A European style village in the middle of the tropics.

Costa Rica has emerged as a beloved travel hotspot! From the United States, it’s just a day’s journey away, making it an affordable travel option. The locals in Costa Rica are known for their strong work ethic and are not as persistent in seeking tips compared to other destinations.

One of the luxury destinations in Costa Rica that has developed over the last decade is the town of Las Catalinas. This area is located on the Pacific coastline in Guanacaste. It is an hour drive from the Liberia airport. Once in the town, there are no vehicles allowed. The village is all very walkable and assessable.

The village is made of of many villas that are available for rent in addition to two main resorts. The town has a European architectural feel. Perfect for pictures.

One of the more private luxury resorts is Casa Chameleon. This hotel is located off the beach on top of the cliffs that overlook the ocean. It has a gorgeous view of the town. There is an all-inclusive option available at this resort. It can be rented out for wedding celebrations or large groups.

The main hotel in the central part of the city is the Santarena Hotel. The hotel is located right on the ocean next to Playa Danta the main beach. They have the one of the highest rated restaurants and bars in Costa Rica. Reservations are recommended. Additional a small bakery is located on the bottom floor and smells fresh and amazing in the mornings. They also have a rooftop pool bar. A very cute atmosphere, but the pool space is small.

The town boasts an array of restaurants that will tantalize any food lover. From tantalizing tapas and refreshing acai bowls to delectable sushi and beyond, it’s a paradise for the palate. To top it off, the local brewery situated opposite the Santarena Hotel offers a delightful escape – nothing beats strolling from the beach to enjoy a laid-back day at the brewery.

Many of the local people live in Las Catalinas full time so there is a nightly curfew at 10pm. The local bars and restaurants all close at that time.

The best thing about Las Catalinas is the activities. This is an adventure lovers paradise. Playa Danta beach has standup paddle board rentals, boogie boards, and different water sports. There is also a local bike shop that offers guided and self guided bike tours through the numerous trails around Las Catalinas and the surrounding hillside.

We were able to go scuba diving a short 15 minute drive away in Playa Flamingo. The dive shop also offered snorkeling tours for people that are not scuba certified. The dive instructors were awesome and made you feel very comfortable. Many of the trips actually visit the islands of Las Catalinas that is a short 45 minute boat ride off shore. These islands are visible from the town. The islands are very rocky have many different schools of fish and even reef shark. During our dive we were lucky enough to see 12 white tip reef shark and a manta ray.

The beach (Playa Danta) is sandy and perfect for swimming in the waves. The oceans was not as chilly as some of the other areas we traveled. There are small beaches scattered around the coastline that you can hike/swim to for a more private feel.

GETTING THERE TIP: The airport shuttle is a little pricey if not traveling with a larger group. It is much more affordable to get a Uber from the local airport. This cost about (45$ USD). We were able to get the Uber driver to pick us up for our return trip. Uber is also a good option if traveling to local towns just outside Las Catalinas. The town Playa Flamingo is a short 15 minute drive down the coastline. It has a ton of smaller local eateries, breweries and shops.

HEADS UP: There are people at the airport that will try and grab your baggage to load/unload for you. They are the only people we found in Costa Rica that are expecting tips. So watch bags and be quick. They will do this without asking. So be ready to pay if they are assisting you.