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People on rocks beside breaking waves at sunset in Santa Teresa.

Costa Rica · Nosara & Santa Teresa

Calm beaches and family plans

Sheltered bays, tide pools and short trips suitable for families.

8 places

  1. Playa Sámara, Sámara village, Nicoya1

    Photo: Mark-Weiss16, CC BY-SA 4.0

    BeachOpen

    Playa Sámara

    Sámara village, Nicoya14.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A wide bay with relatively calm water thanks to an offshore reef, one of the most family-friendly beaches in the country.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Sámara · 2025 · +2

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: At low tide there are rock pools near Cangrejal with moray eels and pufferfish; wear water shoes.

    Nearby: Dolphin watching and snorkel in Sámara (0 km) · Isla Chora kayak and snorkel (1.4 km) · Playa Carrillo (1.5 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Sámara · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Sámara · Wikivoyage – Sámara

  2. 2

    BeachOpen

    Playa Carrillo

    Route 160, 5 min south-east of Sámara13.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    An undeveloped cove with palm trees, clear water and usually gentle waves, five minutes from Sámara.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Playa Carrillo · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: You park along Route 160. There are almost no facilities: bring water and food.

    Nearby: Playa Sámara (1.5 km) · Dolphin watching and snorkel in Sámara (1.5 km) · Isla Chora kayak and snorkel (1.9 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Playa Carrillo · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Sámara

  3. 3

    WaterOpen

    Isla Chora kayak and snorkel

    Off the southern end of Playa Sámara14 km from the centre

    Entry
    From $57
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A kayak or SUP paddle from Sámara to Isla Chora islet, a wildlife refuge with a small white beach, plus snorkelling on the reef.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Sámara · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    From $57 plus VAT (September 2026).

    Nearby: Playa Sámara (1.4 km) · Dolphin watching and snorkel in Sámara (1.4 km) · Playa Carrillo (1.9 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Sámara · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Sámara

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  4. 4

    BeachOpen

    Playa Tambor

    Ballena Bay, between Paquera and Montezuma43.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A wide cove of brown volcanic sand and very calm water, in a small town with an airstrip near the Paquera ferry.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Tambor · 2025 · +1

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Crocodiles have been seen at Playa Tambor (Tico Times, January 2026): do not swim near river mouths.

    Nearby: El Chorro Waterfall (3.6 km) · Montezuma village and beach (8.6 km) · Montezuma Waterfalls (9.5 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Tambor · Tico Times – Crocodiles share waves with surfers

  5. 5

    WildlifeOpen

    Curú Wildlife Refuge

    Between Paquera and Tambor53.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $17
    Hours
    7:00–16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A private refuge with short trails through forest and mangrove and a cove with gentle waves; you can see monkeys, deer, coatis and many birds.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Curú National Wildlife Refuge · 2025

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Visitors: $17 adults and $9 children 3–11 (July 2025).
    Hours
    Daily 7:00–16:00.

    Tip: Kayak rental, horseback riding (about $20 per hour) and Isla Tortuga tours are available. The trail to Playa Quesera requires a reservation.

    Nearby: Bioluminescence night kayak (0.2 km) · Isla Tortuga day trip (3.8 km) · Playa Tambor (13 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Curú National Wildlife Refuge

  6. 6

    NatureOpen

    Mal País tide pools

    Mal País, down an unmarked dirt road south of Santa Teresa34.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A rocky shelf with pools of different sizes full of tropical fish, crabs and urchins, to explore at low tide.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Mal País tide pools · 2025

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Go at low tide (check a tide chart) and wear water shoes because of urchins. Park where you can see the car and leave no valuables.

    Nearby: Playa Carmen (0.9 km) · ATVs in Santa Teresa and Mal País (2.8 km) · Surf schools in Santa Teresa (3.2 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Mal País tide pools

  7. 7

    WildlifeOpen

    Dolphin watching and snorkel in Sámara

    Departs from the south end of Playa Sámara14.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    From $58
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Boat trip from Playa Sámara to look for bottlenose dolphins and snorkel at a reef known as The Hole.

    Source: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Dolphin watching and snorkeling in Sámara · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    From $58 per adult in a group (September 2026).
    Time needed
    About 4 hours.

    Tip: Dolphins are seen all year; whales from January to March and July to October.

    Nearby: Playa Sámara (0 km) · Isla Chora kayak and snorkel (1.4 km) · Playa Carrillo (1.5 km)

    Sources: Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Dolphin watching and snorkeling in Sámara · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Things to do in Sámara

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  8. 8

    BeachOpen

    Playa Pelada

    North of Guiones, Nosara34.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    Free
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Small light-sand beach with rock formations in Nosara, with a blowhole and tide pools; good for sunsets.

    Source: SINAC – Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional · 2026 · +2

    Practical details and sources

    Tip: Wikivoyage considers it better for swimming than its neighbours, but other sources do not confirm it: ask about the day’s conditions.

    Nearby: Horseback ride in Nosara (0 km) · Nosara biological reserve trails (1.2 km) · Yoga in Nosara and Santa Teresa (1.5 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Ostional · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Nosara trip planning · Wikivoyage – Nosara

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