Discover Costa Rica's Wildlife With an ICT-Certified Nature Guide

Explore mangroves, forests, rivers, and turtle nesting beaches with Berny – one of Sámara's most experienced naturalist guides.

View Tours Book Now



Top-Rated on Tripadvisor



5-Star Reviews



ICT Certified Nature Guide



Wildlife Photos included

Most Popular Tours

Officially certified by the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), nature guide Berny brings his deep knowledge and passion for the local wildlife and ecosystems to every tour, ensuring an authentic and educational experience.

Turtle Arribada Season Has Begun!

Witness one of Costa Rica’s most extraordinary wildlife events as thousands of sea turtles nest along the Pacific coast.

Book your Turtle Watching Tour →

turtle watching near me

3-4 hrs, $55 or $80/p

plus 13% VAT

FIRST-CLASS SEA TURTLE WATCHING

Ready to witness the circle of life on one of the world’s prime turtle nesting beaches and be captivated by nature’s authentic wonders?

birdwatching costa rica samara

4 hrs, $80/person

plus 13% VAT

BIRD WATCHING BLISS IN COSTA RICA

Did you know that Costa Rica hosts over 900 bird species? Ready to explore the stunning flora and fauna, and encounter some of the most incredible birds?

nature hikes samara costa rica

2.5 hrs, $50/person

plus 13% VAT

NATURE WALK TO SECRET SPOTS

Are you up for exploring and spotting the area’s diverse animal species using a spotting scope?

kayak snorkeling tour costa rica

4 hrs, $70/person

plus 13% VAT

KAYAKING & SNORKELING TO ISLA CHORA

Ready for a paddling adventure? Explore the vibrant reef through snorkeling and encounter diverse marine life.

Happy Nature Tour Explorers

Customer Reviews

Denise Desmarais

2 years ago

A few weeks before we left home, we set up a half-day birding tour in the Samara area. Bernie picked us up at our hotel at 5:45 am and took us to a few birding hotspots in the area. The first stop was the most productive, probably because it was early and the birds were still active. Bernie was amazingly skilled at spotting them and then setting up his scope quickly so that we could have a better look. He also gave us a bit of a tutorial about the birds of Costa Rica and about birding in general. He was knowledgeable and professional and keen to find birds that would be of interest to northerners like us. It was a great morning and we were very happy with the many beautiful birds we saw. Because we opted for the half day tour, we didn’t stray too far from our home base, but Bernie offers a whole array of tours for those who would like to venture further afield. He is highly recommended.

2 years ago

Berny and his colleagues were very organized, and professional. They personalized our family outings and went over and above our expectations. We highly recommend trusting him to make your Costa Rican vacation a memorable one.

2 years ago

We did four tours with Berny and Nature Tours Samara, two of which Berny organized as private tours for just the two of us. All of the tours were well-organized, on time, and exceeded our expectations. Berny is very knowledgeable, thoughtful, and honest. We learned a lot about the dry forest of the area and the animals living in this special ecosystem, and Berny was able to answer any questions we had. On our way to the Macaw Recovery Network, Berny spotted baby turtles leaving their nest to the ocean, and we were able to stop and witness this delightful scene. Such a highlight! Berny also made sure to book us the best date based on the tides, the moon, and the turtle nesting cycle, and we were able to see 3 nesting Olive Ridley turtles laying their eggs. I highly recommend Berny and Nature Tours Sámara!

2 years ago

Berny and his driver picked up my wife and I from our hotel at 6:30 am to take us on a nature walk through the dry forest very near Samara. Berny has an amazing ability to notice/find creatures that are naturally well camouflaged and that we never would otherwise see. A rare white bat hanging on the underside of a tree leaf many meters overhead, a beautiful butterfly that was perched on a branch almost indistinguishable from the natural leaves and many colorful birds. Berny explained the unique characteristics of many trees and plants in the forest - he is clearly very knowledgeable and has a genuine interest in showing people the beautiful world of the local dry forest.

2 years ago

December 2024 Berny is a passionate and knowledgeable naturalist who seems to relish sharing his world of native flora and fauna. All our communications with him (online and WhatsApp) were efficient, timely and communicated in perfect English - though he was patient with our amateur attempts at Spanish. On the Nature Walk tour, he was as excited to spot a "local" as we were - and then could tell us all about it, helped us take photos. He encouraged us to make the longer trip to Ostional for the turtle arribada and it was the highlight of a lifetime. You can't go wrong with Berny at your side!

Heidi McEllistrem

2 years ago

We had an excellent tour with Bernie! He was very attentive to our needs- picked us up at our hotel, taught us about the natural environment around Samara, and ended our hike with fruit and juice . It was a great way to begin our time in Samara! Thank you Bernie!

2 years ago

We did a morning tour of a mass turtle egg laying event at Ostional. Berny was super knowledgeable and friendly. The Olive Rippey turtles were incredible! We saw thousands come up onto the beach. Berny walked us through the whole process, too, and taught us the hows and whys of what we were seeing. Fantastic tour!

Ashley Fairleigh

2 years ago

Berny was so knowledgeable and responsive to everything we asked about our excursions. He is proficient in English and Spanish and gave us details about the rich history, culture, and environment of Costa Rica. He customized our trips based on our travel style and each experience was unique to our goals for experiencing Costa Rica. He was amazing and was the number one contributor of our phenomenal experience in Costa Rica!

Ready to Explore Costa Rica’s Wildlife with Berny?

Experience Costa Rica’s wildlife with one of Sámara’s most trusted local guides.

About Berny – CERTIFIED NATURE GUIDE

His enthusiasm for nature and wildlife is truly infectious!

Founded in 2018 by local entrepreneur Berny Castillo, Nature Tours Samara stems from his deep-rooted passion for nature and the stunning local landscapes. Offering an array of adventures, from mountain hikes and kayaking to full-day or overnight excursions, our tours enhance your Sámara Beach vacation.

Every tour booking is linked to tree planting. You can even Sponsor a Tree!

Ready to discover more of Sámara and Costa Rica? Book today with Berny!

nature tours samara berny

What are you waiting for?

Explore exotic and beautiful places in Costa Rica with us and make your Sámara Beach vacation unforgettable.

Book your nature tour today