Santarena Hotel at Las Catalinas

Santarena Hotel at Las Catalinas is a four-star hotel for a stay that can mix sea time, town time and a few hours doing very little at all. You have a restaurant, bar, pool, spa and fitness facilities on site, so the evening does not depend entirely on finding the nearest open door after a day outside.

The scale is reasonably contained: four floors and 45 rooms. A concierge can help with excursions, while the garden, terrace and outdoor seating give you places to sit with a drink or simply let the day wind down. There is also free Wi-Fi, parking and air conditioning, which are not glamorous details but become rather more interesting when you are tired, hot and carrying too much kit.

The hotel is in Potrero, Costa Rica, at the Las Catalinas seaside setting. The beach is directly accessible and sandy, with the sea only a few steps away. Potrero town centre is about 2 miles from the hotel, close enough for a change of scene without placing you in the middle of it.

The airport transfer takes around 60 to 90 minutes. The hotel can arrange an airport shuttle on request, and parking is available on site, including valet parking. An electric-vehicle charging station is also available. For a self-drive stay, the combination is straightforward: arrive, park, and keep the car for the days when you want to explore beyond the beach.

The room selection is unusually broad, running from single and double rooms to suites, apartments, villas and cottages. That matters if you are travelling as a couple, alone or with a small group: the accommodation can be matched to the shape of the trip rather than forcing everyone into the same standard box. Several categories add a balcony or a view of the sea, ocean, water, garden, town or mountains.

The practical details vary by category, so check the individual room card rather than assuming that every room has the same kit. Air conditioning appears in many Deluxe, Premium and Superior options, while selected rooms also have a ceiling fan, blackout blinds, desk, coffee-making facilities, minibar, safe, television and Wi-Fi. Private bathrooms are common, but some Standard rooms use a shared bathroom; that is worth checking before booking, particularly when you are returning from a long day outdoors and would rather not queue for the shower.

For a couple, a double room with a balcony or sea view makes the most of the setting. Solo divers have single-room options, while larger parties can look towards multi-bedroom suites, apartments, villas and cottages. Room service, toiletries, towels and air conditioning are available in selected categories, not automatically across the whole range. In other words: choose by the details, not by the grandest label.

Ponciana is the main restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. That gives you a proper on-site option for the full day, useful when the last thing you want is another drive after getting changed. The hotel also has the Ponciana Lobby Bar for a drink before dinner or a slower end to the evening.

Cuatro Calle la Ronda is the more particular dining option: it serves dinner, offers world-class cuisine and is set up for private dining. The overall arrangement is not an all-day snack bar model; the available details centre on the restaurant meals and the lobby bar. Breakfast is available, while the meals included depend on the rate selected, so the booking details deserve a quick look before you assume the whole menu is folded into the stay.

In-room comfort has its own small supports: selected rooms include a minibar, coffee or tea facilities and bottled water, and room service is available. Nothing revolutionary there, but a cold drink within reach is a respectable luxury when your legs have had enough of the day.

The pool, sun terrace and beach give you three uncomplicated ways to spend an afternoon without arranging another excursion. Beach and pool towels are available, while the sandy shore is only a few steps from the hotel. Kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkelling are also available for days when you want to stay on the water without committing to another full dive schedule.

The Wellness Center offers massage and yoga, which is a sensible pairing after several days of carrying tanks, climbing ladders and pretending that your back is perfectly fine. There is also a fitness room and gym, along with tennis for anyone who still considers exercise a leisure activity rather than an administrative error.

For a more active land day, the hotel offers hiking and fishing, and there is a picnic area for taking food outside the restaurant setting. The garden and terrace provide quieter places to sit, while the concierge can assist with excursions. Add the spa, pool and beach, and you have enough to keep a non-diving day occupied without turning it into a compulsory programme.

Check-in runs from 3 pm to 10 pm, with check-out by 11 am. Airport transfers are available on request, and the journey takes around 60 to 90 minutes. Parking is available, with both free parking and valet parking listed, and there is an electric-vehicle charging station.

The hotel has a concierge, excursion assistance, luggage storage, laundry, a safe and currency exchange. A lift serves the upper floors, and the building is non-smoking. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, while air conditioning is available in the hotel and in selected room categories.

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club and JCB are accepted. The hotel also has a business centre, conference room and event facilities, although those are likely to matter more to a group organiser than to someone choosing a base for a week by the Pacific. For room selection, check the bathroom arrangement and in-room facilities carefully: the range includes both shared and private bathrooms, and the full equipment list changes from one category to another.