Sámara's main bay covers most beach moods: calm water, walkable, food and drinks behind you. But three beaches within easy reach reward a little effort, and they're three completely different experiences.
Playa Carrillo: the postcard, 10 minutes away
A crescent of sand backed by a long line of palms and almost nothing else. No buildings on the beach, no vendors, just the kind of view that ends up as someone's screensaver. It's 10 minutes by car, and you can get there by golf cart or ATV too. Go for a calm morning swim or for sunset under the palms. Bring everything you need (water, snacks, shade if you're staying long); services are thin by design, which is the point.
Playa Barrigona: the wild one
About 35 minutes from town, roughly halfway to Nosara and then a short turnoff, ending on a dirt approach. White sand, jungle behind you, and on a weekday a real chance of having it nearly to yourselves. A 4x4 makes the access road comfortable; check conditions in the green season before committing. No facilities at all, so pack in and pack out. The waves carry more push than Sámara's bay, so treat the ocean with respect here, especially with kids.
Playa Camaronal: turtles and serious surf
South past Carrillo, Camaronal is a national wildlife refuge and a nesting beach for sea turtles. It's also a legitimate surf spot with real power, best left to experienced surfers; this is not a swimming beach. Access is most practical in the dry season (ATV renters in town will tell you the same). If turtle nesting is the draw, ask locally about guided night visits and current refuge rules before you go, since nesting activity and access shift with the season. For the famous mass arrivals, Ostional refuge, about 90 minutes north, is the bigger spectacle in the August-to-October window, and only worth it when an arribada is actually happening.
How to do a beach-hop day
Rent an ATV or 4-seat UTV in town ($65 to 90 for an ATV, $120 to 150 for a UTV per day), do Carrillo in the morning, lunch back in Sámara, then Barrigona for the late afternoon. Helmets always; fines are real and so is the dust. Or keep it simple: golf cart to Carrillo for sunset is the lowest-effort big win in town.
All three are day trips from a base that's a 10-minute walk from Sámara Beach itself. Check availability at Villas Dualis. Ask us which beach fits which day of your forecast; that's a question we love.