Level it up in the Tropics: Las Catalinas Announces Exciting Lineup of Sporting Events for 2024

The seaside, mostly car-free town of Las Catalinas in Guanacaste, Costa Rica recently announced the town will host two upcoming major sporting and fitness events and competitions this year.  Join surf legend and innovator Laird Hamilton and former professional athlete Gabby Reece and the XPT Team for a 3-day ultimate fitness adventure at Las Catalinas on May 7 – 9, 2024. Further ahead in the year, Las Catalinas is excited to host the XTERRA Costa Rica, an off-road, multi-sport triathlon on August 23 – 25, 2024. This will be the first time that XTERRA Costa Rica comes to Las Catalinas.

For those looking to reset their fitness, elevate their training or learn cutting-edge techniques to improve their sport and life performance, the XPT Experience Costa Rica is ideal for all fitness levels. Guests will learn each pillar of the XPT lifestyle through performance breathing, underwater workouts, gym training, nature workouts, ice-heat sessions, recovery work, advisor lectures, and XPT lifestyle education. The May 7 – 9 retreat program includes the following:

• 3 nights of accommodations at the boutique Santarena Hotel
• XPT workouts with Laird Hamilton, Gabby Reece and experienced team members and coaches
• Pool training and strength building workouts
• Outdoor activities such as hiking and stand-up paddle boarding
• Surfing session with Laird Hamilton
• Instruction in Performance Breathing Techniques
• Lecture topics include human performance, mind-body connection, daily goals, nutrition, sleep, and tools for managing stress
• Lunch, Dinner, Hydration and Snacks are included
• XPT Heat and Ice Recovery Program after workouts
• Additional nights are available based on availability

Pricing starts at $7000USD and includes three nights’ accommodation in town at Santarena Hotel. Flights and transportation to and from Las Catalinas are not included. More information on XPT Experience Costa Rica is here.

“We are excited to bring the XPT Experience back to Las Catalinas in Costa Rica,” said Jenn Meredith, co-founder, XPT.  “It is a perfect location to do all of our wellness and performance training. The town and community make us feel so welcome and they offer everything we need and more.”

Later this year, Las Catalinas will host their first-ever XTERRA Costa Rica on August 23 – 25, 2024. Las Catalinas has been the home to the Tri Las Catalinas, one of Costa Rica’s most celebrated triathlons since 2013. Past winners for the Tri Las Catalinas include Olympian Leo Chacon and XTERRA Champion Rom Akerson. The XTERRA Costa Rica is an off-road multisport endurance competition featuring a full distance triathlon (individual and relay) with a 1600-meter open-water swim, 28-kilometer mountain bike and 9-kilometer trail run. The sprint triathlon includes an 800-meter open-water swim, a 20-kilometer mountain bike and a 5-kilometer trail run and covers over 42 kilometers of trails, beaches, and waterfront. Inclusive of many skill levels, this triathlon offers a team relay option, a 30-kilometer trail half marathon, a 15-kilometer trail run, a 5-kilometer fun run, an open-water swimming competition with races in four distances (400, 800, 1600 and 3200 meters) and a children’s race through the town’s pedestrian-friendly streets. The XTERRA Costa Rica triathlon is organized by Las Catalinas and Coopenae with Luis Diego Chaverri as the race director.  The weekend event will be a three-day sports and family festival where both adults and children can enjoy an array of activities. Please visit the XTERRA Costa Rica website for registration pricing and details.

“XTERRA returns to Costa Rica in 2024 and couldn’t have chosen a better venue than Las Catalinas,” said Luis Diego Chaverri, Race Director. “Having used the location for 10 years with the TRI Las Catalinas, knowing its people, its town, and its trails, there’s no other place than Las Catalinas to host this event. Las Catalinas is a town that has all the criteria to meet the expectations of the XTERRA population who are lovers of outdoor challenges and nature.”

Since its inception, Las Catalinas has become an ideal destination for training, rejuvenation, wellness, healing and recovery and outdoor adventure. With 42 kilometers of world-class, single-track trails that feature stunning views of the coastline and valley vistas, Las Catalinas is the most prominent mountain biking destination in the American tropics. All hiking and running trails feature spectacular viewpoints and opportunities to get a glimpse of some of the area’s amazing local wildlife, including monkeys, peccaries, and coatis, not to mention a wide variety of exotic birds. Trails vary in difficulty and length, from high-intensity hills to low-impact flatter tracks. The town is also flanked by two of the best beaches on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. Sheltered just enough from the southern swell, Las Catalinas is a haven for water sports enthusiasts, and consistent moderate waves make it ideal for body surfing and boogie boarding as well as standup paddle-boarding (SUP) and sea kayaking.