SANTARENA PLAZA

Pura Vida Ride, A Local Costa Rican Bike Shop

28 November, 2019
Mountain bikes come in many shapes in sizes with many different components, and keeping each in top condition helps make riding a joy. A carefully tuned suspension, well-adjusted shock absorbers, responsive and powerful brakes, well-oiled gear shifters, and perfectly-inflated tires can make climbs...
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Paddle Board Yoga in Las Catalinas

28 November, 2019
Paddle board yoga is an activity that combines two sports that happen often into one.
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LaPula Shop and Studio as a Platform for Emerging Contemporary Artists in Costa Rica

15 November, 2019
LaPula Shop and Studio was founded by Ivan and Mhairi, two longtime friends of Las Catalinas, out of a passion for design and art, as a non static and welcoming space that is part shop, part living room and part office.
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Diving with Bull Sharks at Islas Murciélago

15 November, 2019
Isla Murciélago is located just off the North Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, in Guanacaste’s Santa Rosa National Park. This protected marine area is home to much of Guanacaste’s marine life, including many species of ray, an intersection of reef and open ocean fish, and the tortuga golfina (Olive...
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The Walkability Score in Las Catalinas

15 November, 2019
The world is coming around to walkability, with many urban areas looking to walkable solutions as a new direction from high-traffic, car-heavy design. Organizations like Toronto-based Sidewalk Labs are researching clean mass transport and mobility that’s pedestrian and bike friendly. Cities like...
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Oh, hello - Bienvenidos to Santarena Hotel

14 November, 2019
The Santarena Hotel is a tropically elegant oasis inspired by a palette of people and places, located between two of Costa Rica's loveliest Pacific beaches at the heart of Las Catalinas. This tropical car-free town on the Guanacaste Coast aims to inspire visitors and locals to connect with nature...
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Becoming a PADI Certified Diver in Costa Rica

04 November, 2019
ConnectOcean Expeditions is a PADI certified diving school and Marine Ecology Center that offers an Open Water Certification Course with access to some of the best diving experiences in Costa Rica and education about the conservation of the country's vibrant aquatic ecosystem. For travelers looking...
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Wellbeing Retreats in Las Catalinas

24 October, 2019
Since the opening of the hotel, Santarena has hosted events like XPT’s Waterman Experience in June, the Culinary Institute of America’s Costa Rican visit, as well as a mix of dinners, celebrations, weddings, retreats, meetings, yoga sessions, wine tastings, and more.
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An Adventure Worth The Ride: Night Mountain Biking in Costa Rica

22 October, 2019
Passionate biker Jason Abernathy from Pura Vida Ride lives on two wheels. A competitive road racer back in his twenties, he now rides a Trek Pro Caliber 9.8 SL cross-country race bike and prefers long gravel rides and the sport of MTB in Costa Rica. Jason is enthusiastic to share his love of the...
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The Doors at Santarena

09 October, 2019
When towns are built to be walkable and to the scale of people, they change fundamentally. Brought within sight and touch to passersby, pedestrian street-facing facades in walkable towns allow for thoughtful detail and design so that simple elements like doors add character to the street. Shops,...
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Costa Rica: Nutrition direct from Nature

07 October, 2019
One of the easiest places to visit as a vegan is Costa Rica. The entire country is an ecological paradise for people who enjoy food, no matter their nutritional preferences. It is known for the varied fresh ingredients used in its cuisine while staying true to its sustainable roots, and an...
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Las Catalinas: A Town In Harmony with Nature

03 October, 2019
A core belief that has helped shaped the town of Las Catalinas in Costa Rica is that towns are best visited, enjoyed, and lived in when they coexist in harmony with nature. Las Catalinas’ style of urban development is inherently better for both nature and the human condition and intrinsically...
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Locally-Sourced Ingredients: The Approachability of Costa Rican Cuisine

27 September, 2019
Things grow, and they grow well in Costa Rica. This Central American country represents 5% of the world’s biodiversity within a total land area that only accounts for 0.03% of the total land mass of the world. This means access to nature and its edible offerings, comprising a lush foundation for...
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The Beauty of Summers in Las Catalinas Beach Town

11 June, 2019
To many, going south for summer vacation seems counterintuitive. A general rule for the Northern Hemisphere is that temperatures rise quite rapidly as you head towards the equator, and to most the summer is warm enough already.
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