Nosara is the nearby town we’d actually build a day trip around. It's 50 minutes up the coast and a different world: more polished, more expat-driven, with a serious yoga scene and one of the most consistent surf beaches in the country. Here's the day trip we actually do, not the theoretical one.
The drive
About 50 minutes from our gate. The road toward Nosara starts about 10 minutes from the villa, and the bumpy part is in its first 20 minutes or so: part paved, part dirt, and not anyone's favorite stretch. After that it's smooth pavement all the way in. A 4x4 helps but isn't required. Skip the trip entirely on heavy-rain days; the dirt section gets sloppy.
The morning
Leave by 8 and you beat both the heat and the crowd. Park at the Playa Guiones main lot (free) and walk the beach north. Guiones is a long, wide stretch of sand, and the further north you go the quieter it gets. If you surf, this is the place to book a lesson on a bigger, more powerful wave than Sámara's; lessons run $60 to 90.
Lunch and the afternoon
Three picks we send guests to: Olga's Bar for fish tacos on the sand, Harmony Hotel for brunch over the beach, and Sibu Café for pastries and coffee. If your trip lands on a Thursday, the morning farmers market is small but worth a wander. Animal lovers can look into Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary, a small founder-led rescue with hands-off observation visits on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday mornings; check their site and book ahead.
The rules of the day
Stay out of the midday sun from 11 to 3; there's very little shade on Guiones. Bring water, reef-safe sunscreen, and cash for the smaller spots. And start the drive home before dark. The road is far more pleasant in daylight, and sunset from your own pool beats sunset in a parking lot.
Why stay in Sámara and visit Nosara, not the reverse
We're biased, but the math is simple: Sámara gives you a walkable town, a swimmable bay, and calmer prices, with Nosara 50 minutes away when you want it. Doing it the other way around means paying Nosara rates to drive to Sámara's beach.
Base yourselves with us: check availability. We'll send the Nosara picks list with your check-in details if you ask.