How to Get to Samara

Air:

Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport serves international carriers from large cities like Atlanta, Miami and Newark.  The airport is also serviced by local carriers, Nature Air and Sansa. From the Liberia airport, Samara is a two and a half hour drive southwest.

Travelers who are already in country may opt to fly into Nosara and drive 13 miles south to Playa Samara.

Bus:

To Samara: Buses depart the San Jose Terminal Alfaro daily at 12:00 p.m. for the five and a half hour journey to Samara. The cost is $6.50.

Buses depart Nicoya for Samara hourly, beginning at 5:00 a.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m. The trip takes roughly one hour and costs $1.40.

Leaving Samara: From the bus station paralleling the mall along the road to Nicoya, buses depart daily for the five and a half hour journey to San Jose at 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The cost is $6.50.

Buses depart Samara for Nicoya hourly, beginning at 6:30 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. The cost is $1.40.

Car:

The 149-mile journey from San Jose to Samara takes between five and six hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. From Alajuela or San Jose, drive north along the Interamerican Highway toward Liberia. Take the left turnoff for the Tempisque Bridge, known locally as El Puente de Amistad.

Continue west until you reach the town of Nicoya. Go straight through the town along that main road for about 18 miles. A gas station will be on the left, and it is best to fill up here. Immediately after the gas station, the main road veers to the left toward Samara. Follow this road for about 15 more minutes, and it will lead directly to the beach.