A whole town outside your door
Las Catalinas is a car-free beach town built around a simple idea: the best coastal destination keeps cars out and nature in. Leave your keys behind. From Santarena, you step straight into the town's walkable streets and plazas, with Playa Danta just yards away. Everything else, from restaurants and shops to the beach and the trails, is on foot.
Beach and adventure, built in
Stroll along Paseo del Mar to Playa Danta, where surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, paddleboarding and open-ocean swimming all start from the sand. For more, Pura Vida Ride connects you to guided outdoor adventures on land and at sea, right in town.
26+ miles of trails
Behind the town lies a 950-acre tropical dry forest crossed by 30 mountain biking trails and 25 hiking trails. Routes range from easy shoreline walks to longer climbs with sweeping Pacific views, and they start steps from the hotel. It's one of the most praised parts of a stay in Las Catalinas, and the reason many guests come back.
Wellness, indoors and out
Balance active days with time to recover. Center of Joy offers treatments to unwind and rejuvenate. Add hiking, biking and swimming, and wellness here becomes part of daily life, not a separate appointment.
A real food and social scene
Enjoy ceviche with your toes almost in the sand at Celeste on Plaza Danta, then explore the restaurants and cafés around lively Plaza del Mercado, from Nikkei cuisine and Spanish tapas to artisan gelato and craft beer. See where to eat in town.
A working farm and more
A short drive away, Finca La Estancia adds another side of Guanacaste: horseback riding through the countryside, pickleball, an organic farm and an apiary. Our concierge can arrange your visit.
A town that has come into its own
The first phase of Las Catalinas is complete, with its plazas, beachfront, restaurants, shops and trails now part of an established, lived-in community. The next chapter is already underway as the town grows into its second phase, adding new homes, places to eat and spaces to gather. Guests who come today find a destination that feels finished and full of life, and those who return will find even more to discover.