Pura Vida Peak & Beach

Climb into the hills above Samara's coast to the Santo Domingo Viewpoint, where sweeping ocean panoramas and rolling teak plantations open up beneath you - the kind of view that makes everyone reach for a camera. From the ridge you'll drop toward the water to discover two of the area's most secluded beaches: the pristine white sand and crystal-clear shallows of Playa Barrigona, a hideaway favoured by those in the know, and the dramatic black-sand shores of Playa Barco Quebrado, shaped by the wild Pacific.

The trails in between wind through shaded forest and open farmland, with plenty of chances to spot iguanas sunning on the rocks, coatis crossing the path, and Costa Rica's famous howler monkeys echoing through the canopy. It's a tour that balances big scenery with quiet, off-the-map corners - the full sweep of Samara's coast in a single morning or afternoon.