Hotel Villas Playa Samara
On a calm bay of Playa Sámara, set on 30 acres of tropical forest, with beachfront villas, a pool and a spa, and howler monkeys in the trees in the morning. It is the Sámara hotel our clients book most.
3-starView hotel
Playa Sámara
A wide, calm bay on the Nicoya Peninsula, where a coral reef offshore keeps the water gentle enough for children and first surf lessons. About 2.5 hours from Liberia airport.
- Fly into
- LIR
- Liberia, about 2.5 hours by road
- Best weather
- Jan to Mar
- The most reliable sun
- The water
- Calm bay
- A reef keeps the waves gentle
- Region
- Nicoya Peninsula
- Guanacaste, a Blue Zone
- Pairs with
- Arenal
- Private transfer, about 4 hours
Why go
A calm bay for the whole family
Sámara is on the Pacific side of the Nicoya Peninsula, in the province of Guanacaste, one of the world's five Blue Zones, where people live unusually long lives. Its long beach curves around a wide bay, and a coral reef offshore keeps the water calm and shallow, so children can swim and beginners can catch their first waves. Paddle out to Chora Island to snorkel, ride a horse along the sand at sunset, or walk the trails of the Werner Sauter Biological Reserve in the tropical dry forest. Five kilometres away, Playa Carrillo is a crescent of sand lined with palms and almost empty on weekdays.
Calm waterA reef shelters the bay
Chora IslandKayak and snorkel offshore
Playa CarrilloA quiet crescent of palms
The map
Every hotel we book in Sámara
4 hotels, our favourites numbered.
Hotels we know personally
3-star and above only, chosen by our team in Costa Rica.
Hotel Sol Samara
A few steps from the white sand of Playa Sámara, with thatched roofs, long balconies, an open-air restaurant, a pool, a jacuzzi and a spa.
3-starView hotel
What our clients book most in Sámara
Ranked from the trips we planned in the last 12 months.
- 01Sunset catamaran cruise from Playa SámaraShared, 3.5 hours
- 02Guided hike in the Werner Sauter Biological ReserveShared, 3 hours
- 03Dolphin watching and snorkelling at Chora IslandShared
When to go
Sunniest January to March
Sámara welcomes visitors all year, but January to March brings the most reliable weather. Even in the green season Guanacaste often has full days of sun, with fewer people on the beach.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Best weatherGreen season, more rainSemana Santa, 21 to 28 March 2027: plan early
About 2.5 hours from Liberia
From Liberia (LIR)about 2.5 hoursPrivate transfer, with a meet and greet at arrivals
From Arenalabout 4 hoursPrivate transfer from the volcano to the coast
By small planeNosara airstripDomestic flights land about 50 minutes away
Good to know
Sámara questions we answer every week
How do I get to Sámara?
Most of our clients come by private transfer from Liberia airport, about 2.5 hours. Domestic flights also land at the Nosara airstrip, about 50 minutes away.
Is Sámara good for families?
Yes. A coral reef shelters the bay, so the water is calm and shallow for swimming, and the town is small and relaxed, with restaurants and shops a short walk from the beach.
Can I learn to surf in Sámara?
Yes. The gentle waves make Sámara a good beach for a first lesson, and there are surf schools in town. Once you are standing up, the beaches of Nosara are the next step.
What should I pack for Sámara?
Sandals or water shoes for long walks: near town the beach is soft sand, but further along it turns to rocks and uneven ground.
Your Costa Rica, planned by people who live here
Tell us what you love. A Costa Rica Specialist builds a custom itinerary around it, with private transfers, hotels we know and our team on call 24/7 while you travel.
Since 2004 in Costa RicaOver 25,000 clients1,200+ five-star reviewsICT licensed, Declaratoria Turística