About this hotel
General information
Casa Chameleon crowns a hilltop above Las Catalinas, a walkable beach town on the northern Guanacaste coast where people get about on foot, by bike or on horseback rather than by car. The hotel is for adults only and belongs to Relais & Châteaux. Its 21 villas step down the slope so that every terrace faces the Pacific, and each private pool seems to run straight out to the sea.
The design is built around open-air living: bathrooms and showers are open to light, breeze and greenery, while the interiors are refined and understated. The town is ringed by more than 400 hectares of tropical dry forest laced with trails, with Playa Danta below. A small scale, several in-house restaurants and quiet villas looking out to the Catalinas Islands set the tone.
Location
On a hill above the town of Las Catalinas and Playa Danta, on the Pacific coast of Guanacaste. Liberia International Airport is about 45 minutes by road; the hotel arranges transfers on request and runs a courtesy beach shuttle when guests ask for it.
Spa
Massages and facials are given in the villas, each of which comes with a yoga mat. A few steps from the hotel, the Center of Joy wellness and fitness centre has a gym and group classes – Vinyasa yoga, Fire & Flow hot yoga, Power Sculpt, Vital Bounce and spinning; daily gym access and two classes a week are part of the stay, and private sessions can be arranged.
Sports & leisure
Guests can use the tennis and pickleball courts and join farm tours, guided rides and workshops at La Estancia. More than 40 km of trails around Las Catalinas suit hiking and mountain biking. The hotel also arranges:
- kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding at Playa Danta at sunrise or sunset
- a private catamaran day along the Guanacaste coast, stopping at several beaches
- surf lessons
- the Congo Trail Canopy Tour – more than 1,200 m of zip-line platforms and hanging bridges through the forest
- horse rides along Playa Conchal and into the foothills
- a Class II–III float on the lower Río Colorado
- a hanging-bridges hike at the foot of Tenorio Volcano
- the Diria Coffee Tour and private guided days on a route of the guest’s choosing
Restaurants & bars
A daily à la carte breakfast is included, and dinner comes in several settings:
- Sentido Norte – the main restaurant, bold Costa Rican cooking on an open-air terrace by the pool
- Sentido Norte Bar – ocean views and sunset drinks
- La Pampa Grill – dishes slow-cooked over an open fire
- Grotto 12 – a ten-seat wine cellar with tasting menus
- The Green House – an intimate table built on Costa Rican heritage dishes
A picnic basket with rosé can be set up at a private spot for watching the sunset.
Swimming
Every villa has its own saltwater plunge pool, and a shared ocean-view pool sits on the Sentido Norte terrace. Playa Danta lies below the hill; Las Catalinas has two warm-water beaches for swimming, snorkelling, boogie boarding, kayaking and paddleboarding.
Rooms
Twenty-one villas in three types, each with a private pool and an open-air bathroom.
Villas have a king-size bed, 480-thread-count cotton linen, a private terrace with plunge pool, air conditioning, a minibar of Costa Rican products, coffee and bottled water, a Bluetooth speaker, a safe, free Wi-Fi and calls, daily housekeeping and turndown on request.
Villa with Plunge Pool
A one-bedroom villa with a king-size bed, facing south over the neighbouring beaches with partial ocean views. Private terrace with a saltwater plunge pool and an open-air bathroom and shower; up to two guests.
Sunset Villa with Plunge Pool
A west-facing villa with raised views along the Guanacaste coast and out to the Catalinas Islands, made for watching the sunset from the pool. King-size bed, private saltwater plunge pool, open-air bathroom and shower; up to two guests.
Villa Suite with Plunge Pool
The most spacious villa, set into the hillside and looking over the coast or the Catalinas Islands. King-size bed, terrace with a private saltwater plunge pool, open-air bathroom and shower; up to two guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.