A Costa Rica Beach Town
This is a very big weekend at Las Catalinas. Our first ever triathlon is tomorrow. The event is sold out, in fact a little bit oversold with 160 people entered. Preparations on site have been underway the last few days. We are thrilled! I am so wishing I were there. Here are some pictures of the preparations:
We will have a major off-road triathlon at Las Catalinas on February 17, with a kids event preceding it the day before. The Las Catalinas Triathlon will occur almost entirely within the boundaries of Las Catalinas, utilizing the great swimming conditions at Playa Danta and our world-class trail system. The swim is 1,200 meters, the mountain bike is 30 kilometers (standard) or 15 kilometers (sprint), and the trail run is 7.5 kilometers. There are divisions for relay teams, as well as age group divisions.
The race is being organized by the same organization that puts on the famous Guanaride each May. The primary website for the event is here, and the Facebook page is here.
We are very excited about this event and are expecting a great turnout. If you are interested in registering, you’ll find a form at the event website. If you need some help with the Spanish, or anything else, please contact the Las Catalinas office at info@lascatalinascr.com, 2654-4600 from Costa Rica, or 866.357.3872 from the USA.
Note that the event date is on President’s Day weekend in the US – a perfect time for a winter getaway.
Here is a preliminary flier:
Participants in SUP Yoga Instructor Training Class
Stand Up Paddle Yoga with instructor Dori Matthews and Pura Vida Ride is a favorite activity of many people that visit Las Catalinas. The fast growing sport combines SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) with the ancient tradition of yoga. Yogis of all levels and ages return to shore after a class with Dori with a stronger core, a balanced peace of mind and a new experience to share with friends and family.
Last week a group of students and instructors finished a 7 day “SUP & Yoga” Teacher Training Certification at Las Catalinas. The students spent 40 hours of training throughout this week learning about SUP & Yoga. Thanks to Dori the Yoga Energy Studio, Your Zen Yoga and Pura Vida Ride for bringing the group out.
Las Catalinas is a particularly ideal location for the SUP Yoga. Come and enjoy it in the beautiful water off of Playas Danta and Dantita.
Here is a nice video that Martyn Hoffmann made of an early morning paddle trip that he made with Jake Jacobs and myself yesterday morning. Nice. Even better was a full moon paddle last night. No wind, glassy ocean, 85 degree water, balmy air… that was truly magical. I can’t believe it has taken me 53 years to try it. We are heading out again tonight…
Last week I had the pleasure of making a 5 day mountain bike trip out of Las Catalinas with some of my friends. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it even more emphatically now – this is such a great area for exploring! We rode one day in Las Catalinas on our singletrack; one day a big backcountry loop out towards Tempate, Sardinal, and Nuevo Colon; and three great days up and around the Guanacaste volcanoes. The climate and scenery changes so dratically and quickly up and around the continental divide it is just hard to believe! Here is a video. I hope you enjoy! (PS – I have been unable to conquer a couple of technical quirks in the video – the sound gets a bit out of synch with the video image. Sorry. I need technical support!)
Our ace trail building crews have created a new hiking trail through the central high peaks of Las Catalinas. This is one of the most dramatic hikes you will ever experience with stunning views in all directions. The trail is generally in the open, on the ridgeline, artfully looping back and forth to keep the gradient manageable, and with steps where needed. At this time of year I recommend late afternoon as the best time for this hike. The wind will cool you, the light takes on a golden hue – magical.
Here is a great article on PVR at Barefoot Fitness. My favorite quote, “I would carve through dense jungle, past hanging orchids and a rushing creek and then pop around a corner and see the Pacific Ocean glistening below me. The only sounds were the slight breeze, birds calling and my own breathing. How this place is not on the cover of some mountain biking magazine, I have no idea.”
- Charles
Las Catalinas made a tremendous impression on a theater full of charitable Atlantans this week: Actress Jane Fonda was hosting a premiere for her new movie, Peace, Love & Misunderstanding, as a benefit for the organization she champions, G-CAPP (Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention).
Town founders Charles & Ginny Brewer donated their home for 7 nights (complete with some of our favorite Las Catalinas experiences, including stand up paddleboarding, yoga, kayaking and mountain biking) as a live auction item. As photos of Las Catalinas scrolled on the big screen, the audience “oohed” and “aahed” at aerial views of the hilltown and sea, and one of our famous sunsets. The group was obviously inspired — the item was a top bid winner for the evening, bringing in $18,000. We’re thrilled over the enthusiasm to visit Las Catalinas. And to support a great organization making a difference in the lives of young people. To find out more about G-CAPP, visit their website: http://gcapp.org/
- Tucker Berta
I’m just remembering that I never posted our last newsletter here on the blog. Here it is. Also you can see its fully illustrated glory here.
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At home in Atlanta, I “work out.” At home in Las Catalinas, I never think about working out.
I’m too busy having fun!
I began yesterday with a mountain bike ride. I rode the back roads in Las Catalinas to the Zapotal Valley — this is a great place for wildlife spotting; I saw monkeys and a flock of big white egrets. The riding around here features a world class mountain bike trail system (click here for video), plenty of challenging climbing options, and stunning views of the ocean and landscape. I’m making a catalogue of some of the local rides here.
After breakfast I went boogie boarding and body surfing with my seven year old son and some of his new friends here. Our Playa Danta is one of the best beaches you will ever find for this guaranteed-to-make-you-smile activity, with perfect conditions for long, smooth rides. (And, by the way, it seems to be remarkably good for your abs. I’m actually sort of getting a six-pack. I’ve never had a six-pack!)
After lunch at Lola’s (our beachside cafe) my daughter and I paddled a kayak out and around the nearby Pajaro islands. There was a big swell out there, with the waves surging up and down on the rocks and exploding through the blowhole — an amazing sight.
Towards sunset I went for a hike with my son and his friend, who said as we were heading out, “Oh, I hope it rains! Then we’ll get to see more tree frogs!” He got his wish, we had a great hike, and we spent the rest of the evening listening to a tree-frog symphony.
That’s just one day, and just me. In the last couple of weeks my family has enjoyed:
There is also great scuba, fishing, golf, bird watching, and thrilling expeditions to nearby volcanoes and national parks.
Pura Vida Ride, our outfitter store in Las Catalinas, is there to provide the gear, instruction, and expeditions to enjoy many of these outdoor adventures. They offer annual memberships (for unlimited use stand up paddleboards, bikes, kayaks, boogie boards, etc.) and as a welcome to new Las Catalinas residents we are offering a complimentary two-year family membership to anyone who signs a contract on a home or lot before November 15, 2011. Click here to email us for details.
Sincerely,
Charles
PS: I’ve also been active with my camera on this visit. I’ve posted many photos on our website gallery; some of my favorites are from Punta Penca – a dramatic peninsula on the edge of town. The views from these hillside lots just above the beach look something like the photo of the coastline in this newsletter (second from bottom).
Last night I went kayaking at sunset. It was perfect, magical conditions with just a slight breeze, a beautiful perfectly organized swell from the south, and a great sunset. Well, once I got a ways offshore I saw something large on the surface of the water. I got closer and closer. Driftwood? Manta ray? Nope. It was two large sea turtles – mating! I paddled right up next to them before they noticed me, and before I figured out what they were. We were all horribly embarrassed! But they had picked a very beautiful and romantic setting. I hope the remainder of their evening passed without disturbance. And from now on I go nowhere around here without a camera.
PS – This sunset is from a couple of nights before. They have been amazing of late here.
