Early in the morning in Samara, a horse is led along the sand while pelicans skim the flat water of the bay and the first surf students carry their boards down from the village. By midday the almond trees along the beach shade plates of grilled fish and glasses of cold coconut water. Samara is a small Pacific town on the Nicoya Peninsula, and it suits families, first-time surfers and anyone who wants a beach vacation at walking pace.
What are the best things to do in Samara?
The best things to do in Samara are mostly simple and mostly outdoors: spend long hours on the curved bay, learn to stand up on a board, paddle out to the island, ride a horse along the shore and eat well afterward. The town is built for it. Everything sits close to the water, the days have a natural order of beach in the morning and shade at midday, and the surrounding coast offers a few beaches that feel entirely different from the main one.
The list below is the short version. Each item gets its own space in the sections that follow, with the small details that make a day work.
- Take a first surf lesson on the gentle waves of the main beach, which families and beginners favor.
- Swim and wade in the wide bay, protected by a reef and an island, while keeping an eye on conditions and the flags.
- Kayak across the bay toward the island, with a chance of seeing birds and sea life along the way.
- Go horseback riding on the sand, one of the most typical ways to see the coast here.
- Take a day trip to Playa Carrillo, a long palm-lined beach down the coast.
- Grab a casado or some fresh fish at a laid-back neighborhood spot just steps away from the beach.
- Watch the sky turn orange over the bay in the evening, then linger at a beach bar or a table under the trees.
- Walk the edges of town early in the day, when howler monkeys, birds and iguanas are most active.
If you only have a short stay, combine the first, second and last items and you will have seen the town the way most visitors remember it. Longer stays leave room for the day trips and for the slower pleasures, like reading in a hammock after lunch or walking the full curve of the bay from one end to the other.
Sights and landmarks in Samara
Samara has no grand monuments, no museum district and no ruins, and that is part of its appeal. The sights are the bay itself, a handful of corners in the village and the island that sits offshore. What you take home are images rather than a checklist: a line of palms bending over the sand, fishing boats pulled up above the tide line, a soccer game under the lights in the middle of town.
The bay and the beachfront
The bay is the landmark. It curves in a wide, shallow arc, with a reef and an island offshore breaking up the open ocean, which is why the water here is described as calm and gentle compared with much of this coast. Trees come right to the edge of the sand, so you can walk the length of the beach in shade for much of the way, with the town on one side and the sea on the other.
The best moments for a stroll are early morning and the hour before sunset, when the light is soft and the sand is cooler. In the morning you see fishermen, dog walkers, yoga classes and runners.
In the evening the beach belongs to families, couples and surf students heading in. Conditions in the water still change from day to day, so treat it as a place to ask about the sea before you go in, not a place that is always the same.
Isla Chora and the reef
The island lying off the beach is a small, green, rocky outcrop that shapes the whole look of Samara. From the sand it reads as a quiet backdrop, especially at sunset, when it turns into a dark shape against the sky. Together, the reef and the island help shelter the bay from open-ocean waves.
Most visitors see it from the beach or from a kayak, and it makes a good goal for a morning outing. Birds use the rocks, and the water around it is where people go to look for fish and other sea life. As with any open-water outing, local guides and surf schools are the best source for how the sea looks that day.
The village center
The center of Samara is small enough to cover on foot in a relaxed hour. A short main road runs from the town toward the beach, lined with open-air restaurants, surf and bike rental shops, small supermarkets, bakeries and craft stalls. There is a soccer field in the middle of town that works as a gathering place, and in the late afternoon you will often see children and adults playing while others watch from the edge.
This is a Costa Rican town first and a resort second, so you hear Spanish in the shops and at the bakery counter, and the pace slows after lunch. Craft stalls near the beach sell wood carvings, jewelry and handmade textiles, a pleasant place to browse while the midday heat passes.
Beyond the beach: the wider Nicoya setting
Samara belongs to the Nicoya Peninsula, a region known for its cattle ranching, its small farms and a reputation for long, healthy lives among its older residents. You can feel the rural character just outside the town, where dirt tracks lead past pastures, fruit trees and fences with roosting birds. Taking a slow walk or ride along these edges shows a side of the peninsula that beach-only visitors can miss.
Howler monkeys are often heard before they are seen, especially at dawn, and iguanas sunbathe on walls and branches near the sand. These are chances, not promises, but a quiet morning walk gives you a fair shot at both.
Beaches and outdoor things to do in Samara
Everything revolves around the main beach: broad, crescent-shaped, protected by a reef and an island, and typically calm enough for surf schools to hold beginner lessons there throughout the day. Add kayaking, horse riding and a handful of beaches along the coast, and you have the outdoor menu of Samara. None of it requires a long plan, which is much of the charm.
One caution applies to every beach on this coast. Rip currents are extremely dangerous, and every year they cause several U.S. tourists to drown, while most beaches have no lifeguards on duty and nothing posted to alert you to unsafe conditions. Ask your hotel or a surf school what the water is like that day, follow whatever flags are flying, and keep children within arm’s reach any time they are near the water, since a calm-looking surface reveals nothing about the current.
Surfing the gentle waves
Samara is one of the friendlier places in Costa Rica to try surfing for the first time. The waves here are gentle, and families and first-time surfers favor them for exactly that reason. The gentle waves appeal to families and first-time surfers.
Mornings are a popular time for lessons, when the wind is usually lighter. Wear a rash guard, put on sunscreen and expect to spend more time falling than standing at first, which is part of the fun. More experienced surfers will find the main break mellow, so they often head to other beaches along the coast for stronger waves.
Kayaking in the bay
Kayaking is one of the town’s signature activities. Paddling across the bay toward the island gives you a different view of Samara, with the village shrinking into a line of green and the coastline curving away on both sides. Birds are common over the water, and sometimes you can spot fish or other sea life beneath the surface.
Kayaking is one of the outdoor activities offered in Samara. Go early, when the water tends to be quieter and the sun is not yet strong, and bring water and a hat. Ask the outfitter about wind and current before you push off.
Horseback riding on the sand
Riding a horse along the beach is a classic outing in Samara, and it fits the peninsula’s ranching culture well. Horseback riding offers another way to experience the coast around Samara.
Late afternoon is a favorite time, as the heat eases and the light turns golden over the bay. Closed shoes and long pants are more comfortable than sandals and shorts, and beginners are welcome with a guide who matches the horse to the rider. It is a quiet, unhurried way to see the shoreline.
Other beach walks and easy outdoor time
Beyond the main stretch, the sand continues in both directions, and walking toward either end shows quieter corners where fewer people gather. Beach yoga, bike rides along the coast road, stand-up paddling and simple swimming fill the hours between meals. Walks in the early morning are the most rewarding, with softer light and more birdlife.
For a change of scenery, a hike or ride into the hills behind town brings views of the bay from above and a chance to see more wildlife among the trees. Local guides know which trails are in good shape, and a morning outing leaves the afternoon free for the beach.
Day trips from Samara
The coast around Samara is dotted with beaches, each with its own character, and day trips here are about trading one stretch of sand for another. Day trips here are mostly about trading one stretch of sand for another. Roads on this part of the peninsula can be slow in places, so allow more time than the map suggests.
Playa Carrillo
Playa Carrillo is the day trip most visitors take from Samara, and it is easy to see why. A long, graceful curve of pale sand backed by tall coconut palms, it feels more open and less developed than the main beach in town. Photographers like it for the palms, and the broad shoreline gives plenty of room to walk.
Go in the morning, bring a hat and sunscreen, and plan to stay through lunch at one of the casual restaurants near the sand. Carrillo is a pleasant place for a long beach walk, for a picnic and for watching the light change over the water. Waves and currents vary here too, so ask locally before swimming and keep children close.
Playa Buena Vista and Playa Barrigona
Along the coast north of town, a few smaller beaches reward a half-day outing. Playa Buena Vista is a quieter spot with a wild, uncrowded feel, while Playa Barrigona is a pretty cove often visited for its scenery and its relaxed atmosphere. Both are the kind of beach where you spread a towel, read, swim if conditions allow and watch pelicans fishing offshore.
These are good choices for travelers who like a more secluded setting than the main beach. Bring your own water and snacks, since services at the smaller beaches are limited. Because currents can be strong on open beaches and lifeguards are rare, check conditions with your hotel before you go in.
Nosara and Ostional
Farther up the coast, the Nosara area is known for its yoga studios, its forested hillsides and its surf, and it makes an interesting contrast with Samara’s quieter rhythm. Visitors come to wander its beaches, eat at its cafes and see how another coastal community has grown up around wellness and surfing.
Ostional, near Nosara, is a wildlife refuge famous for its olive ridley sea turtles, which come ashore in large groups known as arribadas at certain times of year. It makes a memorable, if long, day for travelers interested in nature.
Smaller outings
- Playa Camaronal, a wide and fairly wild beach to the south, for those who want space and a sense of remoteness.
- Small farms and roadside stands in the countryside, for fresh fruit, cheese and coffee on the way back.
- Local fishing villages along the coast, where you can see boats come in and watch daily life continue at its own pace.
What to eat in Samara
Eating in Samara means fresh fish, rice and beans, tropical fruit and simple food made well. Most meals are served at open-air restaurants, called sodas when they are small and family-run, where plates arrive generous and unfussy. The Nicoya Peninsula has its own food traditions, built on corn, beans, cheese and the catch of the day.
Casado and gallo pinto
A casado is the everyday lunch of Costa Rica: a plate with rice, black beans, a salad or cabbage, fried plantains and a choice of fish, chicken, beef or pork. The word means married, a nod to the pairing of rice and beans. In a beach town like Samara, the fish version is a good choice, usually grilled or fried and served with a lime wedge.
Gallo pinto, rice and beans stir-fried together with onion, sweet pepper and cilantro, is the breakfast staple. It often comes with eggs, fresh cheese, sweet plantains and corn tortillas, with a splash of Salsa Lizano on the side. It is a hearty start before a morning of surfing or kayaking, and many guesthouses and cafes serve it with strong Costa Rican coffee.
Fresh fish and ceviche
With the Pacific at the door, seafood is the natural choice. Ceviche is the classic starter, made with raw fish cured in lime juice and mixed with onion, cilantro and sweet pepper, usually served with crackers or plantain chips. Grilled whole fish, shrimp in garlic butter and fish tacos appear on many menus, and the freshness is the point.
Order what the kitchen recommends that day, as the catch changes with the boats. Pair it with a cold beer, a fresh fruit juice or a pipa fria, a green coconut chilled and served with a straw, which fills the role of a beach drink better than anything else.
Guanacaste and Nicoya specialties
The peninsula belongs to the Guanacaste cultural region, which has a distinct food identity based on corn. Look for tortillas palmeadas, thick, hand-patted corn tortillas often served with cheese, and for rosquillas, ring-shaped corn biscuits. Patacones, fried green plantain discs, come with beans, cheese or guacamole.
Chifrijo, a bar snack of rice, beans, pork and pico de gallo, is popular with a cold beer and a good option when you want something filling. For dessert, tres leches cake and fresh fruit are the usual endings, and smoothies made with pineapple, papaya, mango or watermelon are easy to find all day.
Where and how to eat
Samara offers a mix of small sodas, beachfront restaurants, bakeries and cafes. The bakeries are good for a quick breakfast of pastries and coffee, and many cafes serve smoothie bowls and lighter plates. Some restaurants add international dishes, including Italian, French and vegetarian options, reflecting the mix of residents who have settled here.
For the most local meal, look for the small family places a short walk from the sand, where the menu is a handwritten list of daily plates. For a view, choose a table by the beach at lunchtime or sunset, when the whole bay is in front of you.
Things to do in Samara at night
Evenings in Samara begin on the beach and end early, with a relaxed mix of dinner, drinks and music. This is not a late-night party town, and that is the appeal for most visitors. After a day of sun and salt, a long dinner under the trees is the main event.
Sunset on the bay
The hour before dark is when the town gathers on the beach. People walk the shoreline, surfers come out for a last session and groups settle at beachfront tables with a cold drink. The island sits as a dark silhouette against a sky that can turn orange, pink and violet, though clouds in the rainy months can change the show.
A walk along the sand at this hour is among the nicest free things to do in town. Bring a light layer, since the breeze off the water can feel cooler once the sun drops, and a flashlight or phone light for the walk back on unlit stretches.
Dinner, drinks and live music
After sunset, restaurants light their terraces and the main street fills with the smell of grilled fish and garlic. Beach bars and open-air venues sometimes feature live music, from acoustic guitar and reggae to Latin rhythms, and some nights bring a DJ or a casual dance floor. The atmosphere is friendly and low-key, with surfers, families and long-term expats sharing tables.
Local cocktails often use rum, lime and fresh fruit, and Costa Rican beers are the default alongside them. Dancing, when it happens, is informal, and the crowd thins out early. Ask at your hotel or at a surf school for what is on that evening, since schedules change.
Quiet evenings
Many visitors prefer a slow night. A long dinner followed by a stroll through the village, ice cream or a cup of coffee in a cafe, then a hammock or a porch at your lodging is a perfectly good evening. On clear nights the stars are bright away from the main street, and the sound of the waves carries across the bay.
Soccer games on the town field are a local evening ritual and are fun to watch for a while, with neighbors cheering from the sidelines. As always, take normal precautions at night, keep valuables out of sight and avoid walking the beach alone in the dark, given that petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica.
Things to do in Samara with kids
Samara is an easy place for families, because most of what children enjoy is right at the beach. The bay is described as calm and shallow, protected by a reef and an island, and the gentle waves make it a common place for first surf lessons. Even so, water conditions change, so adults need to stay attentive at all times.
Beach time and first surf lessons
Children love the wide sand, which is ideal for castles, digging, games and collecting shells. Wading at the water’s edge and playing in the gentle shore break fills hours, and many surf schools offer lessons for young beginners, with instructors who start on dry land and keep the first waves small and slow.
Keep children within arm’s reach whenever they are in the water, because rip currents are very dangerous here and most beaches have no lifeguard or warnings. Ask your hotel or the surf school about the day’s conditions and follow the flags where they exist. Hats, rash guards and plenty of sunscreen matter, since the tropical sun is strong.
Animals, horses and kayaks
Horseback rides on the beach are a highlight for older children, with guides who set the pace and match horses to riders. Kayaking toward the island is another outing that works for families, especially in a double kayak with a parent, and it may bring sightings of birds and sea life.
Wildlife appears in unplanned ways. Howler monkeys call from the trees at dawn, iguanas lounge on walls and pelicans dive into the bay. These are chances rather than promises, but children often remember them as favorites. A morning walk with a parent, pointing out birds and animals, is a gentle activity for all ages.
Keeping children comfortable
Heat and sun shape the day. Plan beach time for the morning and late afternoon, and use the middle of the day for shade, lunch and a rest or a swim in a pool if your lodging has one. Carry water everywhere and offer it often, and dress children in light, long-sleeved layers when they are out in the sun for a while.
Day trips down the coast involve time in the car, and roads in this region can be slow, so bring snacks, games and patience. Restaurants in town are relaxed about children, and simple dishes like rice, beans, chicken, pasta, fruit and fresh juice make easy meals for picky eaters.
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.
Samara is a small beach town, and day trips extend the experience along the surrounding coast. Many hotels and surf schools can arrange transport and activities for you. Keep small bills handy for little shops and beach stands, carry water and sunscreen, and remember that the rainy months bring green hills and frequent showers along this stretch of the Pacific coast.
Sources
- Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 9.8814N 85.5262W, 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