Casa Chameleon Las Catalinas

Style

Pacific heights

Setting

Coastal Las Catalinas

On a hillside above the Guanacaste coast, Casa Chameleon Las Catalinas is a cluster of villas with the romance levels set to high. Each stand-alone suite has a plunge pool and soul-stirring sunset views, with handmade international additions including ornate Moroccan lights and furniture from Indonesia. There’s an impressive infinity pool that’s also perfectly placed for sundown – but two of the best beaches in Costa Rica, with their endless opportunities for stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and snorkelling, are a short drive away.

Facilities

Rooms

Twenty-one, including four suites.

Checkout

11am; check-in, 4pm.

More Details

Rates usually include American-style breakfast.

Also

The hotel is not accessible for wheelchair users.

Free Internet Access

On-Site Restaurant

At the Hotel

Free WiFi throughout. In rooms: beach bags, air-conditioning, free bottled water, a minibar and a Bluetooth speaker.

Our Favourite Rooms

Those who favour plummeting into water to cool off while travelling in the Tropics will be pleased to hear that plunge pools come as standard in every suite, as do impressive views – for the best of the best though, go for a Villa Sunset, which offer the finest glimpses of the Guanacaste coast.

Poolside

The saltwater infinity pool is impressive at any given point in the day, but especially so at sunset and after-dark, when fire pits are alight on the surface.

Packing Tips

An array of ikat-patterned activewear, to navigate sunrise swims and swinging through the trees on a zipline in style.

Also

The hotel can put on wow-inducing destination weddings for brides and grooms to-be.

Children

This stay is for adult Smiths only.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

The restaurant is set above the pool with uninterrupted views out to sea – get as close to the edge as you can; for something casual and cosy, stake out one of the sofas in the bar.

Dress Code

Beach-ready by day but jazz it up after-dark.

Hotel Restaurant

There are two restaurants. The chef at Sentido Norte champions the best of local produce and Costa Rican cuisine while always adding a creative twist – we loved the cashew-crusted yellowfin tuna in a spicy coconut-milk-caramel sauce; seabass marinaded in miso; octopus and mussels tossed in wine butter and smoked paprika; and grilled fish of the day. In the morning, don’t miss the energy-providing chia bowl. La Pampa Grill, helmed by chef Jose Lopez, serves field-to-table fare for dinner, with a classically Costa Rican menu of dishes that have been slow cooked and seasoned on an open-fire barbecue (we love the ribs that fall off the bone with little argument, garlic-butter shrimp and gorgonzola mushrooms). Pair all with rum.

Hotel Bar

The bar is in a corner of the restaurant with sunset-facing sofas. There’s an extensive cocktail menu, but be sure to try one of the especially delicious ones made using fresh juice and coconut water. If it's wine you're after, Grotto 12 has a well-loved list of local wines and often hosts private tastings for the oenophiles.

Last Orders

Breakfast is served between 7am and 11am; lunch is on offer from 11am until 3pm; dinner service is between 6pm and 11pm (9pm at La Pampa Grill). The bar closes at midnight and serves food from 11am to 10pm; Grotto 12 is open from the afternoon till 11pm.

Planes

The closest airport is in Liberia, 40 kilometres away. The drive should take around an hour. Connections are available via Los Angeles and San José. The Smith24 Team can book flights or hotel transfers on request; be aware, the airport’s a hefty 260 kilometres away.

Automobiles

There’s free valet parking when you arrive, but be sure to book a four-wheel drive as not all the roads are paved. From Liberia airport, take a right and join the highway, then follow the sign for Sardinal, taking a left after the petrol station (marked by a Congo Trail billboard). When you reach the football pitch at Nuevo Colón, drive around it and take a left onto a dirt road, ignoring the Las Catalinas sign, as this takes a different route and the road isn’t safe during rainy season. The nearest town is Playa Potrero, five minutes away by car.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Staying in your villa all day won’t be frowned upon, but active sorts will want to get ziplinining, rafting, hiking, biking, surfing, swimming, diving and stand-up paddleboarding, all of which can be arranged. Board a catamaran cruise for sunset with Lazy Lizard; or zipline from tree to tree on a Congo Trail canopy tour.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .