[NEW] THE BLOG

The Future of Car-Free Towns and Cities

catalinaslas@gmail.com (Las Catalinas) — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT

Revitalizing Urban Living: The Promise of Car-Free Cities

As the urban landscape expands, so does the escalating traffic congestion, and a growing chorus of urban planners and environmental advocates are advocating for a shift toward car-free cities. Forward-thinking cities and towns, like Las Catalinas, are making a concerted effort to put public transportation, cycling, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure at the forefront of their development strategies in creative new ways.

Desayuno Típico: The Costa Rican Breakfast

Santarena Hotel — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 06:00:00 GMT

Desayuno Típico is the typical Costa Rican breakfast, a simple, healthy meal that can be found in sodas and homes around the country. Much like the casado, there are regional variations, but the staples of the meal are gallo pinto, fruit, fried plantains, eggs any style, and usually a grain like bread or corn tortilla with a spread like natilla.

Add in a cup of local coffee prepared traditional style, and frescos from fruit picked around the home, and you have a meal that forms a staple of the Costa Rican diet.

Best Homes in Las Catalinas to Train and Recover

Santarena Hotel — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 06:00:00 GMT

Picadillo de Turno, a Classic Costa Rican Meal to Cook At Home

Santarena Hotel — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 06:00:00 GMT

One of the many ways to embrace a place is through its cooking. For example, a meal out at a local restaurant or at a friend’s home provides a glimpse into the recipes, common ingredients, cooking style, and dining traditions of a place. Another way to embrace this local cooking is by taking it a step further and preparing a traditional dish yourself.

4 Costa Rican Animals to Spot during Dry Season in the Reserve

Santarena Hotel — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 06:00:00 GMT

Dry season brings quite a few changes to the behavior of animals in the tropical dry forest of Guanacaste, who must respond to the differences in availability of foliage and water.

Building a Beautiful Place to Live, and Why That Matters

Santarena Hotel — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 06:00:00 GMT

Part of the founding vision of Las Catalinas was to create a place that would be beautiful. Beauty can be hard to quantify or measure, but the effect that a beautiful town or city can have on the people who live there can be very tangible. People are happier. They’re more active, and spend more time outside. Beautiful places tend to foster artistic and creative work, which provides a source of life and growth.

The Season of Giving in Guanacaste

Santarena Hotel — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 06:00:00 GMT

December is a naturally festive season in many parts of the world, with a number of holidays from many cultures taking place towards the year’s end. This time of year is also traditionally known as a season of giving, and an opportunity to make meaningful contributions to those in the community.

Bringing Your Bike to Costa Rica

Santarena Hotel — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 06:00:00 GMT

As many cyclists know, the search for the right bicycle and components is a long and personal process. Brakes, handle bars, gear system, frame materials, pedals, saddle, shock absorbers, and wheels of your bike all need to be carefully chosen, tested, and adjusted until they’re just right.

LA Yoga Lists Las Catalinas as A Top Sustainable Destination

Santarena Hotel — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 06:00:00 GMT

LA Yoga’s recent issue lists Las Catalinas as a top location for travelers seeking an environmentally and socially sustainable destination. The article by Jessica Blotter presents that many travelers want to positively impact the destinations they visit, and explains that there's a significant potential for travelers to do so.

A Guide to Surfing in Guanacaste

Santarena Hotel — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 06:00:00 GMT

A while back, the swell and the tides lined up nearly perfectly with the dawn hours to create a trifecta of prime conditions for surfing in the area. According to Magic Seaweed’s Playa Grande forecast (a good reference point for swell across the Guanacaste Coast), swell started firing on Thursday morning. From there, wave action nearly doubled from 1m up to nearly 2.5m by Friday and Saturday, fading down closer to 1.5m by the end of the weekend and back down below 1m by Sunday morning.