Samara, CR

Located on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste, Sámara is a laid-back beach town known for its welcoming community, beautiful crescent-shaped beach and authentic Costa Rican character. Unlike some of Guanacaste's more heavily developed resort destinations, Sámara has maintained a relaxed, walkable, small-town atmosphere while still offering the conveniences that make it attractive for both full-time residents and second-home owners.

One of the things that makes Sámara special is its balance. You can enjoy an active beach lifestyle—swimming, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling and boating—while still having restaurants, cafés, grocery stores, medical services, schools and everyday necessities close by. The town attracts a mix of Costa Rican families, international residents and visitors, creating a community that feels both local and international.

For families considering a permanent move, Sámara has local private bilingual education options.

Samara Pacific School provides MEP-accredited bilingual education from preschool through elementary school, combining Costa Rican educational standards with English and Spanish instruction, arts, music and environmental education.

Mareas Academy offers Pre-K through high school and describes itself as a bilingual international school. It combines Costa Rican curriculum with North American standards and is accredited through The Ogburn School in Florida. Classes are kept small, with the school reporting no more than 15 students per class.

Sámara offers something increasingly difficult to find in Guanacaste: a genuine beach town that works equally well as a vacation destination and as a place to actually live. The beach, town, schools, restaurants and community are interconnected rather than separated into large resort developments.

For real estate buyers, that creates a wide variety of lifestyles—from walk-to-the-beach homes and income-producing properties in town to private villas, ocean-view homes and larger fincas in the surrounding hills—all within easy reach of Sámara's center.

That combination of community, natural beauty, international accessibility, schools and small-town charm is what continues to distinguish Sámara from many of Costa Rica's other Pacific beach destinations.