What to do at Casa Vistas del Rio? Should you ever get bored hanging out at the pool or enjoying the fabulous tropical jungle at Casa Vistas del Rio, there’s lots and lots to do in the area. We also recommend talking to “Book with Maria” at the town entrance of Samara for all sorts of activities and day trips. Other tour operators such as Samara Adventure Tours and Outback Tours are great as well.
What to do at Casa Vistas del Rio
Samara
In Samara, just 4 minutes by car, you’ll find a number of larger supermarkets as well as lots of restaurants to chill out right on the beach. Try Locanda, Lo Que Hay and La Dolce Vita on the beach, and El Lagarto for BBQ. For breakfast, try the Roots Bakery or the Bouticafe Bohemia. For vegetarian meals there’s Ahora Si. Enjoy some drinks at Gusto Beach or sample some craft beer across the street at the Microbar.
Village of Carrillo
It’s just 12 minutes from our house to the village of Puerto Carrillo. You’ll find a number of nice restaurants there – our recommendations include El Colibri for perfect steaks Argentinian style, Chez Nous for French cuisine, Hula Jungla for (pricey) pizza and seafood. For simple local fare, check out Soda La Plaza at the soccer field. There are also two small supermarkets along the main road in the village.
Playa Carrillo
Twelve minutes by car you’ll find the pristine beach of Carrillo, recently awarded the blue flag certificate with five stars. In the mornings and during the week you can have long stretches of beach just for yourself. Even on weekends and holidays it never gets too crowded. Bring some food to enjoy at the picnic tables underneath the palm trees, or buy a ceviche or an ice cream from the local vendors.
Fishing
Puerto Carrillo is famous as a sport fishing destination. Both deep sea and near shore fishing are offered by local captains and several operators in the Carrillo and Samara area. Check the link for more information.
Surfing
There are schools in Samara where you can book surfing classes or rent boards. Samara is protected by an outer reef and offers easy waves for beginners. More advanced surfers can head north to Nosara for bigger waves.
Whale Watching
Dolphin and Whale watching excursions are offered by a number of tour operators in Samara and Carrillo. Sunset boat tours are also available. Check the link for more information.
ATV Tours
You can rent a Quad or book a tour – a great way to experience nature and have some fun! An ATV ride through the hidden trails in the jungle, visit local waterfalls and beaches with an adventurous ride through Rivers and Wetlands.
Horseback Riding
Ride horses along the beach or through the jungle! You can even ford a river on horseback. They offer 1 to 4 day horseback tours. Experience lush jungle where coatis, howler monkeys, birds, and butterflies live in harmony. Click the link to find out more!
Rafting
You can do a day trip rafting at the Rio Tenorio. Tours leave directly from Samara. Or take two to three days to spend some time on (or sometimes in) the famous Rio Pacuare. Tour operators are located in Turrialba east of San Jose.
National Parks
You should take at least 2-3 days for a trip to visit national parks like Manuel Antonio or Corcovado. There are also day trips offered from Samara to the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest as well as to Arenal Volcano and suspension bridges.
Turtle Nesting Tour
Camaronal Beach right next door to Carrillo is a world famous turtle nesting ground. Guided night tours during the months from June to January offer a chance to see turtles laying their eggs. Also possible in Playa Ostional, further north.
Gyrocopter Rides
You can ride in a gyrocopter to take you on an unforgettable tour over ocean, beaches, jungle and an aerial view of Samara or even do longer, multi-day tours. Flights leave at Hotel Flying Crocodile near Buena Vista Beach.
Learn Spanish
There’s a great Spanish school right on the beach in Samara. If you want to combine your vacation with a learning experience, check out Intercultura Language School. Impress the locals with what you learned, they love it when you try to speak their language!
Macaw Recovery Network
A short drive from Carrillo you can find the Punta Islita Wild Macaw Reserve. The Punta Islita Wild Macaw Reserve is a must-see for anyone who wants to experience the natural wonders of Costa Rica! Tour and photography tours available.
Shopping in Nicoya
Can’t find something in the small beach towns? No problem, head into the town of Nicoya, 30 minutes away. There you will find department stores such as Ekono, El Rays and Deca Visa and other boutique stores where you will find anything you want!
Farmers Market
Do not miss Samara market if you are around on Saturday morning! Abundance of fruits and veggies, food vendors, friendly atmosphere and some arts and crafts if you are interested in buying some locally made souvenirs.
Snorkel Tidal Pools
Snorkel the tide pools on the Cangrejal side of Samara beach. The pools are only accessible at low tide. Here you can find clown fish, several types of angelfish, puffer, parrot, zebra, mantas, octopus, eels, crabs, lobster, and much more. tide tables.
Yiya's Burgers & Pizza
When you’re here in Samara, Costa Rica or close by, definitely go check out Yiya’s restaurant! The view and the food are well worth the hour and 40 minute drive though the Costa Rican countryside and mountains. Best view in Guanacaste.
Punta Islita
A 20 minute drive, Islita has an incredible coast and remains a natural hot spot of Guanacaste. Hardly crowded, the little town is amazingly picturesque, boasting a small white church and a bell tower. The town is a bustling artistic community, greatly supported by foreigners and wealthy Costa Rican’s.
Nosara
This enchanting beach town 30 minutes from Casa Vistas del Rio, renowned for its world-class surfing and vibrant yoga culture, beckons travelers with promises of sun-soaked days riding the waves and tranquil evenings practicing mindfulness on the mat.
Playa Barrigona
Playa Barrigona, only 12 minutes away is a white sand beach with bright blue waters. This secluded crescent shaped beach is so beautiful that even Mel Gibson built a huge resort next to it which is now owned by Lady Gaga.
Belen Waterfalls
Part of Costa Rica’s allure are the many off-the-beaten-path activities that can be found with a little bit of exploring. One such activity is the Belen Waterfall near Samara. This small cascade and series of swimming holes is a popular local’s hangout and an easy day trip from the beach.
The Belen Waterfall is located 15 minutes from Casa Vistas del Rio. It is a bit hidden, but not far off the main road that connects Samara to the inland city of Nicoya.
To get there, you will take a short drive through a beautiful country setting. The road is dirt but fairly well maintained. A 4×4 vehicle is recommended but not necessarily required depending on recent rainfall and the condition of your tires.
Once you arrive at the parking area, it is a fairly easy, five-minute walk down to the river. The trail is a bit steep but nicely maintained. From the river, the pools and waterfall are a short climb through the forest and over some rocks.
Once you reach the bottom of the trail, you’ll see why the Belen Waterfall is a popular local hangout. The smooth rocks of the riverbed create several different levels of swimming pools. There are also plenty of flat surfaces to spread out a towel and relax. The waterfall itself is about a 10-15 foot (3-4 meter) drop into a deeper pool.
La Rocka Waterfalls
Another local waterfall 12 minutes from Casa Vistas del Rio that’s much less popular than Belen is La Roca Waterfall. The waterfall is certainly not as nice as Belen, but I loved the off-the-beaten-path feel to La Roca. Not only could you be the only ones there, the waterfall is surrounded by lush forest.
The short 5-minute walk to the waterfall begins from Bar La Roca – a closed-down restaurant on the main road between Sámara and Nicoya. The trail is a little hard to find but, if you’re facing the restaurant, keep walking along the road to the left (away from Sámara) until you see a large grassed pathway heading down the side of the restaurant.
The walk takes you down to the waterfall, so be prepared for a 10 to 15-minute walk back up. La Roca is an entirely free waterfall to visit, and you can drive there or take the bus. If taking the bus, tell the driver to stop at Bar La Roca.
WingNuts Canopy Zip Line
There’s no better way to experience Playa Samara than soaring through it’s treetops! Wingnuts Canopy in Samara offers a Zip-Line adventure in their own private nature reserve, not far from the main road. Soar through the treetops on an exhilarating ride and wave to the monkeys and lizards in the trees!
An epic adventure in a lush tropical forest. With 9 cables & 2 rappels, the amazing guides will teach you about the forest and it’s many inhabitants! If you’re lucky, you might get to meet a few of the four legged locals.
The latest attraction is the long cable (aprox. 500 meters / 1300 feet). They offer two types of rides on it, the traditional Superman horizontal flight mode and their own invention, Canopy surfing (the only one in the world!), where you ride a surfboard standing up while you fly through the jungle!
Halfway though you take a break to re-energize with seasonal fruit and water. Along the way, they offer an experience that combines the best of adrenaline and nature in the lush tropical forest where we fly over the treetops and walk the trails while enjoying breathtaking views of the mountains and the ocean.
