Digital Nomad’s Guide to Samara
Samara is a beautiful little beach n’ surf town on the west coast of Costa Rica. It’s fairly tourist and digital nomad-friendly, albeit with limited vegan options. Still, it’s an incredible place to visit and at least manageable for the plant-based.
(Want to know what Costa Rica sounds like? Unfortunately I couldn’t find much local music I liked, but here’s a playlist of great bands and artists from elsewhere in Central and South America.)
Coffee Shops
Marea
VFJC+WW7, calle principal ,fente a hotel samara beach, Samara Nicoya, Guanacaste, Sámara, Costa Rica
This cute surf shop + cafe advertises itself as having the “best coffee in town”, and it just might. Also offers a great selection of acai bowls and smoothies.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Malehu
Iglesia Catolica, 50m Este, Guanacaste Province, Sámara, 50205, Costa Rica
Nice cafe with a stylish aesthetic and solid coffee.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Restaurants
Bohemia Cafe
Frente Natural Center, Guanacaste Province, Sámara, Costa Rica
The best place for vegan-friendly cuisine in Samara. The portions are big and the ingredients are top quality.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Mr. Pelicano
Guanacaste Province, Sámara, Costa Rica
Not particularly plant-based, but the vegan options are on point and super fresh.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Mar y Fuego
C. Intercultura, Provincia de Guanacaste, Sámara, Costa Rica
Although this restaurant - whose name translates to “sea and fire” - doesn’t advertise itself as veg-friendly, it has several good plant-based options, including vegan pizza and a phenomenal Thai salad.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Parks and Recreation
Playa Samara
Samara is all about the beach. It’s easy and cheap to rent a surfboard for a couple hours, and there’s nothing I’d recommend more.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
One Love Sacred Center
Playa, Frente a la iglesia Católica contigo a Pali Nicoya, Sámara, 50205, Costa Rica
A pretty interesting DIY wellness space offering daily classes of yoga, sound baths, breathwork, etc.
(Photo: Marc Z. Goldgrub)
Drugs and Alcohol
Alcohol: Legal drinking age in Costa Rica is 18.
Cannabis: Recreational cannabis is prohibited, although personal possession is reportedly not subject to criminal penalty (subject to certain details). Regulated medical cannabis use was approved in 2022.
Psychedelics: Costa Rica is famously an ayahuasca retreat hotspot, as the substance is unscheduled. Most other psychedelic substances, however, are explicitly prohibited.