Nestled along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in the Guanacaste province, Las Catalinas is an exciting new beach town on the Guanacaste coast of Costa Rica.
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This unique community emerged as the visionary project of entrepreneur Charles Brewer-CarÃas. With a background in real estate, tourism, and environmental conservation, Brewer-CarÃas aimed to create more than just a coastal development.
Las Catalinas – A Unique Community
He envisioned a master-planned community that seamlessly integrated luxury living with sustainability and environmental responsibility. The vision for Las Catalinas includes creating a close-knit community where residents can live, work, and play in a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing environment. Since the idea was born in 2006, Las Catalinas beach town has sprung to life on the shores of Playa Danta.
Today, Las Catalinas reflects a commitment to preserving the region’s natural beauty, emphasizing responsible land use and architecture that harmonizes with its surroundings.
Driven by strong values of sustainability, balance, and community from the New Urbanism movement, Las Catalinas has quickly become one of the most unique beach towns in Costa Rica.
The beach community boasts car-free streets, making Las Catalinas safe for walking and exploring on foot without loud traffic around every corner. Backed by over 1,000 acres of dry forest, rocky coastal outcrops, and beaches around every corner, the community seeks to embrace the natural environment and welcome people from all over the world to experience a new way of life.
Welcoming permanent residents and visitors alike, Las Catalinas is growing into a great destination to add to your Costa Rica itinerary. Having visited Las Catalinas a few times during our recent trips, we wanted to share a bit more about this special community.
So, let’s dive in!
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Best Time to Visit Las Catalinas
Our favourite time to explore Guanacaste is in the shoulder season, particularly the months of November- December and April- May.
This is the time when the weather in Costa Rica transitions between the dry season and the rainy season. It’s when we find the area to be at its best. It’s green, lush, and not scorching hot.
Temperatures tend to peak in the dry season from January-March, when you can expect average temperatures to be around 35℃ (95℉). This is also peak tourism season, characterized by higher prices and crowded beaches.
The rainy season starts in late May and runs until November. However, in Guanacaste province, the rainiest months tend to be September and October, when you can expect almost 100 inches of rain each month. Outside of these months, the rain brings a nice reprieve and usually only lasts a few hours in the afternoon.
How to Get to Las Catalinas
The closest international airport to Las Catalinas is Liberia International Airport (LIR), which offers direct international flights from a variety of destinations in the US and Canada.
It takes just over an hour to drive from Liberia airport to Las Catalinas.
Otherwise, San José International Airport (SJO), closer to Costa Rica’s capital, is about a 4-hour drive from Las Catalinas.
There are no direct public transport links to Las Catalinas, but you could take a bus from Liberia to Potrero and then jump into a taxi for the short drive to Las Catalinas up the coast.
Las Catalinas also offers a town concierge service and can arrange shuttle transfers to and from the airport. This is one of the few destinations in Costa Rica that you can visit without renting a car, as it has everything you need for a short holiday stay.
To explore further and have the flexibility to go on day trips, you’d need to rent a car.
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Things to Do in Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
It’s easy to pass the time in Las Catalinas beach town, even when not doing much at all. Enjoy the town, stroll the streets, sit at cafes, explore the beaches, or take a short hike.
There are plenty of relaxing things to do in Las Catalinas.
Enjoy the Beach or go for a Paddle at Danta Beach
Stretched out in front of Las Catalinas is Playa Danta. This beautiful beach has white sand backed by the tropical dry forest with rocky outcrops on either end, sheltering the beach from big waves. Spend a day enjoying the beach, catching waves, sunrays and easygoing vibes. It’s a great spot for swimming and is particularly popular with families visiting Las Catalinas.
If you want something a bit more active, there are activities on offer. Playa Danta is a perfect spot for paddle boarding, snorkelling, and boogie boarding.
For more seclusion, you can also hike over the headland to the north and reach Playa Dantita, which is a smaller, quiet bay with a beautiful beach worth exploring.
Explore Hiking and Biking Trails
As part of the wellness influence of the community, Las Catalinas now offers over 42 kilometres (26 miles) of maintained trails. There are multi-purpose trails for walking, bike riding, and running, as well as designated hiking trails.
Keen riders can utilize over 22 kilometres (13.6 miles) of single-track mountain biking trails with views over the Guanacaste coast. If you didn’t bring a bike along on your trip, you can rent a mountain bike and even do lessons for beginners with the team at Pura Vida Ride.
If you prefer to be on foot, there are also five world-class hiking trails traversing the waterfront and heading up to viewpoints overlooking the coast with the chance to watch seabirds. A trail map is available online.
Join a Fitness Class
Want to stay active while on holiday? No problem. Core by Chak Fitness offers a range of classes, from power yoga to kickboxing, in a beautiful outdoor gym on the beachfront in Las Catalinas.
Depending on how long you’re hanging around town, there are daily, weekly or monthly passes available, with additional programs and challenges throughout the year.
The schedule and outdoor gym hours tend to change depending on the season, so be sure to check their website before you arrive.
Relax at the Beach Club
If the beach is a little monotonous and busy for your liking, Las Catalinas Beach Club combines luxury with outdoor living. Overlooking the ocean, it features recreational facilities for relaxation, indulgence and movement.
There’s a family-friendly lap pool, adults-only infinity pool and hot plunge pool, with plenty of poolside seating on sun lounges. Spend the day enjoying the spectacular ocean views, with dining available at the onsite restaurant and a cocktail bar for happy hour.
Go for a Sunset Sail
Want to get out on the water? Hop aboard a catamaran at sunset every Wednesday to soak up the views of the surrounding area and take part in a range of water sports, including snorkelling, kayaking or paddleboarding.
As the sun sets, sit back on the deck and savour complimentary snacks, including fish ceviche, chicken wraps, guacamole, and pico de gallo.
Horseback Riding
Another great way to experience Las Catalinas location is on horseback. Saddle up one of the happy and healthy horses at La Estancia and, together with a local guide, set off to explore the nature path of untouched tropical forest all the way to a Pacific Ocean viewpoint. The route finishes at Sugar Beach, known by the locals as Playa Pan de Azúcar.
At the end of the 90-minute ride, you can enjoy a locally sourced organic refreshment.
Fishing Charter
Whether you are new to fishing or consider yourself a fishing enthusiast, you can join a fishing charter run by ConnectOcean, an award-winning sustainable fishing operator. Their charters set out from Playa Flamingo (less than 10km out of town) and offer an opportunity to learn sustainable fishing and traditional handline methods.
Whatever you catch will be brought to the beachside restaurant Estero Azul, where you can help the chef prepare the fish in a hands-on experience, following pre-Hispanic culinary styles. It’s guaranteed to be one of the most delicious and rewarding seafood meals of your trip.
READ NEXT: Diving in Catalinas Islands, Costa Rica
Restaurants in Las Catalinas
Speaking of meals, there’s a surprisingly great variety of restaurants and bars in Las Catalinas, and the list grows monthly. Each one offers its own spin on gastropub fare, Mediterranean cuisine, and seafood delicacies. Here are a few to keep an eye on during your visit.
Papagayo Brew House: Located on Plaza Mercado, this brewhouse offers cold Papagayo craft beers on tap, along with world-class cocktails and casual bites. It’s one of the more casual options for dinner in town.
Celeste: Overlooking Playa Danta, this beachfront restaurant serves delicious cocktails and upscale gastropub fare, ideal for a sunset meal and drink.
Ponciana: Located next to Pura Vida Ride, this stylish Mediterranean-inspired restaurant offers fresh meals, with pizza being the real highlight. Sit outside in the warm sun and enjoy cocktails from the bar or a glass of wine.
La Taqueria: Located at the Beach Club, this great spot offers Mexican bites poolside with views over the ocean. The menu is focused on fresh and healthy appetizers, sandwiches, tacos, ceviches, and salads.
Cuatro Calle la Ronda: An all-day bakery inside Santarena Hotel that offers breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Choose from sweet and savoury baked goods, like pastries and cakes, along with juices and coffee.
Pots and Bowls: A pretty outdoor cafe with a focus on healthy and delicious food to start your day right. They make excellent cold-pressed juices and cooked breakfast options all day.
Sentido Norte: Located inside Casa Chameleon, this open-air restaurant and bar is perfect for sunset time with breathtaking views of the coast. The menu is inspired by local food, with fresh seafood and native ingredients.
La Pampa Grill: Another offering by Casa Chameleon Hotel, this grill restaurant focuses on slow-cooked farm-to-table feasts with a Costa Rican twist. One for your meat-loving friends.
Coquelicot: The best option for a sweet pick-me-up in the afternoon, this shop serves mouthwatering Belgium waffles and artisan ice cream.
Where to Stay
The community at Las Catalinas is made up of a mix of holiday homes and permanent residences. It’s worth noting that this town is nothing like any other town in Costa Rica but more like a gated community (without the gates), welcoming to locals and visitors alike.
Accommodation in town is split between vacation rentals and hotels. The vacation rentals are plentiful, and most are on the high end, offering stunning views of Catalinas Islands and the Pacific Coast.
There are also a couple of lovely, incredible, sustainable luxury hotels from the Las Catalinas ollection.
Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas
One of the outstanding resorts in Costa Rica, Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas is an award-winning luxury hotel with an unrivalled view of the beach and coastline below.
Designed with a very open-air feel, this hotel is about the stunning views with sun lounges and an infinity pool overlooking the sea. Each of the 21 villas features its very own saltwater plunge pool, private terrace, king-sized bed, and organic, locally produced toiletries.
Santarena Hotel
Another star of the bunch in Las Catalinas is Santarena Hotel, located right in the middle of Beach town. This mid-range hotel was designed to pay homage to old mansions of Latin coastal cities like Havana and Cartagena.
The multistorey white building features private terraces, Cuban-style tiles and decorations, and dark wooden furniture. The hotel offers a range of suites and rooms with king beds, spacious bathrooms and locally sourced amenities. Plus, the incredible sea views from the pool make it an inviting place to spend the day relaxing.
