Casa Almendros

Casa Almendros is a beachfront house on a quiet stretch of Playa Sámara, with the sand a few steps from the back gate, three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. It sleeps six and suits families and groups of friends who want the beach at the door and sunsets from the porch more than a polished interior. This is a simple Costa Rican beach house that has stood here for over 50 years.

The house is single story and airy, built with an open ceiling so the sea breeze moves through. The living room has black rattan sofas and armchairs, a long wooden dining table for eight and a TV. The kitchen has a refrigerator with freezer, a cooktop, a microwave, a toaster oven, a kettle, a coffee maker, a blender and a rice cooker, with a wide window to the palms. Each of the three bedrooms has a bed for two with room-darkening curtains, a ceiling fan and its own air conditioner; a travel crib is available on request. There are two full bathrooms, an outdoor shower for the sand, a safe, and Wi-Fi measured at 122 Mbps. A white picket gate opens from the garden to the beach, and the garden has palms and bougainvillea. A small separate house on the property is private and lived in; the resident has no key to the main house and guests describe her as very kind.

Guests write about waking up to the ocean, breakfast looking at the waves, the sunset every night, a beach with mostly locals and no crowds, strong Wi-Fi and cold air conditioning, comfortable beds, and a kitchen with everything needed to cook. Restaurants are a short walk and the center of town is close without the traffic. One guest got engaged on the sand out front, and when another wanted to grill fish, we brought a grill.

This is a no-frills house, and you should book it as one: the living room furniture is outdoor rattan and the beach chairs are basic. Sámara has had water outages for parts of the day and occasional power cuts, sometimes without warning to the house; message us as soon as you notice anything and keep the conversation on Airbnb. Check-in is between 15:00 and 20:00 with the local manager, and early entry is not always possible even when the house looks ready. The center of Sámara is a short drive rather than a walk. Quiet hours are midnight to 07:00, pets are not allowed, only beach towels go to the beach, sandy clothes are rinsed outside, and cameras cover the porch and patio. A gardener and handyman look after the property.

Sharon and our team host from a distance with a local manager on site. Ask us on WhatsApp for restaurant tips and beach conditions before you arrive; a laundromat is nearby for longer stays, and the minimum stay is two nights.

Sámara is on the Nicoya Peninsula, about two hours by car from Liberia airport (LIR) on mostly paved roads, with traffic around Nicoya; from San José (SJO) allow considerably longer. A standard car is fine year round. The house sits on a quiet stretch of the beach away from the main strip, so it is a short drive rather than a walk to the center of town. Guests who wanted to be closer to downtown say so. Airbnb shares the exact address after booking, and the local manager meets you for check-in between 15:00 and 20:00, so plan the drive to land inside that window and send us your arrival time on WhatsApp the day before. Shuttles from Liberia serve Sámara if you would rather not drive.