Staying at Villa Tangerine puts you right in the middle of that magic, in Casa Tangerine, a modern two-bedroom villa with a private pool tucked between true Costa Rican farmland and dense jungle. Howler monkeys pass mornings and evenings, fruit trees and butterflies fill the gardens, and the large patio is built for long dinners and slow sunsets. The area around it rewards exploration, all at the unhurried pace of pura vida. Here is where to start.
1. Playa Sámara
Distance from Villa Tangerine: 5 minutes by car to downtown and the beach
Best for: Swimmers, beginner surfers, families, sunset lovers
Season: Year-round
This is the anchor of the whole area and the reason Sámara has quietly become a favorite for travelers who want the real Costa Rica without the crowds. Playa Sámara is a wide, palm-backed crescent inside a calm bay, protected by a coral reef offshore that tames the surf into gentle, forgiving waves.
That calm water makes it one of the best beginner surf beaches in the country, ideal for kids and first-timers, with surf schools and board rentals lined up along the sand. It is equally good for simply swimming, floating, and doing nothing at all. The town behind the beach is walkable and friendly, with beachfront seafood spots, plant-based cafes, and open-air bars where the sunset is the evening's main event.
Practical notes:
- Surf lessons run roughly $45 to $80 per person; board rentals are cheap by the hour or day
- The north end of the beach has the calmest water and best snorkeling
- Downtown Sámara covers groceries, ATMs, pharmacies, and restaurants, all minutes from the villa
2. Playa Carrillo
Distance from Villa Tangerine: 10 minutes by car
Best for: Photographers, picnickers, anyone chasing the postcard beach
Season: Year-round
If Sámara is the town beach, Playa Carrillo is the showstopper just south of it, and it is the host's personal favorite for good reason. A perfect crescent of light sand backed by rows of towering palms, with no development along the beachfront itself, Carrillo is the image most people carry home from Guanacaste.
Because nothing is built directly on the sand, the vibe stays peaceful and timeless. Bring a cooler, claim a spot under the palms, and stay for the afternoon. On weekends and Costa Rican holidays, Tico families fill the beach, which is a wonderful way to soak up local culture; on weekdays it can feel nearly private. Scarlet macaws are a regular sight here, squawking and flashing color through the palms.
3. Isla Chora Snorkeling and Sea Kayaking
Distance from Villa Tangerine: 5 to 10 minutes to the launch point on Playa Sámara
Best for: Snorkelers, paddlers, couples, active families
Season: Year-round; best visibility in dry season
The small island sitting out in Sámara's bay is Isla Chora, and reaching it is one of the area's signature half-day outings. Guided tours paddle sea kayaks or take small boats across the calm bay to the island, where a protected cove offers the best snorkeling in the immediate area.
Expect tropical fish, rays, and the occasional turtle over the rocks and reef, plus a quiet beach on the island to relax between swims. Tours typically leave in the morning when the water is glassiest and the light is best. It is the perfect low-effort adventure: gentle enough for beginners, memorable enough to be a trip highlight.
4. Werner Sauter Biological Reserve and Sámara Trails
Distance from Villa Tangerine: 10 minutes by car to the trailhead
Best for: Nature lovers, hikers, wildlife photographers
Season: Year-round; early morning for wildlife and cooler temperatures
Just behind town rises one of Costa Rica's few private reserves, protecting a rare tropical dry forest, an ecosystem more threatened than rainforest and found in only a handful of places on earth. Once farmland, the land was restored to wild forest in the 1990s and is now a refuge for a remarkable amount of wildlife.
The guided hike, run by Sámara Trails, a local initiative founded by the grandson of the reserve's original owner, climbs from an old mango plantation to ocean-view lookouts over Playa Sámara and Playa Carrillo. Along the roughly 5.5-kilometer trail, guides point out howler and white-faced monkeys, iguanas, owls, tropical birds, and if you are lucky a porcupine or two, while explaining the plants and herbs of the forest. Guests staying at Villa Tangerine already get a taste of this world from the villa's own jungle-edge gardens; the reserve is the deeper dive.
5. Belén Waterfall
Distance from Villa Tangerine: 30 to 40 minutes by car
Best for: Adventurers, swimmers, hot-day escapes
Season: Best in and just after green season (May through December) for strong flow
Inland from the coast, the Belén Waterfall is the region's favorite freshwater escape, a series of cascades and pools tucked into the hills where you can swim beneath the falls and cool off away from the salt and sand. The upper pools make excellent swimming holes, and the setting is lush and genuinely off the beaten path.
The flow is strongest during and just after the green season, when the falls run full and dramatic. The road in can be rough, so it pairs well with a rented 4x4 or a guided tour. It is the ideal change of pace on a day you have had enough sun, and a reminder of how much variety sits within a short drive of Sámara.
6. Surf Lessons on the Gentle Bay
Distance from Villa Tangerine: 5 minutes by car
Best for: First-timers, kids, anyone who has always wanted to try
Season: Year-round
Sámara is where a lot of people catch their very first wave, and that is no accident. The reef-protected bay keeps the surf smaller and softer than the powerful breaks of Costa Rica's better-known surf towns, so beginners can relax and actually enjoy learning instead of fighting the ocean.
Several surf schools operate right on Playa Sámara, offering group and private lessons for adults and children, with rentals available once you find your feet. A morning lesson followed by an afternoon in Villa Tangerine's private pool is one of the great rhythms of a Sámara stay. Experienced surfers can rent a board and paddle out on their own or take a short trip to punchier breaks nearby.
7. Turtle Nesting and Wildlife Tours
Distance from Villa Tangerine: Varies; some tours depart from Sámara, others 45 min north
Best for: Families, nature lovers, bucket-list travelers
Season: Peak nesting July through December, varies by species and beach
The Nicoya Peninsula is one of the most important sea turtle nesting regions on the planet, and from Sámara you are within reach of it. Depending on the season, guided night tours take visitors to nearby beaches to witness sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs, or hatchlings making their scramble to the sea, an experience that stays with people for life.
The famous mass arribadas at Ostional lie farther up the coast toward Nosara, while smaller-scale nesting happens on beaches closer to Sámara. Because turtles are protected, all viewing is done with licensed guides who know how to keep the animals safe. Even outside turtle season, the surrounding forest and coastline deliver monkeys, iguanas, and an astonishing range of birds.
8. Downtown Sámara: Feria, Food, and Pura Vida Nights
Distance from Villa Tangerine: 5 minutes by car
Best for: Foodies, market browsers, couples, culture seekers
Season: Year-round; the feria is typically a weekend fixture
For a small beach town, Sámara punches far above its weight on food and atmosphere. The main street and beachfront hold everything from fresh-caught seafood and Costa Rican casados to wood-fired pizza, plant-based cafes, and cocktail bars, most of it casual, barefoot, and relaxed.
On weekends, the feria (farmers market) brings out tropical fruit, local produce, sauces, handmade jewelry, and art, and it is the best place to mingle with the community and stock the villa's kitchen with mango, papaya, and coffee. Evenings drift naturally from sunset on the sand to live music somewhere in town. Then it is a five-minute trip back to the quiet of Villa Tangerine, where the only sound is the jungle.
9. Playa Barrigona and the Hidden Beaches
Distance from Villa Tangerine: 20 to 30 minutes by car
Best for: Seclusion seekers, adventurers with a 4x4
Season: Year-round; dry season for the easiest access
For travelers who want to feel like they discovered something, the coastline around Sámara hides a string of harder-to-reach beaches, and Playa Barrigona is the jewel. Reached by an unpaved road that rewards a 4x4, this secluded stretch of pale sand and jungle is famously beautiful and often nearly empty.
The currents can be strong, so it is better for sunbathing, walking, and photographs than for swimming, but the sense of solitude is the whole point. Pack water and snacks, since there are no services, and time your visit for lower tide and dry-season roads. It is the kind of place that explains why people fall for this quieter corner of Guanacaste.
10. Slow Mornings and Sunsets at Villa Tangerine
Best for: Couples, families, anyone who came to actually relax
Season: Year-round
In a Blue Zone built on slowing down, the villa itself is one of the main attractions. Casa Tangerine's private pool looks out over jungle, gardens, and farm pastures, the large patio and long outdoor table are made for lingering dinners, and the loft and bedrooms frame views of the greenery all around.
Mornings begin with Costa Rican coffee on the patio as howler monkeys move through the trees and birds work the fruit orchard of mango, papaya, coconut, banana, and lime. Evenings end with a local beer or a glass of wine and a Guanacaste sunset. This is the pura vida the whole trip is about: unhurried, green, and quiet, the place where, as the hosts like to say, it feels like time stops and wonder begins.
Practical Travel Notes
- Getting around: A rental car, ideally a 4x4, is the most flexible option and unlocks the hidden beaches and inland waterfalls. Downtown Sámara is walkable, and taxis and shuttles are easy to arrange for beach days and tours.
- Getting there: Most visitors fly into Liberia International Airport (about 2.5 hours away) or San José (about 4.5 hours). Small domestic flights land at the Sámara/Carrillo airstrip, closer to Carrillo than to town.
- Money and connectivity: Sámara has ATMs, groceries, and pharmacies downtown. US dollars are widely accepted alongside colones, and the villa offers WiFi and air conditioning for anyone mixing a little remote work into the escape.
- Best months: December through April is peak dry season, with reliable sun and calm seas. May through November, the green season, brings lush landscapes, dramatic afternoon showers, thinner crowds, and lower prices, along with prime turtle nesting and the fullest waterfalls.
Frequently Asked Questions About Villa Tangerine
Where is Villa Tangerine located?
Villa Tangerine is in Sámara, on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste, tucked between farmland and jungle just five minutes from downtown Sámara and its beach.
What is Casa Tangerine?
Casa Tangerine is the villa's modern two-bedroom home with a private pool, a loft, and a large patio with an outdoor dining table, set against views of the pool, jungle, gardens, and farm pastures.
How many guests can Villa Tangerine sleep?
Casa Tangerine sleeps up to 5 guests across two bedrooms and a loft, with three beds and two bathrooms.
Does Villa Tangerine have a private pool?
Yes, Casa Tangerine is one of the few homes in the area with its own private pool, surrounded by tropical landscaping.
What amenities are included?
The villa includes WiFi, air conditioning, a 72-inch HDTV with Netflix, free on-site driveway parking for two vehicles, and access to the lush gardens and fruit trees on the property.
How far is Villa Tangerine from the beach?
Playa Sámara is about 5 minutes away by car, Playa Carrillo about 10 minutes, and the secluded Playa Barrigona roughly 20 to 30 minutes.
Will I really see wildlife at the villa?
Very likely. Howler monkeys pass through most mornings and evenings, and the garden's mango, papaya, banana, and lime trees draw butterflies and many species of birds.
What is the best way to book Villa Tangerine?
You can book direct at hotelvillastangerine.com, where you will find current availability and rates for Casa Tangerine and the property's garden suites.