The Best Hotels to Book in Samara, Costa Rica

There’s a treehouse look to Cabañas Lamaite, a five-minute drive from the town centre. Almost everything is made of wood and bamboo, from the walls to the sun loungers by the pool. Pretty cushions, bright throws and art add colour, and there are wooden signs painted with heartwarming Spanish sayings. The hotel has its own little restaurant, serving a Costa Rican breakfast and dishes like tacos and nachos through the rest of the day.

Hotel Giada is less than five minutes’ walk from the pearly sands of Samara Beach. Rooms here are simple spaces with balconies – some of which overlook the pool and lounger-topped lawns. The Di Mare Di Vino restaurant, one of the best in the area, serves a combination of Costa Rican and Italian dishes, including a range of wood-fired pizzas that visitors adore.

The eight villas of Villas Verdes, near Samara Beach, are wrapped in gardens of mature palms and fruit trees. Guests can occasionally enjoy the produce of these trees – freshly picked mangoes are served at breakfast, and cashew fruits are squeezed into juices. The greenery often attracts wildlife, too. Sit in the rocking chair on your balcony and spot hummingbirds, muscly iguanas or even howler monkeys.

You’ll never lose sight of the sea when you stay at Nammbú Beachfront Bungalows. This collection of rooms is set on the edge of Carrillo Beach in the bay that neighbours Samara, and some of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water. You can also see the ocean from the infinity pool and the terrace at the restaurant, where breakfast is served in the morning and an à la carte menu is available at night.

Hotel Leyenda is set in a quiet area of countryside five minutes’ drive from Carrillo Beach, Samara’s sister strip of sand. The hotel provides a shuttle bus to the beach, where there are chairs for its guests. The pool will tempt you to stay on-site, though – it’s a split-level number with a refreshing water fountain. The hotel restaurant is well-regarded and serves everything from fresh seafood platters to spaghetti.

Featuring whitewashed walls, tiled floors and wooden ceilings, the rooms at Samara Pacific Lodge sleep from two to eight people, making them a great choice for families and groups. The pool has a separate section where kids can splash about, too. When it comes to getting out and about, meanwhile, Samara Beach and its selection of bars and restaurants are a 10-minute walk away.

The word “hideaway” in the name refers to the fact that this hotel is in a quiet pocket of green countryside, home to howler monkeys and parakeets. It’s not remote, though. You can walk to both Samara or Carrillo beach in less than 10 minutes. For the days when you don’t feel like venturing out, the hotel has a pool and bar restaurant – visitors rave about the mango margaritas and home-made guacamole.

Around 500 acres (200ha) of forest engulfs Hacienda Barrigona, a 20-minute drive from Samara. There are just 10 rooms here, which adds to the sense of seclusion. During the day you can unwind by the pool, hike the trails that surround the property, paddleboard through the local mangroves, or walk down to Barrigona Beach and its 700m (2,300ft) of white sand. In the evening, you can sit down to a communal meal cooked with local ingredients.

This 18-room boutique hotel is within walking distance of two long, blonde beaches – Samara and Carrillo. If you’re planning on spending the day on the sand, you can order a picnic basket to take with you and even borrow a hammock to string up once you get there. If you’re sticking around the hotel instead, there’s a quiet pool and a waterside restaurant that serves lunch and dinner.