TOURS
We suggest you book directly with the provider for ease of communication. If you do any of these activities, please tell us if you liked it!
Horse Jungle https://www.horsejungle.com/ whatsapp: + (506) 8650 1606
Horseback riding tours great for kids and adults on well loved horses! Choose between Jungle (shade) or Beach (sun). Book a week or at least a few days ahead.
Surf Lessons
La Isla Surf School https://www.facebook.com/LaIslaSurfSchool/ whatsapp +506 8860-8921
Run by our neighbor and good friend in Sámara Woods, Fabricio, we highly recommend La Isla! Great for little kids and adults too.
Tico’s Surf School whatsapp +506 8457 0132. If you have kids ask for Pablo!
Macaw Recovery Network https://macawrecoverynetwork.org/visitor-tours/ You get to see the feeding of the Macaws and learn about these majestic birds. Great for kids and those less mobile as there is not much walking involved. This is located on Punta Islita, which is a beautiful drive on mostly dirt roads towards the south. If you drive yourself, there is a hotel there with a nice restaurant on the water, so you can see the Macaws in the morning and then head to the restaurant for lunch. On your way home you could stop by Playa Camaronal. It’s a wild beach with black sand that is fun for hunting for driftwood. It’s very hot on this beach so we generally don’t stay too long but it’s dramatic for sure!
If you prefer not to drive, Samara Adventures (see more Samara Adventure Tour options below) partners with the Macaw Recovery Network to have their own tour (different times than the direct booking option) and they will pick you up at Casa Niri, but it’s significantly more expensive this way: https://www.samaraadventures.com/lapa-roja-tour
Wingnuts Zipline https://www.wingnutscanopy.com/
This is a really fun activity in Samara, run by a wonderful family who own most of the reserve, above which Casa Niri is perched. It's suitable for kids of all ages and adults love it too!
Outback ATV whatsapp +506 6147 3481
Renting ATVs is an incredibly fun way to spend the day! I like to rent them in the morning, grab lunch at Roots Bakery, and drive north up the coast on the dirt road to Playa Barrigoña (about a 35min ATV drive). It involves crossing a river (google maps will show you how to go, even including the crossing the Rio Buena Vista) and is a beautiful drive on winding roads through the jungle. For those more adventurous, try going slightly farther to Barco Quebrada. You will end up on a single lane curvy road to a remote cove. Despite feeling like it’s in the middle of no where, google maps can get you there.
In the dry season, bring a handkerchief to shield from the dust. In the rainy season, I wouldn’t go all the way to Playa Barrigoña, as that river crossing isn’t safe during rainy season. If in doubt, ask Outback for the best route! (See more info on Playa Barrigoña in the Beaches section). In rainy season you could instead go to Playa Buena Vista, which doesn’t require any river crossings.
Samara Adventure Company https://www.samaraadventures.com/. Whatsapp: +506 8952 1000
This is your one stop shop for so many tours, including Kayak, Paddle Board, Catamaran, Hikes & much more. They are the most professional in Samara and have a great staff all fluent in English & Spanish. We have used them ourselves and always had awesome experiences. They have a lot of options, but here’s our top recommended tours to book direct with them:
Ocean Tours: https://www.samaraadventures.com/adventures
They have a comfortable motorized catamaran (not a sailing catamaran) with a few different tour options. During dry season we recommend the sunset tour and it’s often smoother water at sunset. However, please note that with all the Ocean Tours, you are in the Pacific Ocean, and not the calm Caribbean Sea. I am not a fan of the Ocean Tours, but my husband loves them. Just keep that in mind when booking!
Wildlife Kayak: https://www.samaraadventures.com/wildlife-mangrove-kayak
You will kayak along the Ora River through mangrove tunnels, heading toward Camaronal Beach. An english speaking guide will point out native birds along the way. At the beach, they will serve juices and beer and tell you more about the area's ecosystem.
Isla Chora Kayak: https://www.samaraadventures.com/ocean-kayak
This is fairly easy kayak ride out to Isla Chora, the small island you see off the shore of Sámara Beach. We did it with our 2 kids (7 year old paddling in a kayak with my husband and in another kayak I had the 3 year old in my lap). It’s one of the only places around that is good for snorkeling, but keep in mind that you’re in the Pacific Ocean here, so no snorkeling will be as beautiful as it is in the Caribbean Sea. But it’s still a fun day out and just the right amount of exercise if you have little ones with you!
Hiking: https://www.samaraadventures.com/samara-trails
Located in Playa Samara, this hiking tour will show you the paths of the Werner Sauter Biological Reserve. This is a great way to learn a lot about the tropical dry forest that Casa Niri looks over. It’s not too intense of a hike, but definitely bring water and sunscreen!
Turtle Nesting: https://www.samaraadventures.com/turtle-nesting
Turtle nesting tours are always at night and it’s important to go with a guide as to not disturb the turtles. September and October are the strongest months for turtle nesting, but the season is generally June - December. Samara Adventures will take you to whichever beach nearby has the most turtle activity happening. (Camaronal, Ostional, or Corozalito)
