise, but the early hours are when the forest is most alive.
Rainy afternoons in town
When the afternoon downpour arrives, Samara’s small center is a good place to wait it out. Duck into a café for coffee and something baked, browse the craft and surf shops, or book a yoga class, since the town has long drawn a yoga and wellness crowd. A massage, a book and a covered porch are respectable plans on a wet day, and the rain often stops in time for a walk at sunset.
Evenings are relaxed. Restaurants serve fresh fish, pizza from wood ovens and Costa Rican plates, and a few bars near the beach have live music, though the town is not a late-night place. A cold beer and a table under a roof, with the rain drumming above, is a very Samara November.
A two-day itinerary for Samara in November
Day 1 is for the bay. Daylight lasts about 11 hours 42 minutes in mid-November, and clouds usually build after lunch, so be on the sand early. Begin at dawn with a stroll beside the water, then try a paddle or a surf lesson while the sea is calmest. Breakfast comes after, at a soda or beachfront café, with gallo pinto and fruit.
Spend midday swimming and eating a casado or fresh ceviche in the shade, then retreat when the clouds darken. If the rain starts, the afternoon belongs to the town: coffee, shops, a yoga class or a massage.
Once the clouds break, head back to the shore for day’s end, as warmth settles into the light above the bay and pelicans hunt the shallows. Dinner can be grilled fish at a restaurant on the sand.
Day 2 moves inland and along the coast. Go early for a horseback ride or a guided walk in the hills, when the forest is loudest and the air is least heavy, and bring a rain layer. By late morning, head to a quieter beach such as Playa Carrillo for a swim and a long lunch, taking care with the water, since conditions outside the bay can be livelier.
Come back to town in the afternoon for a slow coffee and a browse through the craft stalls. If rain sets in, a covered café, a book and a late massage fill the hours. Finish with a relaxed dinner of pizza from a wood oven, or a casual plate at a local spot, and an early night before the next morning’s sun.
Is Samara busy in November?
Actually, November counts among the calmest periods of the year in Samara, a green-season month that finds the beach uncrowded, tables almost always available at restaurants and the town once more belonging to itself. The rain keeps many visitors away, and those who come tend to be surfers, yoga travelers, long-stay guests and families who value calm over sun.
All Souls’ Day on November 2 is a national holiday, and Costa Rican families may travel around it, so a few more local visitors can appear on that weekend.
As a habit, book early for holiday weeks and lean on flexibility in the quiet ones. Rental cars and shuttles are rarely a problem now, but secure your lodging and transportation ahead if your dates are fixed.
Restaurants and shops may be quieter, and some smaller businesses can close for part of the green season, so look at current hours before you plan a particular dinner. Weather matters more than crowds: leave space in the plan for the afternoon rain, and keep your outdoor outings for the morning when the sky is clearest.
What to pack for Samara in November
Pack for warm, humid days and wet afternoons, with clothes that dry quickly and a few layers to keep your belongings protected.
- A light rain jacket, because afternoon downpours often come with wind.
- Quick-dry shirts and shorts, since nothing dries slowly in the humidity.
- Sandals and closed shoes with grip, for the beach and for muddy trails.
- A rash guard and swimsuits, for surf lessons and long swims.
- Pack sunscreen and a hat too, because early sunlight stays powerful beneath overcast skies.
- For keeping phones and cameras safe at the beach, carry a waterproof case or a dry bag.
- Insect repellent, for evenings near the trees.
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.
November is part of the green season, so the day’s plan should bend around the rain. Save active outings for the morning, keep afternoons open and carry a rain layer. Most beaches in Costa Rica do not have lifeguards, so follow local advice about the sea each day.
Getting around town is easy on foot, and the roads to quieter beaches and hills can be muddy or slow after rain, so allow extra time. All Souls’ Day on November 2 is a national holiday, so expect some shortened hours that day, and look at current hours for smaller restaurants and tour operators.
Samara in November vs October and December
Moving a few weeks earlier brings October’s heaviest rain, with showers on nearly every day, a slightly warmer sea and a town that is even emptier. Some businesses close for a break, and trails and roads are at their muddiest. If you want the quietest, greenest Samara and do not mind gray days, October is the choice.
A few weeks later, December is much drier, with sunnier mornings, bluer skies and more reliable beach afternoons. The trade is more visitors, fuller restaurants and holiday-season demand for rooms, so plans need to be made earlier. The greenery is still lush at the start of the month, and the days feel brighter and easier to plan.
November sits in the middle, still wet but easing, quiet but not empty. Choose it if you like calm and green and can handle afternoon rain. Shift to December if sunshine and a predictable beach day matter most, and to October only if solitude is the whole point.
Is November a good time to visit Samara?
Yes, if you want a quiet, green beach town with warm water, and you do not mind that rain shapes the afternoons. November suits surfers learning on gentle waves, couples after a slow pace, families who like a protected bay and anyone who enjoys lush scenery without crowds. It is a weaker choice for travelers who need dependable sun all day or who plan a long list of outdoor activities with little flexibility.
On arrival, walk down to the beach, look at the bay and ask a local business how the sea is that day. Then book the morning activities you care about, such as a surf lesson, a horseback ride or a guided walk, and leave afternoons open. A table at a beachfront restaurant is easy to find, and the town does not demand a tight schedule.
What stays with you from Samara in November is the combination of a warm, sheltered bay, steaming green hills and the sound of rain on a roof while you sit with a cup of coffee, waiting for the clouds to part over the water.
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