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Azura Beach Resort

Playa Samara, Costa Rica

4.1(575 reviews)

Adults Only

Azura Hotel is a 75-suite adults-only all-inclusive on Playa Samara, on the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste, a coastline best known for being part of the Nicoya Blue Zone and for a bay that an offshore reef keeps calm. The beach is the main draw: swimmable water, Isla Chora sitting offshore, and a beach town next door that still feels like a town rather than a gated resort strip. Adults-only all-inclusives are rare in this part of Costa Rica, which is what sets Azura apart from the independent hotels around it.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Playa Samara beachfront on the Nicoya Peninsula, where an offshore reef and Isla Chora break the Pacific swell, so the bay in front of the hotel stays calm enough for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding
+Adults-only all-inclusive in a part of Costa Rica where most small hotels sell rooms only, so couples get a child-free beach stay without paying for every meal and drink separately
+Meals, snacks and unlimited alcoholic drinks, juices and soft drinks are in the plan, across a dining lineup that is big for 75 suites: Chill n Grill on the beach, Choras and Arrecife for buffet and a la carte, Bocatto (Italian), Tao (Asian fusion, third floor) and L'Ardoise (French-inspired)
+Morpho's Spa added spa suites and new treatments, open 8am to 9pm with couples massages on request; the chocolate, honey-and-milk and aloe wraps are a good fit after a sunburned day on the water
+Suite options go well beyond a standard room: first-floor Jr Suite Ocean Front Swim-Out rooms step from the terrace into the river pool, a Plunge Pool Suite has its own pool, and the Azura, Island and Honeymoon Suites each have a jacuzzi on the balcony
+Even the entry-level Jr Suites are 475 sq ft (44 sq m) with a living area, and every suite gets turndown service, a mini bar and 24-hour room service
+Samara village is a short walk away, with family-run sodas, surf schools and beach bars, so leaving the property for a casado or ceviche is easy
+The tour desk runs paddleboard and kayak trips to Isla Chora, beginner-friendly surf lessons and seasonal turtle-nesting tours at Camaronal Wildlife Refuge, plus pickleball on site and a guided Punta Indio hike on weekdays

Cons

−A property next door is under construction until December 15, 2026, and the hotel itself warns guests they may hear it during the day; as compensation, everyone staying in that window gets complimentary access to Nikoa Beach Club
−Nikoa Beach Club is not part of the all-inclusive plan: food, drinks and services there are charged separately, and the hotel's own FAQ says specialty services and premium items can cost extra
−Staffing has been flagged as thin for the guest count, which shows up as slower service at peak meal times and gaps in beach and pool attendant coverage
−Food consistency is uneven in traveler reports, with some describing excellent meals and others noting items running out and quality that varies from day to day
−Housekeeping and maintenance get mixed reviews: some rooms are praised while others report upkeep issues that were not fixed promptly
−The price feels high to some guests for what is still a small boutique hotel, especially against Samara's independent beach hotels and the bigger Guanacaste resorts
−Getting there takes effort: the hotel arranges transfers from Liberia (LIR) or San Jose (SJO), but from San Jose it is roughly a 4-hour drive or a small-plane domestic flight

The plan covers meals, snacks and unlimited drinks, and the dining lineup is large for the size: Chill n Grill on the sand, buffet and a la carte at Choras and Arrecife, plus Bocatto for Italian, Tao for Asian fusion and L'Ardoise for French-inspired dinners. Nikoa Beach Club sits between the hotel and the beach but is charged separately. There are two outdoor pools, swim-out suites on the river pool, a Plunge Pool Suite, jacuzzi balconies on the oceanfront suites, Morpho's Spa with its expanded spa suites, and a 24-hour fitness center. Traveler forums are consistently positive about the beach and the spa and more mixed on staffing, food consistency and housekeeping. A property next door is under construction until December 15, 2026, so daytime noise is possible; the hotel gives guests in that window free access to Nikoa Beach Club.

Azura suits couples who want a quiet, nature-first beach stay without children and who are happy with a pura vida pace rather than tightly run service. It is smaller and calmer than the big Papagayo all-inclusives such as Riu Guanacaste, with fewer pools and less evening entertainment, but it puts you in a real beach town. The tour desk handles Isla Chora paddle and kayak trips, surf lessons, turtle-nesting tours at Camaronal and day trips to volcanoes, coffee farms and cloud forests.

Common Questions

How do you get to Playa Samara, and is the travel difficult?

Most guests fly into Liberia (LIR) or San Jose (SJO), and the hotel can arrange private or shared transfers from either if you contact it in advance. From San Jose it is roughly a 4-hour drive, or you can take a short domestic flight to the small airstrip near Samara. Free on-site parking is included if you rent a car.

Is there a lazy river at Azura?

No. The hotel advertises two outdoor pools, and the first-floor swim-out suites open onto what it calls a river pool, but there is no lazy river ride. If you want more water space, the Plunge Pool Suite has its own private pool and the Presidential Suite has an infinity pool.

What is included in the all-inclusive plan?

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and unlimited alcoholic drinks, juices and soft drinks are included, along with Wi-Fi and the 24-hour fitness center. The hotel says specialty services and premium items may cost extra, and Nikoa Beach Club is billed separately. Spa treatments and off-site tours such as the Isla Chora kayak trip are paid add-ons.

Will construction next door affect my stay?

Possibly, during the day. The hotel says a neighbouring property is under construction until December 15, 2026, that it keeps disturbance to daytime hours, and that every guest staying in that period gets complimentary access to Nikoa Beach Club. Azura itself is not being renovated.

Is Playa Samara good for swimming and water sports?

Yes. The reef and Isla Chora break the swell, so the water inside the bay is usually calm and good for swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking. The gentle break near the edges is a popular place for beginner surf lessons, and snorkeling around Isla Chora is fine but does not compare with the Caribbean.

Can you walk to Samara village from the resort?

Yes. The hotel sits steps from Samara Beach and the village is a short walk along the beach or the road. Samara has family-run sodas, surf schools, beach bars and shops, and an evening out for casado or fresh ceviche is a popular break from the all-inclusive routine.

Restaurants (7)

Type	Restaurants
Buffet	Choras Restaurant, Arrecife
Italian	Bocatto
Asian	Tao Asian Restaurant
Steakhouse	Chill n Grill
French	L'Ardoise
Caribbean & local	Nikoa Beach Club (extra charge)

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. Venues marked "extra charge" are not covered by the all-inclusive rate; the others are, per the resort.

What's nearby

Playa Carrillo
5 min drive · 1.3 mi
Playa Guiones
40 min drive · 16 mi

More things to do (15)

Playa Buenavista · beach20 min drive · 6.2 mi
Playa Sámara · beach7 min drive · 1.7 mi
Isla Chora kayak and snorkel trip · excursion7 min drive · 1.7 mi
Dolphin-watching boat trip from Sámara · excursion7 min drive · 1.7 mi
Carrillo lookout · viewpoint8 min drive · 2.3 mi
Camaronal Wildlife Refuge · wildlife20 min drive · 7.5 mi
Playa Camaronal · beach20 min drive · 7.8 mi
Playa Barrigona · beach25 min drive · 7.3 mi
Playa Islita · beach25 min drive · 11 mi
Museo Islita open-air art · museum25 min drive · 11 mi
Playa Garza · beach30 min drive · 12 mi
Playa Pelada · beach45 min drive · 18 mi
Sibu Wildlife Sanctuary · wildlife45 min drive · 19 mi
Ostional Wildlife Refuge · wildlife60 min drive · 22 mi
Olive ridley arribada night at Ostional (July to November) · excursion60 min drive · 22 mi

Amenities

Fishing

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Buffet Dining

Spa

Gym

Beach

Style & Rooms

Atmosphere

RomanticCharming

Room upgrades

Swim-Up RoomsPlunge Pool Rooms

Seaweed & sargassum

Costa Rica gets sargassum, typically worst March through August on the Caribbean coast only; the Pacific coast is clear every month.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Costa Rica →

Google Reviews★ 4.1 · 575 reviews

Althay O.

2 weeks ago

“We had a great experience overall. The resort is nice, amazing views. Staff was very friendly with me and my husband (We tipped everyone with every service) Alejandro from the pool bar, that guys is the sweetest, we had a blast and he was always taki...”

Syl20 Q.

2 months ago

“Azura Beach Resort in Samara is the only one in its category within a radius of 100km. You will live a perfect stay from all points of view: Gastronomic, Room, Beach, Ocean, Amenities, Services & Support. Even in the middle of the 2025 rainy season,...”

J E.

3 months ago

“The staff is amazing, so friendly and genuinely want your stay to be an enjoyable one. Jonathon at the pool bar is the best! Food was ok. It’s quiet, not a big commercial experience so if that is what you’re looking for, this isn’t your place. We wer...”