Relax on a coconut palm-shaded beach to the sound of the surf, and let the Pacific Ocean breezes carry away your worries and stresses. A longtime Costa Rican summer retreat, Playa Samara is flanked by rainforests and long stretches of relatively isolated white sand beaches stretching north and south. Beachfront restaurants and fresh fish are plentiful. Spanish and yoga classes are available at Intercultura Samara Language School. Coral reefs keep the waters relatively calm for swimming, sailing, windsurfing, diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, and learning to surf. You can also hike, bike, horseback ride, explore caves, and do rainforest canopy and zip-line tours.

A money-saving Playa Samara vacation rental villa, home, condo, or apartment is perfect for families, groups, and romantic getaways. Sip fresh fruit juices and bite into sweet mango slices on the porch overlooking the ocean, poolside, or in your private yard. Your Playa Samara vacation rental provides more privacy and private indoor and outdoor space for less money than a luxury hotel or resort room. Enjoy private pools and tropical gardens shared mostly with brilliant blue butterflies, buzzing hummingbirds, iguanas, geckos, parrots, and howler monkeys.

South of Playa Samara, Playa Carrillo has beautiful white sands and coral reef-calmed waters with fishing boats and windsurfers. Dedicated surfers brave the rough dirt road that almost vanishes during the rainy season for the big waves and many reef breaks at Playa Caletas. The isolation of Playa Caletas and the nearby dark sands of Playa Pencal protect a nesting area frequented by several sea turtle species, including the endangered eastern leatherback. The nearby wetlands, estuaries, and mangrove swamps at the mouth of the River Bongo are frequented by crocodiles and graduate students conducting ecological research. Punta Islita’s rocky beach with tide pools and community art projects is best reached by 4-wheel drive during the dry season.

North of Playa Samara, en route to Playa Nosara, rainforests border the long white sand beaches of Playa Guiones and Playa Pelada. Playa Guiones is popular for snorkeling and surfing, and at low tide the hard-packed sand can be bicycled or jogged to explore tide pools and collect shells. Tree-lined Playa Pelada is known for its open-air beachfront bars, beach walking, and shell collecting. Kids will especially like the guided tours of the Ostional National Wildlife Refuge for nesting sea turtles, a narrow beach strip between Punta India in the north and Playa Nosara and Playa Guiones in the south. The memories from your money-saving Playa Samara vacation rental will last a lifetime.