v2.webp){kind=logo}
- Crescent bay swimming & mellow longboard surf — Sámara’s wide, sheltered crescent and offshore reef create unusually calm water and slow, rolling waves that give you long, forgiving rides. It’s one of the few Pacific breaks where beginners actually get to cruise the face of the wave instead of fighting it, and families can snorkel near shore without worrying about heavy surf.
- Paddle to Isla Chora and snorkel the nearshore reef — A short kayak or SUP from the beach drops you on a tiny rocky islet with clear water and compact reef life; you don’t need a boat or a full-day trip to get good snorkeling. Quick to reach, often quiet, and worth it for close-up fish, occasional turtles and the feeling of getting out to a real little offshore outcrop — personal favorite for the ease-to-reward ratio.
- Crescent bay swimming & mellow longboard surf — Sámara’s wide, sheltered crescent and offshore reef create unusually calm water and slow, rolling waves that give you long, forgiving rides. It’s one of the few Pacific breaks where beginners actually get to cruise the face of the wave instead of fighting it, and families can snorkel near shore without worrying about heavy surf.
- Paddle to Isla Chora and snorkel the nearshore reef — A short kayak or SUP from the beach drops you on a tiny rocky islet with clear water and compact reef life; you don’t need a boat or a full-day trip to get good snorkeling. Quick to reach, often quiet, and worth it for close-up fish, occasional turtles and the feeling of getting out to a real little offshore outcrop — personal favorite for the ease-to-reward ratio.
- Mangrove and estuary wildlife tours — The rivers and mangroves that feed into the bay are small but wildlife-rich: expect herons, kingfishers, howler monkeys hanging in the trees and the odd crocodile lazing in the shadows at dusk. A short guided boat or paddle trip through the channels is the best way to see Costa Rica’s backwater life without a long drive.
- Horseback rides along the low-tide shoreline — Because the beach is so long and flat, you can actually ride for miles at low tide, splash through shallow surf and watch the sun sink with nothing but sand and waves around you. It’s a simple, timeless way to cover ground and see otherwise quiet stretches of coast that aren’t accessible on foot.
- Laid-back beachfront evenings & seasonal turtle walks — Nights in Sámara aren’t about clubs; they’re about barefoot dinners, low-key live music, and moonlit strolls. When turtle nesting is happening (seasonal), local guides run respectful, small-group beach patrols to watch turtles come ashore — far more memorable than a bar crawl and a lot kinder to wildlife.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.
Jungle and Beach Horseback Riding Tour - 2H 1/2
✓ Free cancellation
Surf Lessons for the whole family in Playa Sámara
✓ Free cancellation
Safari & Buenavista Beach Horse Riding Tour
✓ Free cancellation
Epic surf-lessons at beautiful Samara beach.
✓ Free cancellation
Samara Trails in Werner Sauter Biological Reserve
✓ Free cancellation
Costa Rica Private Guanacaste Airport (LIR) Departure transfer
✓ Free cancellation
Safari & Barigona Beach on horseback
✓ Free cancellation
Half-Day Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling in Samara
✓ Free cancellation
Ocean Kayak & Snorkeling to Chora Island
Dolphin Watching with Costa Rican Companies
✓ Free cancellation
Best Backpacking
.jpg)
Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.