Massage and Bodywork in Samara, Costa Rica: A Local's Guide (2026)

For a small beach town, Samara has a ridiculous concentration of skilled bodywork practitioners. Part of that is the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy (CRSMT) being based right here — it's trained therapists from around the world since the early 2000s, and a good number of graduates simply never left. You end up with a town where the quality floor is remarkably high.

Whether you've just come off a long flight, your shoulders are wrecked from three days of surfing, or you're looking for something deeper than a spa treatment, here's what's actually available and who to see.

The Practitioners

Acromion Natural Massages — Samara's Most-Reviewed

Acromion is the #1 rated spa on TripAdvisor in Samara for a reason — 75 five-star reviews and counting. Run by Alenka, the team includes several therapists (Mileidy, Nuria, Isa, and others) who each bring something different. You can choose between relaxation and deep tissue, and they're genuinely good at both. The space is in the Natural Center in the heart of town — outdoors, private, with fans and soothing music. It's where most visitors end up, and it's consistently excellent.

Book online or via WhatsApp. They get busy in high season, so booking a day ahead is wise. Great for couples too — they can run simultaneous sessions.

Drift Massage Therapy — Kate

Kate is known for two things: really skilled therapeutic work on land, and her ocean massage. The ocean massage is unique to Samara — Kate supports you in the warm bay water while working on your body. It sounds gimmicky but it's genuinely therapeutic: the warmth and buoyancy of the water allow muscles to release in ways that a table can't replicate. Worth trying at least once, especially if you carry a lot of tension.

Her land-based work is equally strong — customised, responsive, and popular with surfers and active travellers who need focused physical recovery. She works out of Pato's Surf School area.

Contact via WhatsApp.

Alma Tranquila — Michele

Michele brings over two decades of experience from luxury resorts and medical clinics in Colorado, now offered with a more personal, heart-centred approach in Samara. She's not just a massage therapist — she's also a certified health coach and yoga teacher, which means sessions often come with insight beyond the physical work. Good choice if you want someone who sees the bigger picture and can guide you on wellness beyond a single session.

Contact via almatranquilacr.com.

Pura Vida Sound & Touch — Fabricio

If you're drawn to sound healing, Fabricio offers massage combined with sound therapy — singing bowls and other instruments woven into the bodywork. Reviews describe his sessions as transformative and deeply calming. A different experience from a standard massage, and worth exploring if you're open to it.

Laura Waite — Bodywork + Lightwork

Most people know Laura for her morning yoga classes at Intercultura (see my yoga guide), but she's also a deeply experienced bodywork therapist. Her signature offering blends deep tissue and Swedish massage techniques with what she calls lightwork — intuitive energy healing woven into the hands-on work. It's more than a massage but approached through a bodywork lens rather than a purely energetic one.

Laura has been practising for over two decades and working in Samara since 2012. She has a loyal following among both locals and returning visitors who book with her trip after trip. If you want skilled physical work with an energetic dimension from someone who genuinely knows this community, Laura is an excellent choice.

Contact via laurawaite.com or WhatsApp.

Kerry Spalding — Sacred Ceremony & Bodywork

Kerry is in a category of her own. Her work sits at the intersection of deep bodywork and sacred ceremony — sessions run around four hours with no clock, weaving hands-on bodywork with energy work, sound, oracle cards, and whatever else the session calls for. She's raw, real, and deeply intuitive. Her own story — which she shares openly — is one of profound transformation, and that lived experience informs how she holds space.

Kerry also facilitates Bufo ceremonies for those drawn to that path. This is powerful medicine work and not something to approach casually — but for those who feel called, she's experienced, caring, and deeply committed to creating a safe container.

Her session isn't a massage you squeeze into a busy afternoon — it's a full day of deep work. If you're in Samara for transformation rather than relaxation, Kerry is someone to know about.

Contact via WhatsApp at kerryspalding.com.

The CRSMT Student Clinic — The Hidden Gem

Here's something most visitors don't know about: the Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy runs a student clinic called the Samara Massage Center right on campus in central Samara. You get a full massage from an advanced student at a fraction of the professional price, in air-conditioned private treatment rooms. The students are supervised by experienced instructors and are genuinely good — they're mid-training at a world-respected school. It's not a gamble; it's a bargain. They also occasionally offer professional massages from CRSMT alumni.

Sessions are available at set times — check crsmt.com or call the campus for current availability.

Understanding Your Options

If You Want Nervous System Healing Work

Sometimes massage isn't what you need — even a really good one. The tension keeps returning because the pattern holding it is in the nervous system, not the muscle. Or you're carrying something emotional alongside the physical, and no amount of deep tissue is going to reach it.

That's the territory I work in at Holisoma. My Signature session combines hands-on somatic bodywork with conscious breathwork and kundalini activation. The bodywork tracks the nervous system rather than following a set routine — I'm listening for where your body is bracing, where breath is restricted, where energy is held. The breathwork and kundalini activation help move what touch alone can't reach.

It's not massage. It's slower, more responsive, and it often brings up emotion — which is welcomed and supported. Sessions run 90-120 minutes, and the work tends to keep unfolding for days afterward.

Good fit if you're processing a transition, dealing with tension that keeps coming back, or simply feel that something deeper is asking for attention.

Practical Information

Booking

WhatsApp is how Samara works. Most practitioners list their number on Google, TripAdvisor, or their website. Book at least a day ahead during dry season (December-April). Green season is more relaxed — same-day bookings are often possible.

Pricing

Pricing varies quite a bit depending on the practitioner, modality, and session length — Samara has everything from affordable student clinic sessions at CRSMT to Kerry Spalding's full-day ceremonial work. Rather than listing ranges that may be out of date, check directly with whoever you're booking. Most practitioners have pricing on their website or will tell you over WhatsApp. Generally, Samara is more affordable than Nosara or Santa Teresa for equivalent quality.

Most practitioners accept cash. Some accept cards. Ask when booking.

Tipping

Not expected in Costa Rica but appreciated. 10-15% is generous.

Couples Massage

Acromion offer couples sessions. Book in advance during high season.

When to Book During Your Trip

If you're here for a week, I'd suggest a massage in your first couple of days to help your body settle into the tropics, and something toward the end to prepare for the journey home. If you're drawn to deeper work, schedule that for mid-trip — your nervous system needs a few days to acclimatise before it can fully open to somatic or energy work.

One Last Thing

Samara's bodywork community is genuinely collaborative. We know each other's work and refer clients regularly.

Ask any practitioner in town for a recommendation and you'll get an honest answer — even if it means sending you to someone else. That's how small towns work when the practitioners actually care.

For somatic bodywork, breathwork, or kundalini activation at Holisoma: holi-soma.com/book-session or WhatsApp +506 6039 1308.

Badria is the founder of Holisoma, offering somatic bodywork, breathwork, and kundalini activation in Samara, Costa Rica.