Isla Chora: the snorkelling island in the mouth of Sámara bay
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Isla Chora is a small island in the mouth of Sámara bay, about 1.5 kilometres by kayak from the eastern end of Playa Sámara. It has a short white shell beach on its landward side and the only worthwhile snorkelling in reach of the town, in the sheltered water between the island and the reef. Go near high tide and stay off the seaward channel, where the current runs out through the reef gap.
Fakta
| Plavání | Klidné — většinu dní bezpečné |
|---|---|
| Trhavé proudy | The strip of water between the island and the reef is sheltered and shallow. The channel on the seaward side is not — the current there runs out through the reef gap. |
| Příliv a odliv | Land and leave near high tide: at low tide the reef between the island and the shore is exposed and a kayak has to go the long way round. |
| Surf | Bez použitelných vln |
| Šnorchlování | Ano |
| Voda | 28 °C |
| Jak se tam dostat | Jen lodí nebo kajakem — Kayak from Playa Sámara — about 40 minutes each way — or on a boat tour from the beach; there is no landing for anything larger |
| Parkování | Park in Sámara and paddle; the kayak operators are on the sand at the eastern end |
| Cesta ze Sámary | 0 min |
| Délka | 0.2 km |
| Písek | White crushed shell and coral fragments |
| Stín | Ano |
| Plavčík | Ne |
| Bandera Azul | Ne |
| Nejlepší měsíce | Feb–Apr, when the water is at its clearest and the bay is flat in the morning |
| Kde to je | Isla Chora, in the mouth of Sámara bay — 1.5 km by kayak from the eastern end of Playa Sámara |
| GPS | 9.87560, -85.51270 |
How do you get to Isla Chora?
By kayak from the eastern end of Playa Sámara — around forty minutes each way for someone who has paddled before — or on one of the boat tours that leave from the same stretch of sand. There is no landing for anything larger, and no way to walk there: at the lowest tides the reef between the island and the shore is exposed, but the channel is not.
Kayak rental is on the beach at the eastern end, near where the Rio Sámara comes out. Most operators will point you at the route rather than simply hand over a boat, which is worth accepting: the paddle out is straightforward, and the way back against an afternoon wind is not.
What is the snorkelling like?
Modest by Caribbean standards and the best thing within an hour of here. The strip between the island and the reef is shallow, sheltered and clear in the dry season, with reef fish, rays over the sand and rock structure to follow. February to April is when the water is at its clearest; in the green season, river run-off puts silt in the bay and there is not much point.
What should you be careful of?
The seaward side. The water between the island and the open Pacific moves out through the gap in the reef and is not somewhere to swim. The other thing is timing: land and leave near high tide, because at low water the reef is exposed and a kayak has to go the long way round the island, into exactly the channel you would rather not be in.
The island is part of a protected area — take everything back out, and leave the shells where they are.
Kde to je
Isla Chora, in the mouth of Sámara bay — 1.5 km by kayak from the eastern end of Playa Sámara
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Frequently asked questions
Can you snorkel at Isla Chora?
Yes — it is the only worthwhile snorkelling within reach of Sámara. The sheltered strip between the island and the reef is shallow and clear in the dry season, with reef fish and rays. Visibility is best from February to April; in the rainy months, river silt in the bay makes it barely worth the paddle.
How long does the kayak to Isla Chora take?
About 40 minutes each way from the eastern end of Playa Sámara, for someone who has paddled before. Go in the morning: the bay is flat before about nine and the afternoon onshore wind makes the return trip considerably harder work.
Can you stay on Isla Chora?
No. It is an uninhabited islet inside a protected area, with no facilities, no shade structure and no landing for larger boats. It is a half-day trip from Sámara and nothing more.
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