Playa Barco Quebrado
Beach · Nicoya Peninsula · hidden gem
'Broken Boat Beach' – a small, quiet beach between Sámara and Garza with soft tan sand, blue water and rocky reef shelves. At low tide the rocks leave natural pools where local families splash around; at high tide the sea covers most of the sand.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 1.5 h
- Best time
- morning
- Kids
- 7 / 10
- View
- 7 / 10
- Crowds
- 2 / 10
- Swimming
- 7 / 10
- Effort
- 2 / 10
- Location
- 9.889636, -85.595482 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket
- Swimming
- Only when the water is calm
- Kids
- Good for kids
- Fewer people
- Often just a few local families.
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Check the tide chart and go at low tide for the rock pools and a walk along the shore; at high tide there's hardly room to lie down.
Be careful
Rocky bottom in places – water shoes help; swim in the pools at low tide.
Getting there
On Route 160 between Sámara and Garza (Nosara side); follow the turn to the Barco Quebrado community down to the beach.
Places nearby
- Soda La PerlaSodas & Local FoodFamily-run soda a few streets from Sámara beach with a loyal local following: big casados, ceviche and fried fish at fair prices in a cozy, no-frills room.
- El Lagarto BBQFood & CoffeeA long-time Sámara classic at the northern end of the beach: open-air tables and steak, chicken and seafood cooked on a big wood-fired grill, served with baked potato and vegetables.
- Mar y Fuego Pizzería & RestauranteFood & CoffeePizza and seafood place near the beach: sourdough pizzas from a wood oven, tuna poke, lobster tacos and fish straight off the grill, with live music some nights.
- Samara Adventures (Nosara Adventures)Tours & Adventure · takes 3 h–4 h · from $52Tour and transport company in Sámara and Nosara offering kayaking, snorkeling, surf lessons, zipline and horseback tours on the Nicoya Peninsula.
- Las Olas Beach Bar (Sámara)Food & CoffeeA locally owned, rustic hangout with tables right on the sand at the northern end of Sámara beach: tacos, burritos, burgers, sushi and pasta, happy hour 4–6 p.m., and live music, open jams and karaoke nights.
- Restaurante Agua DulceSodas & Local FoodCosta Rican food done a notch up, in the middle of Sámara across from the Palí supermarket: gallo pinto, casados, ceviche, patacones and rice dishes, fresh fruit smoothies, and olla de carne on Sundays.
Sources: OpenStreetMap relation/6924643 · Wikidata Q23746670 · https://mytanfeet.com/costa-rica-beach-information/playa-barco-quebrado/ · https://ict.go.cr/flipbook/guias/flip-en/GUIA_GUANACASTE_SUR/files/basic-html/page35.html · https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/6924643