Santarena Hotel at Las Catalinas

Property, rooms and staff were great. Notably the service staff in the restaurants. Very friendly and helpful. Beautiful beach area however access to the water is limited by ground rocks.

This was our first time here and third to CR. We loved the property and wished we had more time to enjoy the amenities. It’s quiet compared to Playa Flamingo but for our last night couldn’t ask for better. The sunset views at the top of the hill were stunning. Service was one of the best we had from the moment we opened the car door to the time we checked out. Highly recommend! Cute quiet area to stroll through. Not lively but nice choices for food and drinks for an intimate setting at the beach. We’ll be back for longer.

My husband and I recently stayed at Santarena Hotel in Las Catalinas, and it was exactly what we were looking for. What impressed us most was that the excellent service began before we even arrived. The staff contacted us through text and WhatsApp to confirm our arrival details, ask about transportation, and make sure everything was ready for our stay. We felt welcomed before we ever left home. The hotel is beautiful, immaculately clean, and just steps from the beach. We stayed in Room 403, which had a stunning ocean view and was only a few steps from the infinity pool overlooking the water. Sitting on the balcony listening to the waves became one of our favorite parts of the trip. The staff was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable throughout our stay. We also loved the made-to-order breakfast each morning and enjoyed watching iguanas, tropical birds, monkeys, and other wildlife while we ate. The community is very walkable, with restaurants, shops, activities, and other conveniences nearby. What we loved most was the peaceful atmosphere. We wanted a place to relax, recharge, and enjoy nature, and Santarena delivered. As a final touch, the hotel even provided a snack bag and bottled water for our trip home. It was a thoughtful ending to a wonderful stay. My husband and I have already agreed that when we return to Costa Rica, Santarena will be our home base.

Just a heads up that this is not a typical hotel experience. The property feels more like a quiet, underdeveloped residential area than a full-service hotel, which may or may not be what you’re looking for. There were very limited services and amenities, and whenever we asked staff for help, they often seemed confused or unsure how to assist. It felt less like hospitality and more like we were inconveniencing them, which was disappointing—especially given that we were there for our honeymoon. The hotel itself is nice enough and the rooms are clean, but the overall experience didn’t match expectations. The property was nearly empty during our stay (we only saw a couple of other guests), yet we were given a city-facing room instead of an ocean view. When we asked if there were other options, we were told the hotel was fully booked, which didn’t align with what we were seeing. The broader development also felt a bit unusual—very quiet, somewhat sterile, and lacking the character or energy you might expect in a destination like Costa Rica. Overall, it’s not a bad place, but it’s important to set expectations before booking.