Palo Verde National Park – Guide to Visiting
Palo Verde National Park is located along the Tempisque River in the northwest part of Costa Rica. It is easily accessible from Guanacaste and the
December 21, 2022 No Comments
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Las Catalinas is unlike anything else you will find in Costa Rica. To give you a little background, the Catalinas property was purchased by a businessman from the United States named Charles Brewer.
Brewer was interested in the idea of New Urbanism and decided to construct Las Catalinas around these principals.
New Urbanism is a an urban planning technique that revolves around creating walkable towns or neighborhoods. These towns typically have a town center with all dwellings located within a five minute walk. There is a focus on having pedestrian only streets in the town center with cars only allowed on the outskirts.
So, anyway, that is how Las Catalinas is set up. The town square has a few restaurants, public restrooms, a pre-school, and maybe more businesses will be added soon. This square is located just in front of the beach, making it easy to access.
In my opinion, the buildings have a Mediteranean style.
Las Catalinas is located in the Guanacaste Province north of the beach town of Playa Flamingo and south of Playas del Coco.
From the Liberia International Airport it only takes a little over an hour to drive here.
Liberia International Airport in Liberia
Go diving, relax on the beach, take a catamaran tour, explore the nearby towns and beaches
walk in the downtown area and Rental car for day trips
Dry season is from late December until mid-April. We think that May – July is the best time to visit because everything starts to turn green again and you should really only have an hour or so of rain per pay.
The weather in Las Catalinas can be roughly divided into two seasons: the dry season and the green season.
The dry season typically runs from December to April. During this time you can expect clear blue skies, low humidity, and temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (24-29°C).
Sometimes there might be a light breeze (especially in December and January.
In March and April there are sometimes forest fires because everything gets so dried out.
In contrast, the green season, also known as the rainy season, occurs from May to December.
The start of rainy season means warm weather and the occasional afternoon rain storm that will roll in around 2pm and last for an hour or two.
From August until November you may have heavier rains that last longer, but this area actually tends to stay decently dry all year round.
As of now, there only two resorts located in Las Catalinas. The resort of the accommodation options are available over VRBO as house or condo rentals.
The two resorts are:
Casa Chameleon boasts stunning ocean views, private plunge pools, and exquisite accommodations. The hotel is perfect for honeymooners, couples, and travelers seeking a serene and secluded getaway.
Note: This is an adults-only hotel.
The hotel features spacious and stylish accommodations, world-class dining options, and a wide range of amenities, including a rooftop pool, fitness center, and spa.
Over 2,123 square feet of living space just steps from the beach. With a stylish master suite, two guest bedrooms, and a fully stocked kitchen with upgraded features, this professionally decorated property can comfortably accommodate up to 8 guests. Enjoy ocean views from the terrace with a private dipping pool, and take advantage of the many amenities Las Catalinas has to offer.
This spacious and beautifully decorated 1-bedroom condo offers over 1,100 sq. ft of living space. The open concept design integrates the kitchen, dining, and sitting room. With a landscaped backyard, BBQ, and ground-level entry for easy access, this condo is perfect for those seeking a comfortable and convenient home with no stairs.
Experience the spaciousness of this 2-bedroom condo that sleeps 5, perfect for a family or two couples. We love that there are three terraces which feature views of town, a hammock, and a large BBQ for outdoor gatherings.
This is a luxury-designed two-bedroom home with direct beach access and ocean views in Las Catalinas. This guesthouse, sharing the property with the main house, features a spacious kitchen with a large island and bistro tables, perfect for entertaining. The infinity pool provides a relaxing oasis with shaded and sunny lounging areas overlooking the ocean.
Introducing Casa Teja – a stunning villa boasting 3272 sq. ft of luxurious living space with 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. It can accommodate up to 8 guests. The open-air floor plan integrates the lap pool, ocean-facing front porch, and indoor/outdoor dining and living room, making it easy to relax and entertain.
The views here are amazing! This beautiful 4-bedroom house is perfect for accommodating up to 12 guests. There is a covered BBQ terrace, infinity-edge pool, and heated spa, providing ample seating and stunning views for your ultimate relaxation and entertainment.
Whoever did the entire design of this house is absolutely amazing. This home features six bedroom and seven bathrooms. It can sleep up to 14 guests. Relax and unwind on the rooftop terrace with a cozy fire table and star-gazing pool, take a refreshing dip in the plunge pool with comfortable seating, dine and lounge in style at the oceanfront alfresco area, or retreat to the tranquil library for some quiet downtime. And the best part? The beach is just a 15-second walk down the trail from the front of the home.
This exquisite home boasts 7 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, with ample space to comfortably sleep up to 20 guests. Created by the merging of two homes, Casa Mar and Casa Sol, this unique property offers a pool courtyard at its center with a poolside lounge, shaded cabana, and plenty of space for kids and adults to gather and create lasting memories.
The main house boasts three luxurious bedrooms with private baths and spacious wraparound porches. The infinity-edge pool and BBQ area provide the ideal setting for sunbathing and cocktails, while the guest house features two more bedrooms, including a king bedroom with courtyard access and a bunk bed room with a terrace overlooking the ocean.
Some condo and villa rentals offer access to the Las Catalinas Beach Club included in the nightly price and some places require you to pay an additional daily fee if you would like access to the beach club. This is around $15 per person per day.
The beach club offers:
– A private beachfront
– A 25 meter lap pool
– A kids pool
– An adults-only lounging pool and hot plunge pool
– sun loungers and umbrellas
– A restaurant and bar services
– A fitness center
– Organized activities such as yoga classes and beach games
Basically, it serves as a hub for socializing, relaxation, and recreation in Las Catalinas.
There are only a handful of restaurants in Las Catalinas. But, as construction is ongoing, I’m sure new places will be added soon.
So, I included the few places in Las Catalinas that I recommend as well as some places located in Playa Potrero (about a 10 minute drive away).
This restaurant features sweeping views of the Pacific Coast. It is located in the Casa Chameleon hotel in Las Catalinas. We suggest going here for an early dinner to enjoy the sunset. Everything is great here, but I suggest opting for whichever fresh fish they are currently offering.
If you are a bit of a food snob, go here. This is a cozy kitchen experience in which all food is created by Chef Gil in front of you. The menu is always changing based on what is fresh that day. The experience can be as interactive as you would like it to be. Just make sure you make reservations.
Luxury castle views of the Pacific Coast while enjoying a delicious meal, what more could you want? The hosts, Erica and Marco will take great care of you and produce an excellent dining experience.
A beautiful restaurant located next to the beach in Las Catalinas. This is a good place for meat or fish.
Our go-to dinner choice in Playa Potrero. I suggest ordering the Pargo Entero (whole red snapper) and a cocktail. They have an extensive drink menu and the bartenders know what they are doing.
Consistently excellent Italian food. I usually opt for the pizza, but their pasta is also on point. Just note that this place seems to always be super crowded so make a reservation if you can.
Located in Las Catalinas, this is a good place for cafe style food with ocean views. They serve a variety of breakfast options, acai bowls, burgers, lunch bowls, and more. I definitely suggest getting a cold pressed juice or smoothie on a hot day.
Located in Potrero, this is a great place for a rotating menu of craft beer which they brew themselves. They also often have live music and it’s just an overall great environment.
A cafe that is open for breakfast and lunch in Playa Potrero. They serve great sandwiches on fresh ciabatta bread.
Great place for no frills typical Costa Rican food. They are only open from 7:00 until 3:00pm so head here for a gallo pinto breakfast or casado for lunch.
Bug Spray – The second the sun goes down the mosquitos come out in full force. Don’t forget, aerosol cans are not allowed in luggage, so bring spray in a normal spray bottle.
Sun Protection – Costa Rica is not too far from the equator. The UV index here is high! We suggest bringing a wide brimmed hat, UV protecting shirts, and of course high SPF sunscreen.
A Rain Jacket – If traveling during rainy season you might have some rainy afternoons. We like to bring a lightweight jacket because even when it rains it stays hot!
…for more packing tips check out our complete packing list for women and our packing list for men.
– If you are not staying at Las Catalinas but would like to visit the beach here, there is a public parking lot. I believe it costs 1,000 colones to park.
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