Playa Danta Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
Opened
2019
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Social WellnessOutside the door
Whitewashed seaside mansion
Inspired by colonial-era mansions, the hotel anchors a walkable beach village where days drift between the plaza and the surf.
“Right in the center is the 45-bedroom Santarena, and its all-day breakfast bar makes it something of a hub for guests and residents alike.”
What it’s good at
Notable
Cuban-style pressed balcony tiles open through breezy whitewashed arches overlooking the plaza.
Listed
A fourth-floor oceanview infinity pool, with holistic sound baths across the street.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
It’s contemporary in style, but not aggressively modern — it’s inspired by colonial-era mansion architecture, and offers the welcome combination of splendid in-room seclusion and, in its common spaces, a convivial social life.
Somewhere quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Playa Danta's beach sits out front. Behind the car-free streets, 42 kilometers of hiking and biking trails trace the forested hills.
The rooms
Teak floors run beneath high ceilings, and most rooms open onto private balconies laid with Cuban-style pressed tiles.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The rooftop infinity pool looks across the Pacific at sunset, and courtyard bedrooms open onto private plunge pools.
Sound studio and courts
The neighboring Center of Joy holds a monochord healing table in its sound studio. Outdoor courts host pickleball.
At the table
Ponciana prepares Basque-style dishes with local ingredients, and tables spill from the arched dining room onto Plaza Danta.
How it began
Las Catalinas was envisioned in 2006 as a car-free coastal settlement, modeled after the pedestrian hill towns of the Mediterranean.
Las Catalinas
More like this
Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas
“Cliffside ocean hideaway”
The app
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Swipe any city’s hotels and heart the ones you love. The app gets your taste.
Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.