Las Catalinas, Costa Rica
Las Catalinas is a beach town developed in 2006 along the shores of the Pacific Ocean in the Guanacaste Province of northwest Costa Rica. It was envisioned as a compact, car-free, and fully walkable town, based on the principles of New Urbanism. Las Catalinas was founded by Charles Brewer (businessman), the town's website claims to promote a 'healthy, sustainable, fulfilling and fun lifestyle'. Summary. Las Catalinas is located on the coast of Playa Danta and Playa Dantita near Potrero, about an hour drive from Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport in Liberia. Projected as a  20+ year project, the beach town incorporates the principles of New Urbanism to enable an environment that claims to favor human connection and interaction with numerous urban facilities. It is located in at the centre of over 404 hectares of tropical dry forest hills and valleys. Las Catalinas has an extensive network of hiking, running, and biking trails and has an annual Triathlon and Open Water competition. Tourism. Las Catalinas has been featured in major travel publications such as Travel + Leisure, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. The resort town has gained international acclaim for  its small-town environment, authentic Costa Rican culture, and scenery. The town offers stays in a hotel, villas and apartments Its architecture was inspired by colonial towns in Latin America such as Antigua, Panama's Casco Viejo, Panama, and San Miguel de Allende, as well as by Mediterranean hill and coastal towns. The natural environment and proximity to the sea make swimming, standup paddleboarding, kayaking, boogie boarding, and snorkeling popular sports in the area. How to get there. Las Catalinas is at the northern end of a paved road that connects to Potrero, Flamingo, Brasilito and points beyond, including Tamarindo . You can drive there in your rented car or take a taxi or shuttle, whether from the airport or any other spot in Guanacaste. Natural Reserve. Approximately of the of Las Catalinas are currently a natural forest reserve. It harbors diverse, local flora and fauna including numerous bird species, howler monkeys, iguanas, and the occasional wild cat. There are about 35 kilometers of hiking, running and single track mountain biking trails. The town is car-free. Architecture and Urbanism. Urban Design. The planning of Las Catalinas was primarily executed by Douglas Duany, currently a professor of the practice at the  University of Notre Dame School of Architecture. It is densely designed and focuses on the pedestrian experience by maximizing views and integrating nature. Of the 490 hectares, approximately 80 hectares are planned to be built on, while the remaining 404 hectares will be left as a natural reserve. Architecture. Many urban designers and architects have since done design work in Las Catalinas, including: