Samara Bay is so wide that it's hard to imagine it getting crowded. There's a great deal of beach space for sunbathing and having fun. It's quickly accessible from town and a couple other entrances to the sides. The only downside is that it's not ideal to see the sunset because it faces slightly to the south, but you can drive a bit north for other beaches that do have a perfect view.

This was my first time to Samara Beach as well as Costa Rica and I was so amazed at the wonderful time we had. I live in a resort town in the US’s Northeast so I came for the weather but also the place. We did so much research as to where to go and Samara foot the bill. We know lots of people who head south to CR during the winter so we didn’t want to go someplace where we would see people we already know. It’s vacation from everything and everyone! I have read some negative reviews and I wouldn’t pay much mind. It all depends on your attitude. I knew about the dogs. I knew about the horses and I knew it wasn’t going to be Disneyland. It’s a different country, culture and a way of life that is different from where I come from. I vacation to see different places, meet different people and enjoy their culture. No white washing for me, thank you very much. Now about Samara. It’s beautiful. The beaches are very active with people enjoying themselves. Whether it’s soccer, frisbee, yoga, surfing, fishing or just walking, there is lots to see with friendly faces all along the way. I was in Samara for 5 weeks and I did not have one uncomfortable situation or concern. There are so many places to eat and drink. Go down every street there are lots of hidden gems of great places to eat. Prices range like everywhere in the world. Remember it’s a resort town. Lots of Ticos come here to vaca as well! We rode bicycles the whole time but rented a car for a week so we could explore out of Samara. We headed to Nosara and Carrillo for beautiful beach days. Surfing and swimming. We rented a house in one of the neighborhoods which had a pool for extra water fun. Overall, it was better than I imagined. We have travelled all over the Bahamas and island in the Caribbean and this is the only second place we are committed to coming back to. See you next February Samara friends!

I have to disagree with some of the 5-star ratings below. Having read that Samara was a "beautiful and stunning" beach, and having been to at least half a dozen other beaches in Costa Rica over the years, I was a bit disappointed by the amount of horse and dog poop on the sand, not to mention random bits of plastic garbage (bags, empty coke bottles, etc.) that I saw near the busiest part of the beach. I didn't even want to swim there, although it didn't seem to stop most other people -- the beach was busy with swimmers and boogie boarders. I did love the vibe of the town. It's a normal Tico town with unpaved roads, freely wandering horses and a slow pace, yet has all the conveniences you might need, like ATMs, grocery stores and taxis. The restaurants along the beach are fun and atmospheric to eat at and reminded me of southeast Asia. If the beach itself were as clean as others I've been to, I would love to go back. I truly don't understand the obsession with riding horses on beaches....who wants to swim in horse poop? Not me. There are also no garbage cans (that I saw, anyway), which may explain why waste gets left behind, including dog waste. I never saw a single owner pick up after their dog, and there were plenty of them.