A few hours on a boat shows you Sámara from the other side: the headlands, the small beaches you can't drive to, and the open Pacific past the bay. There are three kinds of boat day we point our guests to. Here's how to pick one, and what to know before you go.
We don't run boat trips ourselves. For private trips, we send guests to Gladiator Sportfishing, an owner-run charter here in Sámara. Captain and owner Simone Passarelli has lived in Costa Rica since 2014. Captain Jonathan Perez Valencia was born in Matapalo, Sámara's fishing neighborhood. Every trip is private, so the boat is for your group only.
Villas Dualis guests get 10% off Gladiator trips booked through our link. The booking page shows Gladiator's regular rate, and the 10% comes off your final payment.
Fishing: close to the coast or out in the blue water
Inshore fishing stays close to the coast. The crew works the rocks, beaches, and river mouths for jacks, snapper, grouper, and roosterfish, the fish this coast is known for. Trips run four, six, or eight hours. For a first fishing trip, the crew suggests four hours inshore on the smaller boat: less time traveling, more time fishing.
Offshore fishing runs 22 to 40 km (14 to 25 miles) out to the drop-offs, where the sea floor falls away into deep water. The targets are sailfish, marlin, yellowfin tuna, and mahi-mahi, with the odd wahoo. A half day is 4.5 hours, and six or eight hours gives you more time where the fish are. It's the bigger run, so be honest about how everyone does on open water. Never been offshore? Gladiator's guide to your first deep-sea trip walks through the day.
Either way, roosterfish, sailfish, marlin, and jacks always go back in the water, and no trip comes with a guaranteed catch. Still deciding? Gladiator has a short guide on choosing inshore or offshore, and our sportfishing post covers what's biting when.
Dolphins and a snorkel stop, no rods
The Dolphin Watching & Snorkel trip is three hours with no fishing at all. You go out looking for dolphins, with a snorkel stop along the way, and the gear is on board. The crew knows where to look, but nobody can promise a sighting, and the snorkel stop depends on the sea that day. Tell the crew about any weak swimmers before you book.
It's a different trip from our Isla Chora snorkel outing. Chora is the island in the bay, timed with the low tide. This one is a private boat out on the Pacific with only your group.
A sunset cruise for your group
The Sunset Cruise leaves in the late afternoon for about two hours on the water. It isn't a fishing trip. It's the coastline, the evening light, and time together, with drinks and snacks on board. Sunset times shift through the year, so think of it as two hours of golden light, not a promise to watch the sun touch the horizon.
Want the bigger, more social version? Our partner Samara Adventures sails the town's sunset catamarans, and our things to do list has the details. Pick the private boat when you want it to be only your people.
Before you book: the beach departure
Sámara has no dock. You wade through shallow water to a small shuttle boat, then step across to your boat. Both move with the swell, so everyone needs to be steady on their feet. If that could be hard for anyone in your group, message Gladiator before you book. Their beach boarding guide explains it step by step.
There's no toilet on either boat, and shade is limited. Drinks and snacks are included on every trip, and lunch on eight-hour trips. Bring a hat, sunglasses, long sleeves, reef-safe sunscreen, and a dry bag. Our packing guide has the rest.
When to go
Gladiator's season usually runs November through August, with a short break from mid-May to the end of June. The boats come out of the water in September and October for the weather. Their month-by-month guide covers which fish show up when, and their Costa Rica fishing calendar shows how Sámara compares with the rest of the country. Over Christmas and Semana Santa, book the boat when you book the villa.
One morning on the water, then the afternoon in your own pool. Check availability at Villas Dualis and book direct, or write us at stay@villasdualis.com and tell us what kind of boat day you're after. Then look through Gladiator's trips and book through our link for the 10%.