# Sámara District, Nicoya Canton, Guanacaste Province

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/nicoya/samara/

District · Nicoya Canton 

# Sámara

Sámara is a district of Costa Rica in Nicoya Canton, Guanacaste Province. It had an estimated **4,627 people** in 2021 on 109 km² (about 42 per km²). 29 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 240 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 4,627people (2021)
- 109km²
- 240mapped services
- 59 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Sámara?

Sámara had an estimated **4,627 people** in 2021 — 8.1% of Nicoya Canton, 310th of 472 districts. There are 988 women for every 1,000 men (above the Nicoya Canton figure of 966). Spread over 109 km², that is about **42 people per km²**, 343rd of 472 districts.

18.7% of people are children under 15 and 12.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 36 years (it is 35 across Nicoya Canton). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 46 children and older people.

0–4 ****283**

5–9 ****293**

10–14 ****290**

15–19 ****313**

20–24 ****334**

25–29 ****343**

30–34 ****356**

35–39 ****364**

40–44 ****352**

45–49 ****301**

50–54 ****273**

55–59 ****277**

60–64 ****253**

65–69 ****213**

70–74 ****159**

75+ ****223**

Source: [Costa Rica National Statistics Office (NSO) via OCHA HDX, population 2021 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-cri).

## Where is Sámara?

Sámara lies in [Nicoya Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/nicoya/), [Guanacaste Province](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/), [Costa Rica](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/). It borders 3 other districts: [Belén de Nosarita](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/nicoya/belen-de-nosarita/), [Nosara](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/nicoya/nosara/) and [Puerto Carrillo](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/hojancha/puerto-carrillo/). By area it is the 149th largest of 492 districts in Costa Rica. It covers 8.2% of [Nicoya Canton](https://wherepedia.org/costa-rica/guanacaste/nicoya/). The centre of Sámara is about 159 km in a straight line from San José, the capital. The centre point is at 9.9118° N, 85.5323° W.

Source: [Costa Rica National Statistics Office (NSO) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-cri).

## Things to see in and around Sámara

OpenStreetMap lists 2 named sights in Sámara: 1 beach; 1 waterfall.

- Riddle Falls · waterfall
- Beach Izquierda · beach

### Nearby, outside Sámara

- Mirador de Carrillo · viewpoint, Puerto Carrillo7.5 km
- Mirador de Carrillo · viewpoint, Puerto Carrillo7.6 km
- Belén Waterfall · viewpoint, Belén de Nosarita12 km
- Letras Nosara · attraction, Nosara15 km
- Museo Islita · museum, Bejuco16 km
- Nosara Art Gallery · gallery, Nosara16 km
- cascada · waterfall, Bejuco16 km
- Islita overview · viewpoint, Bejuco17 km
- Nature Reserve Entrance · viewpoint, Nosara17 km
- Kayak Tours · attraction, Nosara17 km
- Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary · attraction, Nosara17 km
- Refugio de Vida Silvestre Ostional · nature reserve, Nosara17 km

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Sámara

- Time zoneUTC−6, no daylight saving · America/Costa_Rica
- CurrencyColon (CRC)
- Country calling code+506
- LanguagesSpanish, English
- Plug typesType A, B · 120 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format5 digits (#####)

### Nearest airports

- Nosara Airport (NOB) · Nicoya15 km
- Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) · Liberia76 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.7 hours, sunrise around 05:21) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 05:50, sunset around 17:23).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in Sámara

Open gazetteers list **29 villages, towns and localities** in Sámara. The largest with a recorded population: Sámara (1,071). Settlements here lie between about 9 m and 377 m above sea level (median 59 m).

- Bajo Cambutes
- Barco Quebrado
- Buenavista
- Buenos Aires
- Cambutes
- Cangrejal
- Cantarrana
- Canto de los Gavilanes
- Chinampas
- El Silencio
- Esterones
- Ferco
- Mala Noche
- Mango
- Mar Azul Estates
- Matapalo I
- Matapalo II
- Palmar
- Panamá
- Playa Sámara
- Primavera
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Samaria
- San Fernando
- Santo Domingo
- Sámara
- Taranta
- Terciopelo
- Torito

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Sámara

Named natural and historic features inside Sámara, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

27 rivers and streams.

- Quebrada Arguedas
- Quebrada Barco Quebrado
- Quebrada Barrigona
- Quebrada Buenavista
- Quebrada Cantarrana
- Quebrada Dormilona
- Quebrada Esterones
- Quebrada Flor
- Quebrada Lajas
- Quebrada Mala Noche
- Quebrada Medina
- Quebrada Pacífico
- Quebrada Salitral
- Quebrada Sardo
- Quebrada Taranta
- Quebrada Terciopelo
- Quebrada Tigra
- Quebrada Tigre
- Quebrada Zacatera
- Río Brazo Derecho
- Río Buenavista
- Río Crucivallejo
- Río Frío
- Río Garza

…and 3 more.

### Coast and islands

4 beaches; 3 headlands.

- Playa Barco Quebrado
- Playa Barrigona
- Playa Pavones
- Playas Sámara
- Punta Escondido
- Punta Pavones
- Punta Sámara

### Hills and mountains

5 mountains.

- Cerro Chinampas · 501 m
- Cerro Arguedas · 465 m
- Cerro Mejías · 453 m
- Cerro Faro · 351 m
- Cerro López · 333 m

### Getting around

1 airfield.

- Flying Crocodile

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Sámara and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Nicoya Canton, the warmest month is Apr (average 29 °C) and the coolest is Nov (26 °C). About 1,726 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (337 mm) and the driest Feb (4 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **December to January**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 28 7 

Feb 28 4 

Mar 29 5 

Apr 29 38 

May 28 220 

Jun 27 227 

Jul 27 182 

Aug 27 227 

Sep 27 303 

Oct 26 337 

Nov 26 151 

Dec 27 24 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Sámara

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Lifeguard Costa Rica Nosara · Nosara 15 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.94561&mlon=-85.66723#map=17/9.94561/-85.66723) 

Bank Alpina · Sámara 1.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.92097&mlon=-85.52326#map=17/9.92097/-85.52326) 

ATM Davi Vienda · Sámara 3.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.88295&mlon=-85.52855#map=17/9.88295/-85.52855) 

Petrol pump La Bomba · Sámara 1.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.92041&mlon=-85.52516#map=17/9.92041/-85.52516) 

Hotel Hotel Samara Beach · Sámara 0.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.91313&mlon=-85.52879#map=17/9.91313/-85.52879) 

Mall Centro Comercial Patio Colonial · Sámara 3.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.88358&mlon=-85.52784#map=17/9.88358/-85.52784) 

School Escuela Buenavista · Sámara 0.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.91252&mlon=-85.54093#map=17/9.91252/-85.54093) 

College Colegio Técnico Profesional Bocas de Nosara · Nosara 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.98003&mlon=-85.63430#map=17/9.98003/-85.63430) 

Police station Delegación Policial de Sámara · Sámara 3.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=9.88096&mlon=-85.52784#map=17/9.88096/-85.52784) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Sámara

Places mapped inside Sámara in open map data, by type.

- Banks3
- ATMs1
- Petrol pumps3
- Hotels103
- Shopping malls4
- Schools16
- Pharmacies4
- Restaurants103
- Police stations1
- Dental clinics2

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other districts in Nicoya Canton

- Belén de Nosarita
- Mansión
- Nicoya
- Nosara
- Quebrada Honda
- San Antonio

## Quick answers

- Where is Sámara?In Nicoya Canton, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica
- What is the population of Sámara?4,627 (2021 estimate)
- What is the median age in Sámara?About 36 years (2021 estimate)
- What is the population density of Sámara?About 42 people per km²
- What borders Sámara?Belén de Nosarita, Nosara and Puerto Carrillo
- What is there to see in Sámara?Beach Izquierda, Riddle Falls
- What time zone is Sámara in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in Sámara?Colon (CRC)
- What language is spoken in Sámara?Spanish, English (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Sámara?29 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Sámara?Settlements lie between 9 m and 377 m
- What is the highest point in Sámara?Cerro Chinampas (501 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Sámara?December to January
- Where is the nearest hospital to Sámara?Lifeguard Costa Rica Nosara, about 15 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Sámara?Alpina, about 1.4 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Sámara?Davi Vienda, about 3.2 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Sámara?La Bomba, about 1.2 km from the centre
- How many banks are in Sámara?3 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Sámara?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Sámara?3 mapped
- What is the P-code of Sámara?CR50205 (OCHA common operational dataset)