Sámara
A few hours after arriving in Sámara, we knew it would be home — driving down the hill and seeing the ocean through the town was our first sign. We spent seven years here, built our property and business, and talked a lot of people into making Sámara home too.
We'd travel and then get excited to come back. Sámara has so much to offer — plenty to do, places nearby to visit, and a wide selection of good restaurants with cuisine from around the world. We left to travel more with our two sons before they're grown and gone.
Watch Sámara
Building Sea Casa
The full series on building Sea Casa, our vacation rentals in Sámara.
What we'd tell a friend
- Stay at Sea Casa, our vacation rentals.
- Learn to surf if you haven't.
- Rent an ATV and explore around.
- Eat at as many of the restaurants as you can.
Who should come here?
- You want a local surf-town vibe with amenities
- You want to see a true side of Costa Rica
- You want to learn to surf
- You're a family traveling
- You want somewhere more touristy
- You want to be very close to the airport
- You don't like culture
The Dufresnes Verdict
Questions we actually get
Is Sámara worth visiting?
It was home for seven years, so we're biased — but yes. It's a local surf town with real amenities, great restaurants, and the true side of Costa Rica. We'd recommend a week or two.
How many days do you need in Sámara?
Seven to fourteen days to really settle in — or seven years, like us.
Do you need a car?
The town itself is very walkable, but a car or ATV is recommended for exploring the beaches and towns nearby. Sámara is about two hours from Liberia airport.
Where should you stay?
We built and run Sea Casa, our vacation rentals in Sámara, 900 meters from the beach.