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getting to samara beach & carrillo beach

Welcome to our magnificent village!

How to get to Samara and Carrillo ...your tropical paradise on the Pacific Ocean.

By Plane | Bus | Car

Costa Rica

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Nicoya Peninsula, Guanacaste

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MapPoint Costa Rica Map

Samara is located at:

• 40 minutes by plane from San Jose ~ Daily flights by Sansa to Nosara or Punta Islita. There is not a direct flight from San Jose to Samara Beach
• 4 1/2 hours by car from San Jose International Airport Juan Santamaria
• 2 hours by car from Liberia International Airport
• 5 hours by bus from San Jose

Getting to Samara By Plane 

Nature Air airline flies daily between San Jose and the Nosara and Punta Islita airports. There is not a direct flight from San Jose to Samara Beach. After landing in Nosara or Punta Islita, you will have to reach Samara or Carrillo Beach by taxi and it will cost US$ 70 from both destinations. The ride will take around 50 minutes. You should ask your hotel to make arrangements with the taxi in advance. Nature Air offers Flights to Nosara and Punta Islita from Juan Santamaria airport. Contact them for airfares at 1-800-235-9272 / (506) 2299 6000.

Due to changing weather conditions, and therefore flight schedules, Nature Air recommends you do not schedule your domestic flight to San Jose on the same day as your departing international flight from San Jose.

Getting to Samara By Bus

A bus leaves daily from San Jose at 12:00 p.m. and at 5:00 pm from the new Terminal 7-10 - Tel. (506) 2519-9740 - 2519-9741 which is located between the 7th Avenue and 10th Street "diagonal al antiguo Cine Libano" in Barrio Mexico. The cost of a one-way ticket is about Colones 4,500 (about US$ 9) per person, and the trip takes about 4 hours. We advise you to buy bus tickets one day in advance. Click here for more information on Alfaro bus schedules and info.

Fantasy Bus - Tel. (506) 2232-3681 - 2220-2126 offer a comfortable transportation network all over the country by bus. From Samara, it is possible to reach directly Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Jaco, Playa Hermosa and San Jose. You can find routes and rates on their web-site.

Getting to Samara By Car

From San Jose:

Sámara is about a 4 and half hours drive from San Jose downtown.

From San Jose driving on the Interamericana Highway

From San Jose follow the Interamericana Highway North (CR1), until the turnoff for the Tempisque Bridge - Puente de la Amistad. After crossing the Gulf of Nicoya, drive directly to Nicoya and from there turn south to Samara.

From San Jose driving on the San Jose Caldera Highway:

From San Jose follow the San Jose-Caldera Highway (CR27). When you reach Caldera on this route, follow the signs to Puntarenas and Liberia and the Interamericana Highway (CR1) until the turnoff for the Tempisque Bridge - Puente de la Amistad. After crossing the Gulf of Nicoya, drive directly to Nicoya and from there turn south to Samara. The new thoroughfare cuts the time of the old San José-Caldera trip in half – from approximately 90 minutes to roughly 45 minutes – and a one-way trip costs four wheel vehicles not even 2,000 colones ($3.50)

Map of the new San Jose - Caldera Highway

click here for a large map

From Liberia:

Sámara is about a 2 hours drive from Liberia International Airport.

From Liberia, drive directly to Nicoya and from there turn south to Samara.

Que tengan un buen viaje!