Whether you’re strolling through beach towns seeking adventure and fresh ceviche, or investigating the Gold Coast contemplating your next investment, don’t overlook the unique town of Las Catalinas. This beachfront development and boutique hotel sits approximately forty-five minutes north of Playa Tamarindo and one hour west from the Liberia international airport. Las Catalinas is known as one of the most beautiful and important new towns in the world and after your first visit, we’ll bet you agree.
Estimated as a twenty year project, Las Catalinas incorporates the principles of New Urbanism where human connection and environmentalism are priority in design. This concept is accomplished with public plazas, automobile-free streets, shopping boulevards, restaurants, work/study spaces, and marketplaces. Without cars filling the streets, Las Catalinas’ residents enjoy an old-time sense of community, a rarity in today’s world. Because Las Catalinas was designed at scale for biking and walking, homes and buildings make efficient use of space and topography. A walk through town may render thoughts of Antigua in the Carribean, Casco Viejo in Panama, or Vernazza on the Italian coastline.
Of the 1,200 acres encompassing Las Catalinas, only 200 acres are planned for development. The remaining 1000 acres of forest is home to exotic birds, howler monkeys, iguanas, and the odd wild cat. Within the reserve, you’ll find thirty-five kilometers of hiking paths and varying degrees of mountain bike trails offering panoramic ocean views along the way. If you’re into water recreation, you’ll love the crystalline waters offshore for snorkeling, stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, bodysurfing, and more. Las Catalinas is an outdoor athlete’s sanctuary with multiple yearly events that gets the whole town involved.
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Just sightseeing for the day? Dig your toes in the sand under shady almond trees at Limonda, Las Catalinas’ beachside restaurant. Here you’ll enjoy natural lemonades, craft brews, savory burgers, and fresh fish with an ocean view. Follow your lunch by walking the beach or swimming out to the floating wooden dock fifty meters offshore. If you’re looking for a more elegant experience, a yoga class as Casa Chameleon (Las Catalinas’ luxurious boutique hotel) followed by sunset drinks at the onsite, Sentido Norte will commemorate your day in style. Locals will tell you that Senitdo Norte has one of the best ocean views in Guanacaste.
Looking to invest? Las Catalinas has 3 types of real estate currently available for purchase. You’ll find small ocean view lots around 170m2 permitting a three-bedroom home starting at $250K, single-bedroom ocean-view flats around 580 sq. ft. starting at $395K, and elegantly designed 2090 sq ft, four-bedroom houses starting at $695K. Long-term rentals range from $2,000 – $6,000 a month and weekly vacation rentals range from $200 – $1000 nightly. The unique resort town has gained international attention for its small-town vibe, authentic Costa Rican culture, and scenic beauty. In recent years, Las Catalinas has been featured in major publications such as Travel + Leisure, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.
Are properties moving in Las Catalinas? Luxury broker and owner of Tamarindo Real Estate, Grant McLean, recently closed on a four-bedroom ocean view home listed as $1.195 million. This remarkable property pictured below (blue home) was designed by Robert Orr, one of the pioneers of New Urbanism. Robert’s goal in design is creating projects that relate to historical context and, whether rustic or refined, look as though they have always been there. This statement is essentially how Las Catalinas feels.
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If you’re planning a trip to Guanacaste, no matter your intentions, a visit to Las Catalinas is certainly worth your while. There are many developments in Costa Rica’s Gold Coast, but none are quite like Las Catalinas. Thank you for reading and please let us know how we can serve your real estate needs. For more information, please contact Grant McLean at Grant@tamarindorealestate.com