Autumn in Costa Rica’s Las Catalinas is the perfect time to enjoy shoulder season savings while having fun and helping the environment all at the same time. Las Catalinas is a car-free, emerging beach resort on Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Coast, with 90 residences, four restaurants and a beach club set on 21 acres.
Courtesy of Las Catalinas
Accommodations range from a variety of vacation rentals for short or long-term stays, including apartments and villas, all fully staffed.
Families can enjoy two pristine and safe beaches as Las Catalinas — Playa Danta and Playa Dantita — where the waves are gentle and instructors and gear are available for a variety of water sports.
Courtesy of Las Catalinas
Popular options include body surfing, boogie boarding, snorkeling, sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, as well as scuba diving. Surfers can hang 10 at Playa Grande, Witch’s Rock, and other famous nearby surf breaks by arrangement with the concierge.
The resort’s Beach Club boasts separate adult and kiddie pools, a fitness center, hot tub and all-day dining.
Courtesy of Las Catalinas
There are also nearly 14 miles of trails you and the kids can explore on foot or on mountain bikes — equipment and trail maps are available for guests — and where you might spot monkeys, deer, wild hogs and a variety of exotic birds.
Eventually, the number of residences is expected to double, and there will be 10 restaurants and more than a dozen plazas and stores when the current development project is complete. You don’t have to wait to enjoy the stores already open, however, which include Pura Vida Ride, ConnectOcean, d’Aqui Interiors, WAKE Day Spa, La Pula design shop and Las Catalians Collection.
Courtesy of Las Catalinas
Even more impressive is the array of walkable public spaces featuring a mix of nature and architecture for easy indoor-outdoor living.
The core idea behind the project, in addition to offering visitors sun, sea and beautiful views, is environmental stewardship, connection to one another and to the rhythms of nature. This fall, Las Catalinas is celebrating green season with serious savings on all resort accommodations through Nov. 23, with rates typically 15–20 percent lower during this period. For example, a two-bedroom apartment is priced at $300, down from $350; a three-bedroom home from $900 to $800; a four-bedroom home from $1,250 to $950; and a deluxe room at the Santarena Hotel from $375 to $315.
Las Catalinas, Pablo Cambronero.
Planning a vacation for next year? A new Center of Joy wellness center will open in March 2020 offering fitness classes and various physical and healing therapies, along with instructors, workshops and other special events. In the meantime, you can enjoy yoga on the beach or join in exercise classes designed for the whole family.
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