Beaches
Samara Beach
Samara is located in Guanacaste province on the northern Pacific coast. It is about two hours from Liberia International Airport (LIR). The drive from the airport is along all paved roads, making it is an easy destination to reach.
One of the main draws of Samara is its centrally located downtown. The downtown abuts the beach and is full of restaurants, trendy boutique shops, tour operators, and some small hotels.
Another draw is its surrounding forest and wildlife. Unlike areas to the north, thick tropical dry forest borders Samara. Even on hotel grounds, you can find animals like monkeys, iguanas, and many kinds of birds.
Samara’s biggest attraction is its beautiful beach. Playa Samara attracts all types of travelers with its rows of palm trees and light tan sand. You will find 20-somethings grabbing a beer at one of the beach-side bars, couples strolling at sunset, and children at play in the calmer ocean waters.
Carrillo Beach
Playa Carrillo is a sheltered cove with clear, aqua colored water. A thick row of palm trees backs the light sand. Although there isn’t a ton of shade, you can usually find a good spot under the palms since the beach is fairly long.
Parking is easy. Since there is no development, you can park right along the road (Route 160) and be steps from the sand. The main road runs along the beach. It has a grassy median in the middle where people park cars as well.
Costa Ricans love Playa Carrillo. The beach is very popular among locals, so it does get busier on weekends and during holidays like Easter and Christmas/New Years. Still, the beach almost never feels too crowded.
Typically, the waves are gentle, making it a great place to swim, even with young children.
Barrigona Beach
A short 15 minute drive from Samara to take a day to visit a lesser known beach, then you have to go to Playa Barrigona. 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! Luckily all beaches in Costa Rica are public so not even celebrities can prevent people from visiting this stunning beach.
Buena Vista Beach
If you are looking for that long walk on a pristine beach, where you may encounter only a few people, this is the place!. At low tide, walk across the small river onto the beach and from there you have a few kilometers of beautiful beach and pounding surf. You are occasionally treated to Macaws or shore birds. Warning: surfing only at this beach, swimming is dangerous due to the rips. The beach is about a 30 minute walk from downtown Samara.
Camaronal Beach
Situated along Costa Rica's North Pacific coastline, Playa Camaronal is located 10 km south of Playa Samara. An impressively diverse group of wildlife tends to congregate near the estuary where the Ora River empties into the sea.
For vacationers looking to participate in eco-tourism during their trip to Costa Rica, the Camaronal Wildlife Refuge should be a top priority.
The Camaronal Wildlife Refuge offers a range of recreational activities to tourists of all interests, including surfing and fishing, but the site is perhaps best known for the important role it plays in the preservation of one of Costa Rica's treasures, the sea turtle.
The best time to view sea turtles at the Camaronal Wildlife Refuge is during Costa Rica's rainy season, which runs from May through November. Because adult sea turtles only lay their eggs at night, tour guides need to be hired for after-hour visits to the park, which is open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. These guides can be purchased for approximately $40 in either Samara or Carrillo. It can also be helpful to talk to the local residents to find out the best way to access the refuge during the rainy season.