March 26, 2019
There’s nothing quite like an excellent trip with your partner. Especially in a busy world, getting away to enjoy time with your significant other can be an exclamation mark to the week, month, or year.
But planning an escape with your partner is easier said than done, and there are a lot of considerations to take care of before a wonderful weekend filled with memories comes to life.
We’ve taken one of the most important considerations -- “so what exactly are we going to do?” -- and compiled a list of some of the best activities to get up to when you’re in Las Catalinas.
Read on to get a taste of what you and your partner can enjoy on your next vacation together.
Sunset Sailing on the Coast
Set sail for an unforgettable evening on a sunset cruise along the Guanacaste coast. As the afternoon winds down, step aboard a local catamaran to enjoy the warm sea breeze and the stunning sights as the sun sets on the region’s Pacific coast.
Enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and watch for dolphins and sea turtles in the surf surrounded by the beauty of Costa Rica’s North Pacific, as you enjoy a blissful trip there and back along the coast.
The highlight of the evening comes just as the sun is setting. With an unfettered view out to the horizon, boats steer upwind and sit completely still except for the gentle motion of the waves, and watch as the sun descends to touch the sea. It’s an experience just as memorable for the first time as the fiftieth, and marks the crowning moment of an excellent evening offshore.
The Northern Beaches
If and your partner feel in the mood for a bit of adventure along the shoreline, your answer just might be an excursion to the Northern Beaches on a Stand-Up Paddle Board.
Stand-Up Paddle, or SUP, offers a satisfying challenge to learn at first -- ten or fifteen minutes to get the hang of the sport and learn the ropes -- followed by rewarding freedom to explore coastal waters.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can set off to the water for an easy paddle along the coastline to the northern beaches, exploring hidden inlets and coves as you cruise along waves alive with rays, turtles, and many other aquatic animals.
There’s little more satisfying than pulling ashore on a beach all your own to sit and watch the waves, enjoying the peace and quiet of nature with your number one.
Sunset Strolls and a Twist
Getting out for a long stroll is a classic partner activity, and a particular favorite for the people of Las Catalinas. Whether you’re taking a sunset promenade or venturing out into the trails, the town and its surroundings offer a variety of options for you and your partner to explore and enjoy.
One particular favorite is a late afternoon stroll down through town and then out onto the shore, as the sky comes alive with color and the warm breeze brings fresh air.
Our recommendation goes one step further though, to really take this trip to the next level. You can stop by town’s gourmet market, Copper & Stone, to get some portable appetizers like charcuterie, fresh fruit, and cheeses – which can be prepared for you ahead of time – and pack up some bubbles to complete your sunset cocktail hour out on the beach, the perfect end to an evening stroll.
And don’t feel confined to the evening. Copper & Stone prepares picnic baskets ideal for morning, noon, and night, complete with breakfast pastries, afternoon sandwiches, or evening delights. Set out onto the trails for a snack in a secluded clearing, or find a peaceful plaza to enjoy the nighttime as well, all on your own two feet.
Cocktails at Santarena
A cocktail on the Santarena Hotel's rooftop terrace is a great way to wrap up a long day of adventure around town.
Relaxing by the hotel’s infinity pool, looking out at the Catalinas Islands as the sun sets, and sharing stories and chatting with travelers from the world are the pinnacle of Santarena’s spirit.
The hotel’s signature gin & tonics are the main event here, but the event also includes a selection of pinchos and other cocktails, the perfect transition into a dinner downstairs at Ponciana, the culinary gem of the Santarena Hotel.
Foraging Your Feast
There’s always going to be a place in the world for an intimate meal at a restaurant together, but Las Catalinas offers a unique dining option that blends a nature walk, cooking class, and homemade meal.
Las Catalinas, like most of Costa Rica, is home to an astounding variety of edible fruits and plants. The trick, however, is finding and identifying them. This is where Gilberto Briceño, local Head Chef and expert on foraged cuisine (among his many other skills).
Drawing from his years of experience foraging in the Andes, the Amazon, and Scandinavia for multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, Briceño has taken his talents back to his home country of Costa Rica, where he has brought the nation’s many colorful fruits and ingredients to life.
For the first part of the trip, set out into the tropical dry forest around town in late afternoon to forage for fruits, plants, and other ingredients, all while learning about the diversity of Costarrican flora. Then, return to town to learn about the preparation of the unique flavors you’ve collected during the day, all while you team up to create a homemade meal available nowhere else in the world.
So, Are You Ready?
Planning a trip with your partner doesn’t need to be difficult, especially around town. Las Catalinas offers a combination of modern convenience, variety of activities, and stunning natural scenery, with a unique character found nowhere else.
So whether you set out for a boat ride into the sunset, cocktails with other adventurous travelers, a trip on the beach, or bring your trip to life in another way, you can be sure to find memories here to last a lifetime.
Make sure to reach out to us if you have any questions. We’re here to help every step of the way as you plan your escape.
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