What to do in Casa Marelie

Should you ever get bored hanging out at the pool or enjoying the fabulous ocean view at Casa Marelie, there’s lots and lots to do in the area. We also recommend talking to “Book with Maria” at the town entrance of Samara for all sorts of activities and day trips.

Playa Carrillo

Eight minutes by foot or a quick hop by car you’ll find the pristine beach of Carrillo, recently awarded the blue flag certificate with five stars. In the mornings and during the week you can have long stretches of beach just for yourself. Even on weekends and holidays it never gets too crowded. Bring some food to enjoy at the picnic tables underneath the palm trees, or buy a ceviche or an ice cream from the local vendors.

Fishing

Puerto Carrillo is famous as a sport fishing destination. Both deep sea and near shore fishing are offered by local captains and several operators in the Carrillo and Samara area. Check the link for more information.

Whale Watching

Dolphin- and Whale watching excursions are offered by a number of tour operators in the area. Check the link for more information.

Rafting

You can do a day trip rafting at the Rio Tenorio. Tours leave directly from Samara. Or take two to three days to spend some time on (or sometimes in) the famous Rio Pacuare. Tour operators are located in Turrialba east of San Jose.

Gyrocopter Rides

You can ride in a gyrocopter to get an aerial view of Samara or even do longer, multi-day tours. Flights leave at Hotel Flying Crocodile near Buena Vista Beach.

Village of Carrillo

It’s just a few meters by foot from our house to the village of Puerto Carrillo. You’ll find a number of nice restaurants there - our recommendations include El Colibri for perfect steaks Argentinian style, Chez Nous for French cuisine, Hula Jungla for (pricey) pizza and seafood. For simple local fare, check out Soda La Plaza at the soccer field. There are also two small supermarkets along the main road in the village.

Surfing

There are schools in Samara where you can book surfing classes or rent boards. Samara is protected by an outer reef and offers easy waves for beginners. More advanced surfers can head north to Nosara for bigger waves.

ATV Tours

You can rent a Quad or book a tour - a great way to experience nature and have some fun! Cross rivers and ride through the jungle!

National Parks

You should take at least 2-3 days for a trip to visit national parks like Manuel Antonio or Corcovado. There are also day trips offered from Samara to the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest as well as to Arenal Volcano.

Learn Spanish

There’s a great Spanish school right on the beach in Samara. If you want to combine your vacation with a learning experience, check out Intercultura Language School.

Playa Samara

In Samara, just a few minutes by car, you’ll find a number of larger supermarkets as well as lots of restaurants to chill out right on the beach. Try Locanda, Lo Que Hay and La Dolce Vita on the beach, and El Lagarto for BBQ. For breakfast, try the Roots Bakery or the Bouticafe Bohemia. For vegetarian meals there’s Ahora Si. Enjoy some drinks at Gusto Beach or sample some craft beer across the street at the Microbar.

Zip-Lining

Wingnuts Canopy in Samara offers a Zip-Line adventure in their own private nature reserve, not far from the main road. Soar through the treetops on an exhilarating ride and wave to the monkeys and lizards in the trees!

Horseback-Riding

Ride horses along the beach or through the jungle! You can even ford a river on horseback. Check the link for offers and infos.

Turtle Nesting Tour

Camaronal Beach right next door to Carrillo is a world famous turtle nesting ground. Guided night tours during the months from June to January offer a chance to see turtles laying their eggs. Also possible in Playa Ostional, further north.

Macaw Recovery Network

A short drive from Carrillo you can find the Punta Islita Wild Macaw Reserve. You can book photography tours and watch a flock of rescued macaws that were released back into the wild.