Samara
36 km (23 mi) south of Nicoya by paved road, 26 km (16½ mi) south of Nosara by rough road in dry season.
The drive to Sámara from Nicoya may be one of the most scenic in Costa Rica, and it is now one of the most comfortable, thanks to paving that extends all the way to Playa Carillo.
Sámara's clean, white sweep of beach is framed by two forest-covered hills jutting out on either side. This giant protected cove is ideal for swimming, and a coral reef 1½ km (1 mi) from the shore is the site of many diving and snorkeling excursions.
A long time favourite with Ticos, many of whom built summer houses on the beach, Sámara is flourishing and attracting a lot of improvement-bent Europeans -- the town even has a sidewalk.
A new branch of the language school Intercultura (PHONE: 656-0127) is also attracting students of all ages. Sámara has a distinctively Italian flavour, but with a school, soccer field, and church right in the center of town, Tico spirit is well alive and kicking.
The drive to Sámara from Nicoya may be one of the most scenic in Costa Rica, and it is now one of the most comfortable, thanks to paving that extends all the way to Playa Carillo.
Sámara's clean, white sweep of beach is framed by two forest-covered hills jutting out on either side. This giant protected cove is ideal for swimming, and a coral reef 1½ km (1 mi) from the shore is the site of many diving and snorkeling excursions.
A long time favourite with Ticos, many of whom built summer houses on the beach, Sámara is flourishing and attracting a lot of improvement-bent Europeans -- the town even has a sidewalk.
A new branch of the language school Intercultura (PHONE: 656-0127) is also attracting students of all ages. Sámara has a distinctively Italian flavour, but with a school, soccer field, and church right in the center of town, Tico spirit is well alive and kicking.