After a two-year pause for in-person sporting and outdoor recreation events, the seaside, car-free town of Las Catalinas in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, has announced the return of the annual Tri Las Catalinas off-road multisport triathlon, scheduled for Feb. 15–18.
Since its debut in 2013 with 160 participants, Tri Las Catalinas has become one of Costa Rica’s standout triathlons. The event blends open-water swimming, mountain biking and trail running across a coastal landscape, featuring a 1,200-meter ocean swim, a 25-kilometer mountain bike course and an 8.5-kilometer trail run that together traverse more than 42 kilometers of trails, beaches and shoreline.
© Courtesy of Las Catalinas
The field is deliberately limited to 250 participants—160 spots for the individual triathlon and 90 for relays—so athletes can compete solo or as part of a team. Notable past champions include Olympian Leo Chacon and XTERRA winner Rom Akerson.
Tri Las Catalinas welcomes a wide range of abilities. In addition to the individual race, the event offers a team relay option, open-water swim races in two distances (1,600 and 3,200 meters) and a children’s race that routes through the town’s pedestrian-friendly streets, encouraging family participation and community engagement.
© Courtesy of Las Catalinas
The race is organized by iFly Costa Rica, Sad and Las Catalinas. Registration fees are $95 + IVA for individual competitors and $185 + IVA for relay teams; these rates cover taxes and event fees. Visit the Tri Las Catalinas event page for full registration details and what is included with entry.
Many visitors choose to extend their stay in Las Catalinas to focus on wellness, train in the area, or simply enjoy the town’s active lifestyle. Accommodation options include Santarena Hotel or private villas arranged through local travel services, which often provide daily housekeeping, laundry service, fully equipped kitchens, complimentary WiFi and access to Las Catalinas Collection resort facilities.
Las Catalinas is one of Costa Rica’s newest desirable beach towns, designed around New Urbanist principles and currently home to 142 residences and roughly 150 full-time residents. The car-free, highly walkable community is built to include inns and boutique hotels, shops, restaurants, spas, pedestrian streets, parks, plazas and recreational facilities, all situated between two Pacific beaches. The surrounding region encompasses about 1,000 acres of protected tropical dry forest with an extensive network of hiking and biking trails.
© Courtesy of Las Catalinas
Within the town, public spaces are woven with natural landscapes and architecture that emphasize indoor-outdoor living and panoramic views. Cars are intentionally absent, fostering safer streets and a quieter environment. Founder Charles Brewer has emphasized values such as environmental stewardship, strong community connections, a rhythm with nature, and a focus on wellness—prioritizing quality of life, human relationships and ecological sustainability over material excess.