Santarena Hotel at Las Catalinas

Santarena Hotel is at the heart of the 1,000-acre car-free town of Las Catalinas, nestled between tree-laden hillsides on a crescent slip of beach. The tropical dry forest includes 25 miles of world-class hiking and biking, all at your doorstep. Designed as a beachfront urban resort, Andrina Fonseca created interiors inspired by the 1960s “gentleman surfer” from Europe infused with a tropical twist. Forty-five contemporary guest rooms wrap around an open-air courtyard, evoking the feel of a traditional hacienda. A refreshing sea-view rooftop pool and lounge to appreciate some of the most amazing Costa Rican sunsets crown the hotel, while an all-day bakery and ground-floor restaurant facing the beach, act as a congregation point for a casual meal or sophisticated dinner. After spending the day in a bikini and flip-flops, guests can freshen up and slip into a pair of heels for a proper cocktail at the antique-gold lobby bar. In addition to the hotel’s restaurants, there are over eight different specialty dining options available in town. Across all guestrooms & suites, a crisp, linear design infuses a contemporary sensibility accented by sleek-yet-mellow touches conceived to promote restoration. Directly across from the hotel, is a state-of-the-art wellness center with a meditation room, yoga and movement studio, as well as a range of alternative therapies from chakra balancing to sound healing. Up the street, Wake Day spa is a peaceful refuge to indulge in a beauty or body treatment including hot stone and mineral salt massages and scrub and wrap combos. Playa Danta lies less than 100 feet from your hotel room. Easy drives can also be taken to nearby Playa Penca, Playa Flamingo is 6 miles from the hotel, Playa Conchal is 7 miles away, and Playa Tamarindo is just 18 miles from Las Catalinas. Guests can be at Guanacaste International Airport after a 1-hour scenic drive via the Monkey Trail. Santarena is a proud member of the LIFESTYLE collection by Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand.