In this Daily: All around Las Catalinas, some of the iconic beach towns in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Thanks to an intersection of mountains, forests, beaches, ocean, and town, there’s a lot to do in Las Catalinas. Add in the fact that town is on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, just a short drive from many of the many lively beach towns in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The area’s natural beauty, with welcoming beaches, blue waters, national parks, and more combine with vibrant communities to provide a region to explore any time of year, rainy season or dry.
Right in the area around Las Catalinas are Playa Potrero, Playa Flamingo, Playa Brasilito, and Playas del Coco, four iconic towns.
The town of Playa Potrero is the closest town to Las Catalinas, sharing a name with Playa Potrero (Potrero Beach) and the Bahía de Potrero south of Las Catalinas. The beach at Potrero slowly loops around the shallow, warm bay, and connects the two parts of town, Potrero and Surfside, with a small estuary in the middle.
Both parts of the town centers are next to the beach, with a number of shops, restaurants, hotels, and a church plaza and full-sized soccer field on the north end. Further away from the water, there’s a mixture of pasture land and residential neighborhoods, all connected by dirt roads like the Monkey Trail.
When visiting the area, Potrero is a great spot to go out sailing at the Costa Rica Sailing Center, participate a sports day, art class, and other activities with the students of Abriendo Mentes, set out for a beachside run or take a long swim in the cool, calm waters, stop by for a casado or desayuno típico at local favorite Soda Marcell, or taste a craft beer at Cerveceria Independiente.
Driving Distance: 10 Min
Biking Distance: 20 Min
When out on a paddle or a swim from Playa Danta, one of the first areas that comes into view is the northern portion of the town of Playa Flamingo, which stretches out northwest into the Pacific (at top) before curving along the beach of the same name.
Flamingo’s town center is on the northern part of the beach, where shops and restaurants cluster together between Playas Flamingo and Potrero, with a wide variety of different homes and a few hotels dotting the hilly countryside nearby.
The harbor also serves as the departure point for many different activities on the water, like scuba diving, artisan fishing, sunset catamarans, and more, and is also the nearest consistent surf break to Las Catalinas.
Driving Distance: 15 Min
Biking Distance: 30 Min
Playa Brasilito is located just beyond Playa Flamingo, and features a long stretch of beautiful white sand beach visible from the coastal road while riding by. The town center of Brasilito is close to the beach, stretching from Don Brasilito’s, a classic local spot for everything from dancing to watching fútbol down to the big field at the town’s center, which hosts the yearly fiestas patronales in Brasilito. As with many of the beach towns, the residential neighborhoods stretch back along the local farms and hills, also passing by the Brasilito campo de fútbol, another popular gathering place.
In all, a town to visit for a bite to eat, a televised fútbol game or to play in a mejenga on the beach, as well as for the lively local fiestas.
Driving Time: 25 Min
Biking Time: 50 Min
Playas del Coco came to be as a fishing town for the rich waters around the Papagayo Peninsula, and still serves as a location both to get seafood from local artisan fishermen and set off for a few of the region’s most iconic outdoor adventure. Like Playa Danta, the beach at Playas del Coco is one of the closest pickup points for Ollie’s Point and Witch’s Rock, two of the country’s legendary surf breaks, and Playas del Coco is also the nearest port-of-call for diving trips to the Bat Islands.
Following the trends of coastal urban towns without major industrial sectors, Playas del Coco grows outward from the water in general bands, with shops, boathouses, and restaurants close to the shoreline, then mixed residential, then homes, developments, and neighborhoods still further back.
A little bit of a further drive from Las Catalinas, Playas del Coco welcomes a day trip to explore this harbor town, and also provides an inviting spot to wander after a dive or surf trip.
Driving Time: 45 Min
Biking Time: 1:45 Min
Each of these towns has beautiful beaches, lively communities, and their own unique character, and all are worth a visit, especially on a longer-term stay in Las Catalinas. To learn more about the towns above, and explore them while in the region, reach out to concierge.
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