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Playa Flamingo

Santarena Hotel at Las Catalinas

Las Catalinas Road., Playa Flamingo, 50304

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Check-in
Nov 24, 2026
Check-out
Nov 26, 2026
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HAPPI EXPERIENCE

Beachfront Urban Resort with a Tropical Twist

  • Rooftop Pool and Sea-View Lounge

    Enjoy breathtaking Costa Rican sunsets from our refreshing rooftop pool and lounge, the perfect spot to unwind and relax.

  • Diverse Dining Options

    Indulge in a variety of culinary experiences at our all-day bakery, ground-floor restaurant, and nearby specialty dining venues, offering something for every taste.

  • Wellness and Relaxation

    Rejuvenate your body and mind at the state-of-the-art wellness center with meditation room and yoga studio, or pamper yourself at the nearby Wake Day spa for a range of luxurious treatments.

Experience the perfect blend of beachfront luxury and urban sophistication at Santarena Hotel. Book now to immerse yourself in the beauty of Las Catalinas.

HAPPI HIGHLIGHTS

  • Clean rooms

  • Friendly staff

  • Beautiful surroundings

At the hotel

Popular amenities

103 listed
  • 24-hour front desk
  • 24-hour security
  • Access to health care professionals
  • Accessible parking
  • Air conditioning
  • Airport drop off
  • Airport pick up
  • Airport shuttle
  • Airport shuttle (additional charge)
  • Bar
View all amenities

Pools & wellness

  • Infinity pool
  • Massage services
  • Outdoor pool
  • Pool with view
  • Rooftop pool
  • Spa/wellness center
  • Swimming pool

Dining & drinks

  • Breakfast takeaway containers
  • Coffee Shop on site
  • Cooking class
  • Delivered food - securely covered
  • Food delivered to guest room
  • Fruits
  • Kid meals
  • Physical distancing in dining areas
  • Restaurant
  • Sanitized tableware & silverware
  • Special diet menus - on request
  • Wine/champagne

Fitness & outdoors

  • Beach
  • Beachfront
  • Bike tours
  • Broadcast Live sport events
  • Cycling
  • Fitness center
  • Fitness classes
  • Fitness facilities
  • Garden
  • Hiking
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Sun loungers or beach chairs
  • Sun terrace
  • Tennis court
  • Terrace
  • Water sport facilities on site
  • Yoga classes

Rooms & comfort

  • CCTV in common areas
  • CCTV outside property
  • Non-smoking rooms

Safety & cleanliness

  • Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
  • Contactless check-in/check-out
  • Fire extinguishers
  • First aid kit available
  • Guest room sealed after cleaning
  • Guest rooms disinfected between stays
  • Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
  • Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
  • Physical distancing rules followed
  • Process in place to check health of guests
  • Property cleaned by professional cleaning companies
  • Safety deposit box
  • Screens / Barriers between staff and guests for safety
  • Security alarm
  • Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
  • Smoke alarms
  • Staff adhere to local safety protocols

Getting around & access

  • Free Parking
  • Lift / Elevator
  • Parking
  • Private parking
  • Shuttle service
  • Valet parking

Guest services

  • Concierge service
  • Currency exchange
  • Invoice provided
  • Kids' club
  • Laundry
  • Laundry washed per local authority guidelines
  • Luggage storage
  • Meeting/banquet facilities
  • Tour desk
  • Tour/class on local culture
  • Walking tours

Services & essentials

  • Canoeing
  • Car hire
  • Cashless payment available
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Diving
  • Electric vehicle charging station
  • Family rooms
  • Fishing
  • Free WiFi
  • Horse riding
  • Key card access
  • Minimarket on site
  • Non-smoking throughout
  • Packed lunches
  • Picnic area
  • Room service
  • Snorkelling
  • Solarium
  • Themed dinner nights
  • WiFi available

Review in focus

440 reviews
10/ 10
Hotel Santarena exceeded our expectations. The location was perfect, across the beach and in the center of the little Las Catalinas town, so we could just step outside the hotel and all the restraurants, coffee shops, bouitique store and the adventure outfit were just steps away. The entire staff was very kind, educated, professional and helpful. The food at the indoor restaurant was delicious with beautiful presentation. The ambience at the restaurant also was very very nice.
Miriam · family with children · 2026-09-07

The guest experience

9.1out of 10
440 verified reviews

Loved most

  • Clean rooms
  • Friendly staff
  • Beautiful surroundings

Worth knowing — Limited pool hours · Breakfast quality

How guests scored the stay

  • Location9.8

    Perfect location close to restaurants, activities, and beach.

  • Service9.8

    Staff are friendly and accommodating, significantly enhancing the stay experience.

  • Overall Experience9.4

    Overall a wonderful experience with lovely surroundings and friendly people.

  • Cleanliness9.3

    Rooms are clean and well-maintained, standard quality for this hotel tier.

  • Room Quality9.2

    Rooms are spacious and comfortable with good decor.

  • Food and Beverage8.8

    Restaurant has good food and service, but breakfast options could improve.

  • Amenities8.3

    Rooftop pool is small and limited hours of service, but generally good amenities.

  • Value for Money8.2

    Breakfast quality does not match the price point, slightly overpriced.

Live guest feedback

Guest reviews

Consistent

86% of 14 recent stays rated 8+

9.1440 reviews
  • A must visited place. Stay 4 days at least to enjoy everything this jewel has to offer

    10/10

    Miriam · family with children · 2026-09-07

    “Hotel Santarena exceeded our expectations. The location was perfect, across the beach and in the center of the little Las Catalinas town, so we could just step outside the hotel and all the restraurants, coffee shops, bouitique store and the adventure outfit were just steps away. The entire staff was very kind, educated, professional and helpful. The food at the indoor restaurant was delicious with beautiful presentation. The ambience at the restaurant also was very very nice.”

  • Guest review

    9/10

    Anders · family with children · 2026-08-28

    “Excellent location right next to the beach”

  • It was a very relaxing and fun place to stay

    9/10

    Julius · solo traveller · 2026-08-26

    “Right next to the beach”

  • Gran propiedad, mal staff

    4/10

    Cesar · family with children · 2026-08-24

    “La ubicación fue muy conveniente para la actividad del Xterra. Cerca de restaurantes, y acceso a la playa. El equipo del Concierge de las Catalinas fueron muy amables, se nota la diferencia vs los empleados del hotel.”

  • Ideal para descansar

    9/10

    Wong · couple · 2026-08-20

    “Ubicación frente al mar”

  • Excellent place at the beach

    9/10

    Martin · couple · 2026-08-10

    “Friendly staff and excellent location at the beach”

  • Increíble

    10/10

    Alejandra · couple · 2026-08-06

    “Me encanta”

  • Needs to tighten up management

    7/10

    Dori · couple · 2026-08-05

    “Room was beautiful, pool area is gorgeous. Beautiful wood floors. Lovely towels. Liked the activity we did.”

  • Fue excelente

    10/10

    Alejandra · couple · 2026-08-04

    “Me encanta”

  • Overall, Las Catalinas is visually stunning, be prepared for some isolation.

    8/10

    Corkern · couple · 2026-07-16

    “We chose Santarena because of its reputation of Las Catalinas as a luxury beach front destination. The community is beautiful, built on a hillside overlooking the water and designed to resemble an Italian coastal village. I enjoyed exploring the various streets and villas, although at times I believe I was trespassing onto private streets. The room itself was pleasant and fit the villa style of the community, but it did not feel particularly luxurious. The television never worked during our stay despite staff attempting a repair, and there was no follow-up or alternative offered. Not the end of the world missing a TV for a week. We also booked a sunset sail through the concierge. After hearing nothing for two days and finding there was no record of our request, we booked the excursion ourselves directly and later received an apology from the hotel. The all inclusive Sunset sail out of Marina Flamingo is worth the sights and time. Overall the front desk was slow to respond or follow through - I will say that the several times I grabbed an employee directly in the section of the hotel we were staying, they were quick to respond and helpful. During our stay, a wedding with approximately 200 guests closed the main restaurant and bar for a day. Alternative dining options were offered, and while the reception band played directly across from our room, the music did end promptly at 10 PM. The rooftop pool was definitely boutique and small, with limited lounge chairs, but nice. While the community is on a beach, it is definitely not a typical resort style beach, it more of a rustic, black lava sand, and full of tree branches. Lots of hiking trails though. There is a beach club in the community that has a day pass you purchase, which has a few pools, lounge chairs, drinks and food service. Very nice. There is a local market, but with the isolation be prepared to pay a premium of at least 50% to 300% markup over average USA costs.”

  • Guest review

    10/10

    Grace · couple · 2026-07-10

    “Muy lindo el lugar, el personal súper amable!! Lo recomiendo muchísimo”

  • Excellent service and hospitality

    10/10

    Hutchinson · solo traveller · 2026-07-08

    “The people and service were incredible.”

  • Muy bonito

    10/10

    Tomás · couple · 2026-06-30

    “Todo”

  • Our stay at Santanera was truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and cared for, but what made

    10/10

    Natalie · couple · 2026-06-25

    “What I loved most about this hotel was how peaceful and beautifully designed everything was. The property is stunning, with incredible views, thoughtful architecture, and a relaxing atmosphere that made it easy to unwind. The rooms were comfortable, clean, and well-appointed, and the staff was warm, welcoming, and always willing to help. Every detail felt intentional, from the landscaping to the overall guest experience. The location in Las Catalinas is also unbeatable—it’s the perfect place to disconnect, explore the charming town, and enjoy the natural beauty of Costa Rica. I would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing and memorable getaway.”

View all guest reviews

Hotel info and reviews come from third-party sources.