Samara Beach
Samara Beach
4.5
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90 within 5 kms
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10 within 10 kms
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- GinaDe1234Rutherford, New Jersey12 contributionsWarm and pleasantVery 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.Visited January 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 27 January 2024
- Nancy KDes Moines, Iowa36 contributionsGreat time in SámaraVery 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.Visited February 2024Travelled with familyWritten 26 February 2024
- canariesflyLas Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain70 contributionsBeautifulVery clean beach Beautiful views in each direction. Lovely long walks along the beach Many bars and restaurants Warm water. Good waves. Easy to rent surfing equipment and bodyboards Sámara is a small tourist town, everything is 5 minutes away from the beach. There is a friendly, relaxed vibe here Absolutely recommendVisited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 23 March 2024
- Anne RToronto, Canada88 contributionsSafe, family friendly beachVery nice and family-friendly! It is a gray sand but smooth. Highly recommend for firt time surfer, Patos surfing lesson is a go-to if you plan hanging out at Locanda- a resto serve best papaya juice.Visited April 2024Travelled with familyWritten 6 April 2024
- May_EXLWinnipeg, Canada1,028 contributionsHip SamaraOne of our favourite beaches in Guanacaste province. We did many lovely long walks on this long & wide crescent beach which stretches for several kms and ends across from Isla Chora to the south. Soft sandy bottom beach & gentle waves…it’s perfect for beginner surfers. Many beachfront restaurants , surf lessons and equipment for rent, souvenir stalls. At the north end of the beach is a good snorkeling spot. In addition to Samara town, there are other small villages along the beach. Playa Samara was a laid back beach but it can get pretty busy on weekends and holidays. Many reviews say that a one week stay is more than enough…it was the opposite for us. Aside from our excursions , one month went by so fast. We enjoyed Samara and the feeling that we became part of the community. People are friendly and we felt safe exploring Samara. Staying for at least a night or two is highly recommended.Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 31 May 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,699 reviews
Excellent
1,066
Very good
441
Average
146
Poor
36
Terrible
10
Weerobbie
Kingston, Canada934 contributions
Jan 2020
This is a huge and beautiful beach. It is so long, no matter how many people are here you have solitude. There is a sufficient surf for surfing lessons and Boogie Boarding. The sand is naturally packed hard so walking and running on it are easy. The views are spectacular and the water bathtub warm. A lovely, lovely beach!
Written 31 January 2020
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.
DMH
Spain16 contributions
Nov 2022
Unlike Playa Carrillo that don't allow Horses on the Beach, Playa Samra does. We arrived at the end of November for our annual trip. We have been traveling to what used to be a Rustic area for the past 7 years and I have not seen any improvement when it comes to the maintenance of the Beach. You have vacationers who travel with their Dogs and allow them to poop on and in the Beach and for what ever reason they refuse to pick up their animals waste like they do wherever they travel from.
Not to mention those who offer Horseback rides on the Beach and while they are working they don't feel the need to clean up after the Horses. We saw Dogs chowing down on Horse poop as if it was some type of delicacy.
The New addition was a Playground. Not sure why anyone would put a Playground at the Beach. If you need a Playground while on Vacation go to Disney.
How can you promote you care about the Environment that should include all living and non-living elements, plants, water, air and don't have rules in place to protect what you have.
So if you want to spend your hard earned money to travel to a place were you have to step over and swim in water that has Horse and Dog Poop this is the Beach for you.
Not to mention those who offer Horseback rides on the Beach and while they are working they don't feel the need to clean up after the Horses. We saw Dogs chowing down on Horse poop as if it was some type of delicacy.
The New addition was a Playground. Not sure why anyone would put a Playground at the Beach. If you need a Playground while on Vacation go to Disney.
How can you promote you care about the Environment that should include all living and non-living elements, plants, water, air and don't have rules in place to protect what you have.
So if you want to spend your hard earned money to travel to a place were you have to step over and swim in water that has Horse and Dog Poop this is the Beach for you.
Written 21 January 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.
William O
Venus, TX70 contributions
Dec 2019
Had lunch and dinner on the beach, and a few drinks around town. Beautiful beach, resturants and bars have good service and pretty good food, can walk for miles or set and get drink service with a beautiful view. Nice little town with shopping as well.
Written 13 January 2020
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.
Lee E
Tel Aviv, Israel191 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
I bet it's mainly because it's 2020, but this beach is just heaven right now. Sparsely occupied, gorgeous, green palm trees all around it, quiet and cute places to have a drink in front of the sunset. It spans about 6km so I bet even during high season one could find quieter niches.
Written 23 December 2020
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 7 March 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.
LLALWLYB
Denver43 contributions
Feb 2023 • Solo
I would not come back to Samara Beach. It’s exceptionally overpriced for what you get. You’ll be paying Hawaii prices for, quite honestly, a dump. While the beachfront is beautiful and the restaurants right along the beach are cute — the town itself is a typical dusty, dirty, pueblo in Central America with electrical wires hanging everywhere, limited sidewalks, and poor sanitation.
As of Feb 2023, for example: massages are $70, a one-way shuttle from Liberia airport is $130, two drinks at a beachfront bar are $24, and the accommodation costs are way too high for what you get.
For all the money that these businesses are making, the town should put some significant investment into improving its cleanliness and infrastructure.
I’ve been to 22 countries. And in Central/South America, I’ve been to Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, and Peru — where I’ve taken 13 separate trips and stayed in more than 20 different towns. Trust me, you can do much better somewhere else. The hype of “Pura Vida” here is not worth it.
As of Feb 2023, for example: massages are $70, a one-way shuttle from Liberia airport is $130, two drinks at a beachfront bar are $24, and the accommodation costs are way too high for what you get.
For all the money that these businesses are making, the town should put some significant investment into improving its cleanliness and infrastructure.
I’ve been to 22 countries. And in Central/South America, I’ve been to Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, and Peru — where I’ve taken 13 separate trips and stayed in more than 20 different towns. Trust me, you can do much better somewhere else. The hype of “Pura Vida” here is not worth it.
Written 8 February 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.
CindyLu
4 contributions
Dec 2021
There are several surf schools here with reasonable rental rates for beach chairs and surfboards. Surf is good for beginners. Cute little restaurants and shops on the beach too. Quite lovely.
Written 4 December 2021
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.
ON
New York City, NY81 contributions
Apr 2021 • Couples
...but the persistent dance music from some bars and private house located on the beach is a bit tiresome. You can ride ($20 ph) surf ($3 ph or $10 / 24 hrs). Good places to eat in the evening too.
Written 7 April 2021
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.
travelnut37020
Greenwich, CT43 contributions
Mar 2022
We loved coming to the beach at sunrise and watching the sun crest the horizon over the hills. At night we ate dinner on the beach and watched the sun set over the trees. During the day we swam/played/boogie boarded in the very swimmable surf.
Written 25 March 2022
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.
patrick s
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ221 contributions
Nov 2020 • Business
What an amazing time at this magical beach! I’m a big guy, ex college football player. 38 yrs old. Tico surf school had me
Catching waves in an hr!!!! Was one of the best experiences in my life!!! Amazing instructors perfect English. Great team over there at tico surf Samara beach. The owner and staff went above and beyond my entire stay! The beach was pristine. The whole staff and many volunteers all cleaned the beach of debris from the hurricane. Great waves to learn to surf and great waves for the advanced surfer. Great restaurants along the beach! I hope to live here one day!
Catching waves in an hr!!!! Was one of the best experiences in my life!!! Amazing instructors perfect English. Great team over there at tico surf Samara beach. The owner and staff went above and beyond my entire stay! The beach was pristine. The whole staff and many volunteers all cleaned the beach of debris from the hurricane. Great waves to learn to surf and great waves for the advanced surfer. Great restaurants along the beach! I hope to live here one day!
Written 21 November 2020
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.
Curious about taxi costs and shuttle services from Liberia airport to Samara ? Any suggestions?
Written 31 December 2021
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
Written 22 April 2021
Just wondering if anyone would have contacts - emails _ for rental agents or realtors in the Samara area?
Written 28 March 2021
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?
Written 21 March 2020
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!
Written 9 September 2019
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
Written 10 September 2019
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.
Written 13 June 2019
What is the best place to fly into if I want to go to Samara?
Written 1 August 2018
4 hour shuttle bus from San Jose airport
Written 2 August 2018
Quelles sont les excursions proposées? Est-ce agréable pour le vélo? Est-ce près de la ville?
Merci de vos suggestions.
Written 20 January 2017
No puedo responder ya que no hice esa actividad mil disculpas!
Written 20 January 2017
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