There’s a moment in April when Costa Rica exhales. The holiday rush of Semana Santa (Holy Week) fades, the beaches clear, and Las Catalinas returns to a gentler rhythm seemingly tailor-made for two.
It’s the kind of month that makes you want to exhale, too. To reset. Not by stopping, but by choosing how you move through the day. A morning in the surf. A walk through Beach Town with saltwater still drying on your skin. An unhurried dinner, where each course arrives with its own quiet sense of purpose.
This is slow travel in April, and it’s one of the most meaningful ways to experience Las Catalinas together.
The essence of slow travel for two? Whatever you need it to be.
Long ocean mornings. Wandering barefoot into town. Letting the tide, not the clock, set the pace. It’s the kind of travel that creates space for connection and for the small moments that feel impossible to experience when life is moving at its too-quick daily pace. Here at Santarena Hotel, this slower rhythm isn’t something you have to seek out; it meets you the moment you arrive.
Early April carries a gentle energy on its own, but it’s worth noting the calendar: Easter Sunday falls on April 5 this year, and that means that the week before it is Semana Santa, one of Costa Rica’s busiest and most celebratory holidays. It’s vibrant and lively, but it is not slow by any stretch. The real quiet arrives just after. Once the holiday week passes, Las Catalinas lets out a breath, the beach goes calm again, and the slow-travel window opens wide for a peaceful escape with room to stretch into the day.
This is where the beauty of April unfolds. Warm water, empty trails, soft sunsets, and experiences designed to add a little meaning to the time you spend together.
There are few experiences more rooted in presence than learning to surf. It demands your attention in the best possible way. You stop thinking about your phone, your emails, your calendar. Instead, you look at the water. You feel the board under your feet. You listen to the instructor’s voice. You lock in on your partner. Because when you’re learning with someone you love, the experience becomes both playful and connective.
Surfing in Guanacaste is warm and approachable. You don’t need a wetsuit. You don’t need any experience. The breaks used for lessons are gentle, consistent, and perfect for beginners who want a safe introduction to the sport.
What makes surf lessons ideal for couples is the shared energy. You paddle out together. You wobble together. You stand up for the first time and laugh because the moment feels joyful and a little wild. You cheer each other on in a way that reminds you why shared adventure feels so good, so reaffirming. There’s teamwork in the experience. There’s trust. And there’s the kind of physical presence that slow travel invites without forcing.
Your instructor will guide you through the basics on the sand before you step into the Pacific. You’ll learn how to position your feet, how to feel the lift of the wave, and how to read the water in front of you. Then comes the fun. You try, you fall, you stand, you fall again, and you celebrate every little victory as if it belongs to both of you. And it does.
The best part is how time stretches. An hour lesson both flies and feels like an entire day, because you’re fully in the moment. When you walk back up the sand, boards under your arms and salt drying on your skin, you feel lighter than when you started. You feel connected, energized, and ready for whatever the rest of the day brings.
Linger Over a Slow Evening at Ponciana: Chef’s Table Nights for Two
If surfing is the playful side of slow travel, Chef’s Table evenings at Ponciana are its quiet, sensory counterpoint. Slow your day down completely. Invite the light to soften. Glance over at the kitchen, warm with color and aroma. And step into a front-row experience where each dish is crafted with intention.
There’s something intimate about watching a chef work. Not perform. Not present. But create. You see the way ingredients move through the kitchen. You watch plates take shape. You hear the small details that reveal the heart of the dish. It’s artistry, but it’s also presence, which is exactly what slow travel celebrates.
The Chef’s Table at Ponciana is designed for couples who want to do something meaningful together without needing an occasion to justify it. Still, it’s perfect for marking something special, whether it’s a birthday, an anniversary, or simply the joy of being away together. The experience doesn’t feel loud or theatrical. It feels refined, grounded, and deeply sensory.
Each course is prepared with locally sourced ingredients, drawn from Costa Rican farms, fisheries, and seasonal harvests. The flavors are bright and thoughtful. The pacing is unhurried. The setting feels tucked away, even in the heart of Beach Town. It’s a quiet-luxury experience that mirrors the essence of April: warm, intimate, and full of space.
Conversations tend to linger. You notice details you’d normally miss. And by the end of the night, you feel like you’ve shared something more than a meal; you’ve shared the moment. And that’s what it’s all about.
April carries the best of Costa Rica’s dry season without the pace of high season. After Semana Santaconcludes on April 5, the town reveals a new side to the year. Mornings stay cool. Afternoons are warm but not overwhelming. Sunsets turn peach and coral. And the water is forever a warm invitation.
The town is lively enough to feel engaging, yet quiet enough to feel personal. Cafés, trails, and the beachfront unfold with a sense of ease. This is the version of Las Catalinas that many guests have fallen in love with, especially couples who want something relaxed rather than rushed.
It’s also the perfect micro-escape month. Even if you’re only here for a few nights, April aligns beautifully with that rhythm. You can arrive, settle in, take a surf lesson, enjoy a Chef’s Table evening, spend a morning floating in the rooftop pool, and walk away feeling like you’ve had a full reset.
Slow travel doesn’t mean doing less. It means choosing with intention. It means quality over quantity, depth over speed, presence over planning. And April is the month when this kind of travel unfolds naturally.
Slow travel becomes effortless when your destination itself supports it. Santarena’s beachfront setting invites oceanfront mornings. Our pool terrace and rooftop offer places to unwind without needing to leave the hotel. And the walkable design of Beach Town makes it easy to move through the day at your own pace.
Wake up to views of Playa Danta. Step outside and feel the warmth of the air before the sun reaches its peak. Wander to breakfast. Walk to dinner without traffic or logistics. This is the luxury behind slow travel: ease, closeness, and the freedom to be fully present.
Our concierge can book your surf lesson, your Chef’s Table evening, and any other paired experience, creating a simple arc to your stay that carries you from playful mornings to intimate nights. And if you have something special in mind, whether it’s a room enhancement or a surprise gesture, we can help shape the details while you focus on the moments.
When you imagine a romantic escape this spring, picture warm water, early-morning light across the bay, and a slow rhythm that leaves space for you and the person you love. Picture learning to surf side by side, then ending the night at a candlelit table watching a chef bring each course to life. Picture a version of Costa Rica that reveals itself only when you give yourself permission to move a little slower.
Explore experiences and stays at Santarena Hotel. Let us curate your morning on the waves and your night at the chef’s table, and discover how April in Las Catalinas promises the pause you’ve been needing.