Santarena Hotel at Las Catalinas

Hotels
9.1 (440 reviews)
Camino Las Catalinas 2 Calle La Ronda , Playa Flamingo , CR

Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Clean rooms
Friendly staff
Beautiful surroundings
Cons:
Limited pool hours
Breakfast quality

Categories

Cleanliness
9.28
Rooms are clean and well-maintained, standard quality for this hotel tier.
Service
9.75
Staff are friendly and accommodating, significantly enhancing the stay experience.
Location
9.79
Perfect location close to restaurants, activities, and beach.
Room Quality
9.24
Rooms are spacious and comfortable with good decor.
Amenities
8.27
Rooftop pool is small and limited hours of service, but generally good amenities.
Value for Money
8.23
Breakfast quality does not match the price point, slightly overpriced.
Food and Beverage
8.78
Restaurant has good food and service, but breakfast options could improve.
Overall Experience
9.45
Overall a wonderful experience with lovely surroundings and friendly people.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2025-12-16 14:02

Property Description

Beachfront Urban Resort with a Tropical Twist

Rooftop Pool and Sea-View Lounge
Enjoy breathtaking Costa Rican sunsets from our refreshing rooftop pool and lounge, the perfect spot to unwind and relax.

Diverse Dining Options
Indulge in a variety of culinary experiences at our all-day bakery, ground-floor restaurant, and nearby specialty dining venues, offering something for every taste.

Wellness and Relaxation
Rejuvenate your body and mind at the state-of-the-art wellness center with meditation room and yoga studio, or pamper yourself at the nearby Wake Day spa for a range of luxurious treatments.

Experience the perfect blend of beachfront luxury and urban sophistication at Santarena Hotel. Book now to immerse yourself in the beauty of Las Catalinas.

Important information:

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: LIR

Location

Guest Reviews

9.1
Based on 440 reviews
Cleanliness: 9.28
Service: 9.75
Location: 9.79
Room Quality: 9.24
Amenities: 8.27
Value for Money: 8.23
Food and Beverage: 8.78
Overall Experience: 9.45
M
Miriam • family_with_children • us
10
A must visited place. Stay 4 days at least to enjoy everything this jewel has to offer
Pros:

Hotel Santarena exceeded our expectations. The location was perfect, across the beach and in the center of the little Las Catalinas town, so we could just step outside the hotel and all the restraurants, coffee shops, bouitique store and the adventure outfit were just steps away. The entire staff was very kind, educated, professional and helpful. The food at the indoor restaurant was delicious with beautiful presentation. The ambience at the restaurant also was very very nice.

Cons:

Nothing. I loved everything about this place

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
P
Philippe • couple • fr
9
2026-08-31 • via Nuitee
A
Anders • family_with_children • cr
9
Pros:

Excellent location right next to the beach

2026-08-28 • via Nuitee
J
Julius • solo_traveller • us
9
It was a very relaxing and fun place to stay
Pros:

Right next to the beach

Cons:

Breakfast included was not offered

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
C
Cesar • family_with_children • cr
4
Gran propiedad, mal staff
Pros:

La ubicación fue muy conveniente para la actividad del Xterra. Cerca de restaurantes, y acceso a la playa. El equipo del Concierge de las Catalinas fueron muy amables, se nota la diferencia vs los empleados del hotel.

Cons:

El staff del restaurante específicamente las host de la noche y la mañana se les podría apoyar con un curso de hospitalidad. Los tratos fueron con indiferencia, falta de cortesía a la gente con equipaje, poca atención para ofrecer alternativas y soluciones.

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
W
Wong • couple • cr
9
Ideal para descansar
Pros:

Ubicación frente al mar

Cons:

La bañera

2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
M
Martin • couple • ch
9
Excellent place at the beach
Pros:

Friendly staff and excellent location at the beach

2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
A
Alejandra • couple • cr
10
Increíble
Pros:

Me encanta

2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
M
Maria • couple • nl
9
2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
D
Dori • couple • il
7
Needs to tighten up management
Pros:

Room was beautiful, pool area is gorgeous. Beautiful wood floors. Lovely towels. Liked the activity we did.

Cons:

Lack of basic information like where the pool is, morning staff in dining room were not “there” ( asked twice for water, no one around for second cup of coffee, was told there is no plain yogurt when I knew there was and after insisting I received it.
Tv remote batteries dead( yea they will come change but who wants to get dressed at 10 pm for that )
Shower head not clean so water didn’t flow well.. general feel of lack of service

2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
A
Alejandra • couple • cr
10
Fue excelente
Pros:

Me encanta

2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
C
Corkern • couple • us
8
Overall, Las Catalinas is visually stunning, be prepared for some isolation.
Pros:

We chose Santarena because of its reputation of Las Catalinas as a luxury beach front destination. The community is beautiful, built on a hillside overlooking the water and designed to resemble an Italian coastal village. I enjoyed exploring the various streets and villas, although at times I believe I was trespassing onto private streets.

The room itself was pleasant and fit the villa style of the community, but it did not feel particularly luxurious. The television never worked during our stay despite staff attempting a repair, and there was no follow-up or alternative offered. Not the end of the world missing a TV for a week.

We also booked a sunset sail through the concierge. After hearing nothing for two days and finding there was no record of our request, we booked the excursion ourselves directly and later received an apology from the hotel. The all inclusive Sunset sail out of Marina Flamingo is worth the sights and time.

Overall the front desk was slow to respond or follow through - I will say that the several times I grabbed an employee directly in the section of the hotel we were staying, they were quick to respond and helpful.

During our stay, a wedding with approximately 200 guests closed the main restaurant and bar for a day. Alternative dining options were offered, and while the reception band played directly across from our room, the music did end promptly at 10 PM.

The rooftop pool was definitely boutique and small, with limited lounge chairs, but nice. While the community is on a beach, it is definitely not a typical resort style beach, it more of a rustic, black lava sand, and full of tree branches. Lots of hiking trails though.

There is a beach club in the community that has a day pass you purchase, which has a few pools, lounge chairs, drinks and food service. Very nice.

There is a local market, but with the isolation be prepared to pay a premium of at least 50% to 300% markup over average USA costs.

Cons:

Overall, Las Catalinas is visually stunning, be prepared for some isolation, although Playa Flamingo is about 20 minutes away by taxi.

For us, while we were grateful for our experience, the community and the architectural style villas. It is limited in shops and restaurants. Las Catalinas has its many positives and certainly worth some research.

2026-07-16 • via Nuitee
G
Grace • couple • gb
10
Pros:

Muy lindo el lugar, el personal súper amable!! Lo recomiendo muchísimo

2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
G
Grace • couple • gb
10
2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
H
Hutchinson • solo_traveller • us
10
Excellent service and hospitality
Pros:

The people and service were incredible.

2026-07-08 • via Nuitee
B
Bruna • solo_traveller • br
8
2026-07-01 • via Nuitee
T
Tomás • couple • cr
10
Muy bonito
Pros:

Todo

2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
N
Natalie • couple • us
10
Our stay at Santanera was truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and cared for, but what made
Pros:

What I loved most about this hotel was how peaceful and beautifully designed everything was. The property is stunning, with incredible views, thoughtful architecture, and a relaxing atmosphere that made it easy to unwind. The rooms were comfortable, clean, and well-appointed, and the staff was warm, welcoming, and always willing to help. Every detail felt intentional, from the landscaping to the overall guest experience. The location in Las Catalinas is also unbeatable—it’s the perfect place to disconnect, explore the charming town, and enjoy the natural beauty of Costa Rica. I would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing and memorable getaway.

Cons:

I liked everything

2026-06-25 • via Nuitee
V
Veronica • couple • us
8
2026-06-20 • via Nuitee
A
Andrea • family_with_children • cr
10
Perfecto para descansar y relajarse
Pros:

Todo ! Excelente atención del personal, habitación súper cómoda, excelente ubicación y desayuno delicioso.
100% recomendado

Cons:

En realidad todo me pareció muy bien.
Podría mejorar que las luces de emergencia estén colocadas en otro lugar que no sea cerca de la cama ya que al apagar todas las luces del cuarto se ve esa luz intermitente un poquito molesta.

2026-06-15 • via Nuitee