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Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.

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Major city · Costa Rica

Sámara

Spend 2–3 days: beach, surf, kayak and short bird‑watching trips; easy day‑trip to Playa Carrillo 6 km (3.7 mi) south.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Sámara is a small beach town in Guanacaste with a protected reef, surf‑board rentals and easy access to nearby nature spots. One full day covers the main beach and water sports; add another day for a relaxed pace or a visit to Playa Carrillo.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
CRC
Best months
Dec–Apr (dry season)
avoid May–Nov (more rain)
Airport
LIR
Nights
2

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Sámara: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 7Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
  • Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
  • Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
  • Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
  • Costa Rica ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Costa Rica's immigration authority (Migración) or a Costa Rican consulate; proof of onward travel is commonly required.
  • Costa Rica ↗Rental cars require mandatory local liability insurance, often not included in online quotes: check the full price before booking.
  • Costa Rica ↗Do not feed wildlife, including monkeys and coatis; it is illegal and harmful.
  • Costa Rica ↗Buy national park tickets (Manuel Antonio, Poás, Irazú and others) online from SINAC before you go; several parks do not sell at the gate and cap daily numbers.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Sámara911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Sámara, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • BeerBeer (local bar)≈US$2.5–4₡1500–2500
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personCRC 1,500
  • Mid-range bedMid‑range hotel room (double), a night, per roomCRC 9,000
  • High-end bedMid‑range hotel room (double), a night, per roomCRC 13,000

A day, not counting the bed: Budget CRC 3,500 · Mid CRC 5,500 · High CRC 9,000

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Protected reef beachSurfboard and kayak rentalsMalanoche Estuary birdwatchingNearby rock‑pools at Cangrejal
Airports
LIR Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (Liberia) (13 km (8.1 mi) west; bus 06:00‑18:00 to town)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  2. Feb

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    32°C (90°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    33°C (91°F)

  5. May

    Avoid

    34°C (93°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    34°C (93°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  9. Sep

    Avoid

    32°C (90°F)

  10. Oct

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  12. Dec

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

Best: Dec–Apr. Avoid: May–Nov. Month by month →

Warmest May (34°C (93°F)), coolest Jan (20°C (68°F) low), wettest Jul (12 rain days), driest Apr (2). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Sámara: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

30°C (86°F)

20°C (68°F)

5 rd

Feb

31°C (88°F)

21°C (70°F)

4 rd

Mar

32°C (90°F)

22°C (72°F)

3 rd

Apr

33°C (91°F)

23°C (73°F)

2 rd

May

34°C (93°F)

24°C (75°F)

6 rd

Jun

34°C (93°F)

24°C (75°F)

9 rd

Jul

33°C (91°F)

24°C (75°F)

12 rd

Aug

33°C (91°F)

24°C (75°F)

12 rd

Sep

32°C (90°F)

23°C (73°F)

10 rd

Oct

31°C (88°F)

22°C (72°F)

6 rd

Nov

30°C (86°F)

21°C (70°F)

5 rd

Dec

29°C (84°F)

20°C (68°F)

5 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk or rent a bicycle for most sites; public bus connects Liberia and Nicoya (≈₡1300, hourly).

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Playa Carrillo

go

Door to door: ≈15 min

Bus or taxi along paved road, 6 km (3.7 mi) south

Quiet beach, good for families.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Flying Crocodile Lodge

Spacious rooms, pool, on‑site restaurant; central town

Sámara Palm Lodge

Quiet area, 5‑min walk to beach; pool, free Wi‑Fi; US$60/night

Bar Aloha Camping

Beachfront camping; US$5 per person

Hostel Las Mariposas

Hostel 100 m from beach; US$15 dorm; breakfast available

Hotel Giada

Carbon‑neutral, two pools; rooms US$75+

Hotel Entre Dos Aguas

Near town centre; pool; US$58

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₡3,500–5,500 excl. bed
Mid
₡5,500–8,500 excl. bed
High
₡8,500+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid‑range hotel room (double)1 × 2 nights × CRC 9,000CRC 18,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × CRC 5,500CRC 22,000
Bus Liberia → Sámara (round‑trip)2 × CRC 1,300 · CRC; check exact fareCRC 2,600
Surfboard rental (half‑day)2 × CRC 5,000 · CRC; check local ratesCRC 10,000
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeCRC 5,260
Trip total≈ CRC 14,470 per person per day, bed includedCRC 57,860

Sámara Palm Lodge

2026 estimate; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Meal at a local restaurant≈US$5–10₡3000–6000
Beer (local bar)≈US$2.5–4₡1500–2500
Bike rental (full day)check exact price₡2500–4000

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Generally safe; watch for strong surf on the reef beach and keep valuables hidden in beach lockers.
  • Wear shoes on the reef beach for safety.
  • Bus from Liberia arrives at a different terminal; allow a 10‑min walk to the Samara‑bound stop.
  • Check boat tour schedules in high season; they can fill quickly.

Emergency numbers

Police / Ambulance
911
Fire
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

SámaraSámara

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police / Ambulance911

Embassy

US consulate in Liberia; other embassies in San José.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Liberia Airport → Sámara bus: about ₡1300, 30–45 min (check schedule)

Say or show

  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much does this cost?
  • ¿Dónde está la playa? — Where is the beach?
  • Necesito un taxi — I need a taxi
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sámara. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season) · avoid May–Nov (more rain) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 6 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 1 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Costa Rica

Sources

Ask about Sámara

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