Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Casa Chameleon Hotel at Las Catalinas features 21 private villas with the most spectacular views of the Guanacaste coast and personal salt water infinity plunge pools. Eat the best of local ocean- and farm-to-table cuisine at our open-air cliffside restaurant Sentido Norte overlooking the ocean and sunset views. With seating for 40 it is an intimate and incredible setting to experience the taste of Costa Rica. Reservations required.
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My wife and I just celebrated our 25th anniversary at Casa Chameleon and it was simply amazing. Its location above the town of Las Catalinas provides amazing views especially at sunset. The rooms / bungalows are comfortable and private with views that either look over Sugar Beach (sunrise) or Playa Danta (sunset). Having our own small infinity pool was nice to cool off in after a day trip or simply to relax in after dinner. Each day we would wake up to the sound of birds outside our bungalow and make our way to a wonderful breakfast at Sentido Norte the onsite restaurant. We really enjoyed the fresh fruit and tasty meals especially as we could look out over Playa Danta and Playa Dantita and see Las Catalinas start to come alive. And the staff were so fantastic— from the bellmen to concierge to restaurant employees and bartenders— all so friendly and helpful. A sincere thank you to William, Rose, Andres, Victor, Omer and everyone else who made our stay so enjoyable.
Tips— yes there is some construction going on in the town below the property. It didn’t bother us because it wasn’t overwhelming (a sound here and a sound there). If you are the type to be bothered, ask for a room that has views of Sugar Beach. This side doesn’t have construction going on below it. You can always go up to the main pool and poolside bar to watch the sunset.
The staff will take you via golf cart to the town and also Sugar Beach. That was really nice especially since my wife managed to sprain her ankle on a day trip.
We recommend working with the concierge staff to book day trips/excursions/private transport. We had amazing experiences with a sunset sail, hike to La Leona waterfall, and also visiting Rincon de la Vieja. The vendors have all been vetted and they were all great.
If we could give 10 stars, we would!
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: You won’t need a car. Book transportation through the wonderful concierges.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We went for lunch in this place is going to be one of the most beautiful, modern gorgeous locations with the best reviews anywhere in Costa Rica. The service was excellent, the food was very good, and the drinks were top-notch.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Romantic, stunning views, top notch
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I spent 3 nights here at Casa Chamelon while on our honeymoon in Costa Rica! We spent 11 days traveling the pacific coast and we started our trip in Las Catalina’s at Casa Chamelon. We had a sunset villa - gorgeous views. After spending 3 nights here these were our thoughts
Pros: - Absolutely gorgeous hotel with amazing views - Very friendly staff; they greet you from the time you arrive and accommodate your every need while there. All the staff knew our names. - The resort pool, restaurant and cabana are all extremely nice and you feel very luxurious while staying there - concierge will pick you up in a golf cart and take you anywhere in las Catalinas
The cons: - the private plunge pool we had was beautiful with an awesome ocean view, however the water was absolutely freezing, even after being in the hot Costa Rican sun all day it was still way too cold to go in. We never lasted more than a minute. - the town is under ALOT of construction so you will be in a construction zone and woken up early to the sounds of workers - bathrooms have almost zero privacy. There is a separation between the wall and the ceiling so you can hear loud and clear everything the person is doing in the bathroom.. not very sexy - this is more for the town of Las Catalinas rather than the hotel but the area is OUTREAGEOUSLY expensive. We bought toothbrush, bugs spray, 1 package of cold meds with 8 tabs and 2 cans of Arizona iced tea and it was $92 USD! The girl says “yeah it’s an expensive area”.. an uber/taxi 15 min to the next town over, Playa Potrero, was going to be $160 round trip… we opted to not go - finally there was not a whole lot to do there besides be in the sun, my husband and I were by far the youngest people in Las Catalinas (31 & 32) and the town basically goes dead quiet by 7pm. So it’s great for relaxation but it would have been very boring any longer than 2-3 nights.
Overall it was a great romantic place to spend a beautiful days while on our honeymoon. I can’t say we would necessarily go back only because of how expensive the area is and how little there is to do there but it was great for a few nights living here in the lap of luxury for a special occasion like a honeymoon.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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As the dream hotel is titled, a magnificent place with an amazing view. We will start with the short airport-hotel tour, from start to finish a 5* service Rose our driver took care of us with the little care of a fresh welcome towel before getting into the car to refresh us after the flight hours. And she had everything planned, little snack for the road, fresh fruit juices, made at the hotel, small beers, bottle of water, nothing was missing, perfect and when arriving at the hotel a very fresh coconut water . In the huge room there was also welcome fruit, a small cocktail with or without alcohol with local recipes and instructions to follow.. The huge bed and incredible comfort I have never slept so well that during this 4 days, icing on the cake private swimming pool with waterfall private solarium area with tables and deck chairs, and you can even shower with a view between Earth and sea The next day at breakfast the staff are super nice, we ask you if you slept well if everything is fine if there is anything you are missing and as soon as you arrive at the table, coffee, fresh fruit juice of the day and you choose the breakfast already very copious that you choose from the menu; For my part it was eggs and avocado, my husband chose the typical gallo pinto Tico dish. All always served with a smile. The best happens at Sunset and yes they have a sunset ritual, everyone gets dressed up for that, we can have a drink and after dinner at the Sentido Norte restaurant there is a DJ or live music that depends on the days. In summary, a stay that felt like home but with 5* service from the staff from the moment we arrived to our departure. Thank you and see you soon
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Ne pas manquez le coucher le soleil
Visiter Las Catalinas
Playa Conchal
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Fabulous hotel with incredible views of the ocean. The hotel sits high up in the hills and thus has an extraordinary view of the ocean below and beyond. Breathtaking sunsets!!! The rooms are luxe with fabulous plunge pools. If critters such as beetle or a praying mantis get into your room or a nocturnal neighbor leaves a gift in your pool (yes all those happened lol) the super nice and courteous staff step right into action to take care of everything . We appreciated that the staff carefully removed the praying mantis as opposed to killing it. If I were to nitpick and find an issue with Casa Chameleon it would be the ongoing construction of the next door condos and the growing town of Guanacaste down the road. Currently there is only one restaurant open at the hotel (the second one is temporarily closed) which means you need to be prepared to eat many meals in Guancaste. The construction is also both audible and visible ...not in a horrible way but enough so that you notice it and it might bother some. The staff was terrific and made excellent suggestions regarding restaurants and activities, Rooms were beautiful. Food was good. I enjoyed the food offered during pool hours to be better than the dinner menu. The restaurants in town were good, a couple were very good. Take a trip or two down into the nearby beaches. They are beautiful with gorgeous warm waters. Great trip! thank you!
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
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Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â Small very private luxe boutique hotel best for couples. Be aware there is some construction...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sergio Gamboa, Otro at Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas
Responded 4 Aug 2024
Dear, Nicholeg795 Thank you so much for your wonderful review of Casa Chameleon. We are delighted to hear that you had a fabulous time and enjoyed the breathtaking views, luxe rooms, and our attentive staff. We always strive to provide an exceptional experience for our guests, and it's gratifying to know that our team was able to promptly assist you with any unexpected visitors in your room. We appreciate your understanding and patience regarding the ongoing construction. Our goal is to enhance the overall experience for all our guests, and we are working diligently to minimize any disruptions. We’re glad to hear that the construction did not significantly impact your stay and that you were able to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of our location. It’s also wonderful to know that you enjoyed the food and found the nearby restaurants to be a good option during your stay. Exploring the local beaches is indeed a highlight, and we’re pleased that you took the opportunity to visit them. Thank you again for choosing Casa Chameleon. We hope to welcome you back in the future for another memorable stay. Warm regards, Hotel Manager, Casa Chameleon, Las Catalinas.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Having recently returned from our honeymoon at Casa Chameleon in Las Catalinas, Costa Rica, I must admit that the resort was a far cry from the essence of "Pura Vida" that we had hoped for. While the location and rooms were undeniably beautiful and serene, the overall experience fell short in terms of service and dining.
Situated at the top of a cliff, Casa Chameleon boasts breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The rooms were thoughtfully designed, providing a tranquil setting for a romantic escape. However, it was the lackluster service that tainted our stay. Despite the resort's limited number of rooms, we constantly found ourselves mistaken for random drop-in sightseers, resulting in a sense of being overlooked and undervalued. This lack of recognition and attention to detail left us feeling far from the warm embrace of the "Pura Vida" spirit.
Venturing into the town below, we were met with disappointment. The town, albeit small, offered little in terms of options, with only one or two shops and subpar dining establishments. Unfortunately, my husband fell ill during our visit, and we relied on the resort's messaging app and calls to seek assistance. Regrettably, our requests for transportation back to the resort were ignored, and no one came to our aid. Instead of receiving an apology upon our return, we were met with excuses, with the staff claiming that they had not received any of our messages. This lack of accountability, responsiveness, and compassion was disheartening and far from the kind of service one would expect at a luxury resort.
To add to our disappointment, the quality of the food at Casa Chameleon was below average. The dining experience lacked the finesse and attention to detail that we had anticipated, further contributing to our overall dissatisfaction.
In stark contrast to the genuine "Pura Vida" hospitality that Costa Rica is known for, Casa Chameleon fell short in delivering a truly exceptional experience. While there were a few standout staff members who provided excellent service, the overall lack of attention, responsiveness, and accountability left us questioning the resort's commitment to guest satisfaction.
In conclusion, Casa Chameleon in Las Catalinas offers stunning views and serene rooms, but fails to embody the true spirit of "Pura Vida." The service we encountered was lackluster, with constant confusion regarding our guest status and a failure to address our needs and messages. Additionally, the limited options and quality of the food were disappointing. For those seeking an authentic Costa Rican experience filled with warmth and exceptional service, Casa Chameleon may not meet your expectations. We have stayed at other Costa Rican resorts where the Pura Vida attitude was evident. Buyer beware.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sergio Gamboa, Owner at Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas
Responded 10 Mar 2024
Dear Cindy , Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback following your recent stay at Casa Chameleon in Las Catalinas for your honeymoon. We deeply regret to hear that your experience did not align with the high standards of service and hospitality that we strive to uphold, and more importantly, that it fell short of embodying the "Pura Vida" spirit Costa Rica is celebrated for. We appreciate your acknowledgment of our resort's beautiful location and the serene ambiance of our rooms, designed for romantic getaways. However, it's disheartening to learn about the service shortcomings you encountered. The experience you described, from being treated as transient visitors to the lack of prompt and caring assistance, particularly during your husband's illness, is truly unacceptable. Please accept our sincerest apologies for the distress and inconvenience this caused. Regarding the dining experience and the quality of food, we understand how integral this aspect is to the overall enjoyment of your stay. It's disappointing to know we missed the mark, and your feedback has been shared with our culinary team for immediate review and improvement. Casa Chameleon aims to offer not just a stay but an experience reflective of Costa Rican hospitality and the vibrant "Pura Vida" lifestyle. It's clear from your comments that we have areas to improve upon to ensure our guests feel valued, cared for, and immersed in the warmth that defines our culture. Please rest assured, your feedback is invaluable to us and will be used constructively to address and rectify the issues mentioned. We are committed to making necessary changes to regain the trust and confidence of our guests. We hope that despite your recent experience, you will consider giving us the opportunity to welcome you back in the future, allowing us to provide the true Casa Chameleon experience that many have come to love and expect. Warm regards, Sergio Gamboa Masis Resident Manager Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas
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I have never experienced such luxury and beautiful accommodations before visited Casa Chameleon. The views are absolutely breathtaking and the service is even better. We stayed for four days and felt completely at home the entire time. The staff was incredibly welcoming and always going over and beyond to make our time there special. We stayed in room 14 and I couldn’t recommend it more. The housekeeping staff was absolutely amazing and did a great job not only tidying up our room each day but also doing a turn down service with tea and little desserts. There was not one thing about our stay we would change. This was our favorite stay we have ever had and I would encourage anyone traveling to Costa Rica to book a stay at this beautiful hotel.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed here with my husband for 4 days in a sunset villa overlooking the pristine Danita Beach, high on a mountainside, with the most incredible sunsets every night. Our private patio and eternity plunge pool (with waterfall) was exquisite and so romantic. We awoke to the sound of the ocean, birds and howler monkeys. The staff was fantastic, greeting us by name in the lobby and the restaurant, and providing cool, scented towels each time we returned from activities. The food was outstanding at every meal and the sunset view from the bar drew a crowd each night. It was sheer indulgence from every perspective, including the nightly turn down service with hot tea and biscuits. Lots of hiking right from the property as well as a 5 min walk to the beach and kayaking. Worth every penny! Best for couples.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â A package inclusive of breakfast is WELL worth it. The food is amazing and plentiful and can get...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sergio Gamboa, Otro at Casa Chameleon at Las Catalinas
Responded 24 Apr 2024
Dear barbararR7282DV, Thank you so much for your thoughtful message! Your kind words truly warmed our hearts. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time at our sunset villa overlooking Dantita Beach. It was our pleasure to provide you and your husband with a relaxing and memorable experience. We're thrilled that you appreciated the personalized service from our staff, the delicious meals, and the breathtaking views. It sounds like you made the most of your stay, from hiking to beach walks and kayaking. We're grateful for your glowing review and are overjoyed that you found every aspect of your getaway to be worth it. Thank you again for choosing Casa Chameleon, Las Catalinas for your retreat—we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable stay in the future! Hotel Manager. Casa Chameleon, Las Catalinas.
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I'll preface this review with there was a little mix up with our reservation, but this place still gets five stars. Ariel the manager tended to our every need to get the mix up fixed, including moving our villa to make sure we had a great location and we came back from a tour to a special surprise. Ariel truly went above and beyond for us and we're so thankful to him for his effort to make our honeymoon amazing.
We came to CC after spending time in the tropical rainforest part of Costa Rica. It is a whole other world -- a dry rainforest, beach access and very hot. The private plunge pool in our villa was definitely a welcome amenity and we spent plenty of time sunbathing on our porch and taking dips. It's a great location to the town they're building nearby and golf carts are always available to have you driven down and up since the walk can be a bit steep. The views of the ocean and nearby forests and the sunset were amazing. We loved going to the bar/restaurant for sunset and to watch them light the pool fires. I was even lucky enough to be able to ring the gong to mark sunset and have them light the fire. Luckily the hostess at Sentido Norte remembered I really wanted to and she came and got me from the bar to ring it.
That thoughtfulness was present in every staff member and made our stay even better.
The food at Sentido Norte and the new steakhouse was delicious and had great staff. We were stuffed and satisfied with every meal. The food was soooo good.
We did one tour with Carlos Meneses who was so knowledgeable about the area and nature. We learned so much and are grateful he braved a little rain with us. He then took us to lunch and we got to spend more time with him. He was so pleasant and we are lucky we had him and are very grateful to the time and effort he gave to us during our tour. We were able to see a family of spider monkeys and he on the lookout for toucans knowing that I really wanted to see one.
Along with Carlos, everyone at CC was ready to jump in and help us with anything, whether it was rearranging tours, making dinner reservations in the town or greeting us with cold towels whenever we returned to the hotel. Everyone was so friendly and we enjoyed meeting and talking to everyone we came across at CC. We're lucky to have experienced CC and are grateful to them and Ariel for making our honeymoon very special.
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Date of stay: November 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The staff at Casa Chameleon were lovely and very helpful. During our stay in February 2025 there was a lot of building work taking place next to the hotel. Our family booked three rooms and one, room 7, was lacking privacy and suffered from noise throughout the day, starting at 7:30am. This is because of its location to the works. I strongly recommend that you do not stay in this room until the works have finished. The food was good, the views amazing and a nice pool. The one problem is that there are only 4 sunbeds along with some cabanas. There really should be more.
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Date of stay: February 2025Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Don’t stay in room 7
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Grumpyfitysomething,
We would like to inform you that our construction is expected to be completed by December 2024. However, please note that the neighboring town of Las Catalinas, adjacent to our hotel, is undergoing expansion. While our work will be finished, there may still be some construction sounds from the nearby area.
To ensure your comfort, we are proactively blocking any rooms that may be directly affected by noise during this period.
We hope this addresses your concerns. If you have any further questions or need assistance with anything else, please feel free to reach out
Hotel Manager,
Casa Chameleon, Las Catalinas.
Succasunna, New Jersey783 contributions230 helpful votes
As far as construction noise, we have not been at the hotel since January. I know they have home lots to be built on the Las Castalinas side( sunset). but it was pre construction. If you refer to the building going on in the town, I do not notice it.
We stay on the sunrise side of the hotel, which does not have any construction going on. We like that side much better because the afternoon sun is brutal on the west facing units. The east side has a nice view of the bay on that side and beaches. We go to the pool at sunset to have a drink .
We rent a car each year when we go. It is an hour drive and pretty straight foward. If you dont like crossing a stream that is usually running fast, avoid the Monkey Trail road. If you follow Waze it will take you another way. It is 20 minutes longer. Having a car is not cheap but it allows you to explore the area and the different beaches and resturants.
The town of las Catalinas is cute, but other than routine touris type restuatantsnot much there. The beach is not that nice. The bike and hiking shop there is excellent and their coffee is great. The hills around Las Catalinas are fantastic for hiking and mountain biking. There are miles and miles of trails and we have aleays found them safe.
The better beaches are just south of the hotel through through Tamarindo. Have not explored beaches north of Las Catalinas. I think there are some good ones and will try them next year.
There are some good restuarants in Playa Flamingo and Pertero. For a special treat try the Castle on the hill that overviews the area. Great food, fantastic views and a wonderful story. They only seat 15 guests an evening so you need to make reservations ahead of time. You go there about an hour before sunset for a tour and cocktails on the top of the Castle. Afetr sunset, you are seated for dinner. ask the front desk at Casa Chameleon to make the reservation for you. I would suggest you take the option to have the resturant or a local driver bring you there. It is a very challanging road, mostly gravel to the top where the restuarant is.
In the past when we have gone on excursions we always used local tour companies that we arranged on our own.Depends on what you are interested in. There are plenty of tour company's.
If this is the only place you are visiting in Costa Rica, you can take day long trips to different volcanos in the interior (Arenal is just one). Plenty of zip lines places etc. If your moving around the country, I would focus on the beaches in the area and do the other things depending on what regions you are visiting.
There are more places to choose from in the Las Catalinas area.
PRICE RANGE
RMÂ 3,232 - RMÂ 6,423 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of GuanacasteLas Catalinas
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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