Population: 6,000
Location: Pacific Coast

AZ Samara is located in the town of Samara, a beautiful beach area on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. The beach itself is a favorite vacation spot for Costa Ricans ("Ticos"), and enjoys a multicultural diversity provided by the visitors from other countries. Located on the northern Pacific Coast of Guanacaste, Sámara boasts 5 km of white sand lined with palm tress, in a protected coral reef bay. The tranquil ocean is ideal for swimming, diving, snorkeling and surf/boogie boarding. For the adventurous, Isla Chora is a short kayak or boat trip away, and there you may snorkel or simply sunbathe on this uninhabited island's deserted beach.

Away from the sand, Sámara is ringed by primary and secondary forest that is home to a huge variety of wildlife, including monkeys, toucans, ocelots, iguanas, scarlet macaws, parrots, and more. A favorite for students is being surprised by a group of monkeys coming to their favorite almond tree by the beach for a noisy lunch, followed by a long afternoon siesta! The nearby Nicoya region provides a wonderful opportunity to see remnants of Costa Rica's indigenous Chorotega culture, as well as the colonial town and church. Other activities at Sámara include: horse-riding, bike rental, ultra light gliding, deep-sea fishing, dolphin tours, waterfall visits, canopy tours, visits to local 'fiestas' and much more.

The town itself is a small, local community offering a variety of activities, such as the sunset football games on the beach, eating "bocas" (local dishes serves in small portions with drinks), going to the disco, playing cards, or simply chatting with those who live there. It has a typical Tico character, with a local art gallery on the beach and several ocean-side seafood restaurants and bars. Services available include: laundry, small supermarket, post office, medical clinic, car/bike rental, etc.