Costa Rica Honeymoon Guide

Are you considering a honeymoon to Costa Rica? Then you have come to the right page! we have created this guide to the perfect Costa Rica honeymoon to answer all of your most common questions and perhaps a few you didn’t even consider. If you have any more questions, My Costa Rica is here to help!

In this article you will learn about (click to jump ahead):

• Why to choose Costa Rica for your honeymoon
• The best honeymoon destinations
• The best honeymoon resorts and hotels
• Our top honeymoon packages
• Private transfer vs car rental
• Traveling independently vs using a travel agent
• The average cost of a Costa Rica honeymoon

Why choose a Costa Rica honeymoon?

Before we delve deeper into the practicalities of planning the perfect Costa Rica honeymoon, allow us to expand upon the reasons why Costa Rica is your best choice!

High-end luxury

Some of the best and most luxurious resorts in the world are located in Costa Rica. Resorts like Nayara Springs and Tulemar have often topped the list by exceeding the high standers of a demanding industry as well as taking the cup for the TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice.

In fact, Costa Rica has a whole region devoted to all-inclusive resorts and luxury vacations in the province of Guanacaste, most specifically the Gulf of Papagayo. Located in the north-west of the country, Papagayo has firmly gained a reputation for its high-end all-inclusive packages mainly thanks to its geography and climate. Guanacaste is the province offering the most amount of sun and least amount of rain!

Additionally, Papagayo has been awarded the Blue Flag Award for environmental consciousness, rewarding the country’s efforts the find a balance between high development and maintaining natural beauty.

Very easy to reach at a reasonable price

Being here might make it feel like you are on the other side of the world, but for the US traveler Costa Rica is only a couple of hours away. It’s like having your own tropical paradise just around the corner. Flights from the US to Costa Rica can range between 800 and 1200 USD for the both of you (depending on the State and the season).

A versatile destination

With a long list of stunning and romantic destinations to choose from, why would you go for Costa Rica and what kind of honeymooners does this country cater to? The answer to that is rather simple. Costa Rica tops the list as one of the most versatile travel destinations in the world. From the most chilled out yogis to the most driven adrenaline junkies, Costa Rica can offer the best of all worlds. In the same week you can:

• Go white-water rafting
• Take a horseback riding tour
• Have a romantic dinner with volcano view
• Take a zip-line tour
• Sail towards the sunset
• Take your first surfing lesson
• Share a glass of Champagne while soaking in natural hot springs
• Hike through a tropical rainforest
• Take a yoga class
• …

The safest country in Central America …

… and in many ways even safer than the US! Costa Rica has a very low crime rate and with tourism being its main source of income, huge investments have been made into making the country safe as well as tourist friendly. Read more about safety tips and in our safety article!

Best Costa Rica honeymoon destinations

Are you ….

… a romantic couple craving relaxation and luxury?

The Gulf of Papagayo, Guanacaste Province

With a delightful mix of calm, serene beaches and bustling party towns, Papagayo is perfect for a honeymoon needing nothing more than miles of beaches and a worry free, all-inclusive stay at a fantastic resort. If you feel like escaping the crowds, head to Playa Hermosa or Playa Panama. For some of Costa Rica’s best night life as well as a wide variety of tour options, head to the fishing town gone tourist hot spot known as Playas del Coco.

Stay Tip: Papagayo Secrets

Arenal, Northern Zone

We mention Arenal as a luxury options manly because of its irresistible hot springs and world-class resorts, but this is also one of Costa Rica most versatile destinations in terms of activities. This iconic giant towering over the town of La Fortuna is the perfect destination for rafting, birding, hiking, ziplining, kayaking, mountain biking, horseback riding, … This is where luxury meets excitement!

Stay Tip: Nayara Hotel

… looking to kick-start your marriage with a whole lot of action?

Pacuare, Caribbean

The Pacuare river is listed as one of the best rapids in the world. If you are looking for a white-water rafting trip to remember, you have come to the right place. Not only can you delights in the thrill of the rivers, you can also enjoy stunning natural beauty in a remote setting that can grant you various wildlife sightings even from your hotel room.

Stay tip: Pacuare Lodge

Manuel Antonio, Central Pacific

The iconic Manuel Antonio has adventures to offer on land as well as under water. Boasting one of the most stunning coastline sin Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio also has a national park that offers you sightings of sloths, toucans, coatis, monkeys, and many more. In addition to a hike, you can enjoy a canopy tour, parasailing, snorkeling, sailing, surfing, ATV tours and more!

Stay Tip: Tulemar Resort, Si como No and Makanda by the Sea

Rincon de la Vieja, Guanacaste Province

This beauty can easily rival Arenal as both an adventure and relaxation destination. With the full day adventure pass that can include rafting, tubing, canyoning, ziplining, … you can end your day of excitement indulging in a mud bath and natural hot spring. You can also hike or take a horseback riding tour to some of the waterfalls gracing Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

Stay Tip: Borinquen Resort and Hacienda Guachipelin

… looking for privacy surrounded by stunning beaches and tropical jungle?

Osa Peninsula, Southern Pacific

Located in Costa Rica’s South-West, Osa has many qualities to recommend is the ultimate destinations for the couple looking to spend their time away from the crowds and surrounded by unrivaled natural beauty. Known as the most biologically intense place in the country, Osa is home to the rugged and wild Corcovado National Park as well as the stunning beaches at Drake Bay and Uvita. Additionally, this is the best place in the country for whale watching!

              Stay Tip: Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge and Kura Design Villas

Best Honeymoon Hotels / Resorts we work with

If you have fallen in love with a destination, all that remains is to fall in love with a hotel. Here are our top picks!

Casa Chameleon

Chameleon is located at Las Catalinas by Playa Danta. This adults-only boutique resort will offer you ultimate privacy and spectacular views from your honeymoon suite.

Sip tropical drinks by the infinity pool or go snorkeling and scuba diving at the Catalina Islands. For the days when you wish to indulge in sheer luxury, you can visit the for relaxing massages and facials.

For those planning to include a destination wedding to their honeymoon, Casa Chameleon can cater up to 40 guests for your special day.

El Silencio Lodge

How about a romantic getaway in the middle of the mystical cloud forest at Bajos del Toro? With its luxurious spa, organic gourmet restaurant, suites and private villas, El Silencio has a lot going for it.

The feeling of escapism and seclusion can easily be combined with a long list of exciting activities like a hiking tour, adventure park, ziplining tours or chasing waterfalls, El Silencio features activities for every type of honeymooner.

Makanda by the Sea

Manuel Antonio is a top honeymoon destination as well as home to some stunning hotels and resorts.

Nestled within lush rainforest vegetation, this adults-only boutique hotel offers just a handful of suites and villas, all offering ocean views. If you head out to explore the area, you will find yourself within an endless selection of activities, with hiking, kayaking and zip-lining just being a few of them. The best of all? Manuel Antonio is known for having the most beautiful beaches in the country.

This hotel also offers destination weddings!

Kura Design Villas

The further south you go down the Pacific Coast, the more remote the beaches and forests get. Uvita offers some of the best whale watching tours in the country as well as the unique whale tail beach.

The accommodations available in this sere and stunning area will only add to the fantastical experience you will have when heading closer to the Osa Peninsula. Kura Design Villas is an intimate, adults-only resort featuring a lavish infinity pool that blends in seamlessly with the clear blue sky and ocean.

Nayara Springs

The last thing we want to do is forget about the resort that always seems to top the ‘best of’ lists. Nayara Springs is made up of luxurious villas offering stunning views of the Arenal Volcano.

Nayara Springs is for romantics, nature lovers and adventurers. This fantastic hotel offers activities that will satisfy every kind of traveler. Daily yoga classes, a lap pool, a lounge, and the award-winning spa (that we are sure you will want to try) are just a few of the many options you will have to spend your days.

Le Cameleon

We can’t forget about the Caribbean Coast! Le Cameleon Hotel is situated just outside of Puerto Viejo. The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica is slowly becoming more popular with honeymooners due to its crystal-clear ocean, bright blue sky and lush green vegetation.

Next to exploring the coast’s rich natural beauty in Cahuita and Tortuguero National Park, we highly recommend you to indulge in one of the many massage treatments you can enjoy while being surrounded by an abundant jungle garden. The Caribbean is the best location to spot sloths, keel-billed toucans, sea turtles and scarlet macaws!

Sectrets Papagayo

Last but not least, the ultimate all-inclusive Costa Rica dream! Located on a beautiful seclusive little bay on the Northern Pacific Coast, in the Gulf of Papagayo, Secrets Papagayo Resort & Spa is one of Costa Rica’s best adults-only all-inclusive resorts. Next to the romantic and peaceful ambiance, you will also find every service is provided for you. Treat your mind, body and soul to a variety of treatments. If you wish for a little more adventure to spice up your day, you don’t have to go far. On-site activities include yoga classes, snorkeling tours, tennis courts, cooking lessons and more.

Best Honeymoon Packages we offer

By now you must be wondering how you can fit all of this into one package ticking all the boxes. Allow us to introduce you to two of our most popular packages for honeymooners!

Costa Rica’s 7th Heaven

We didn’t call this package “7^th heaven” for nothing. It includes a cloud forest, Costa Rica’s most iconic active volcano, thermal hot springs and Costa Rica’s most beautiful coastline along with the most visited and most celebrated national park in the country. Curious to learn more? Read all about it!

Secrets Papagayo All-Inclusive

If this all-inclusive resort caught your eye before, you will be happy to learn that we designed a whole honeymoon package around it! As well as securing you the best and most romantic room, this package secures plenty of time to explore the nearby beaches, select some activities and enjoy the luxuries of your resort. As a perfect end to a perfect trip, we also organized a catamaran sailing trip complete with snorkeling tour!

Explore more of our honeymoon packages! And remember, every Costa Rica Honeymoon Itinerary can be customized!

Private transfer vs car rental

You may have noticed our vacation packages usually come with private transfers. This is the option we tend to recommend to anyone traveling with us because of its efficiency, comfort and safety. All the shuttles are punctual and come with a bilingual guide with real passion and knowledge of Costa Rica.

But you may think you would rather rent a car to go everywhere independently. Then we are happy to announce that we also offer packages where we connect you to a trustworthy car rental agency and still organize all the rest for you! Before hitting the road, make sure to read our article on driving in Costa Rica so you can be prepared for every situation!

Independent travel vs a travel agency

This is the big question for a lot of couples. Is it better to plan the trip yourself or to use local experts? Is doing it by yourself cheaper? Easier? More private? Let us tell you about the benefits of using a travel agency like My Costa Rica!

Let us help you organize your destination wedding!

We take the stress out of travel planning, but we can also help take the stress out of wedding planning. We can help coordinate all of your guests and we can recommend the perfect hotel for you and your guests. Like we mentioned before, many of the above-mentioned resorts and hotels come with on-site wedding planners and together with them, we will help you create the best possible wedding and honeymoon in one.

We remain available for you 24/7

The biggest perk of using an on-site travel agency is that they can guide you through any problems. Our ‘always there for you service’ allows you to contact us with any inquiries you may have. We are licensed experts. Ask us anything!

Your trip with us can be as private as you want it to be

Not all of our packages come with drivers or guides. We specialize in customized vacation packages which means that your vacation will include (and exclude!) anything you want.

We charge no service fee!

The biggest concern you may have is the added cost of traveling with an agency. But since we charge no service fee, booking through us will cost you no more than organizing the whole trip on your own!

Is a Costa Rica honeymoon expensive?

One obvious point that needs to be made is that the price tag always depends on what you decide to do. Let it be said that Costa Rica is not the cheapest country to visit especially compared to the rest of Central America. This has to do with the high level of safety and precautions taken during tours, the level of training guides received as well as the level of development to be found around the country.

Unless you are budget travelers even on your honeymoon, a one-week honeymoon in Costa Rica can cost you an average of 2500 USD for 2 people, not including your flight. This price also largely depends on the type of hotels you choose and how many activities you plan on doing. Here is a breakdown of costs to give you a general idea.

Food

Unless you go for the all-inclusive experience, you will most likely be eating out daily. Since most hotels include breakfast in the price, this leaves lunch and dinner. If you are feeling up for the experience of eating like a local and want to visit a soda to eat a traditional Casado or Gallo Pinto, you will often pay no more than 15 USD for both of your meals including one drink.

Costa Rica also offers a wide variety of options for those favoring fine dining on their honeymoon. You will various types of restaurants offering meals for every pallet and every diet preference. For these dining experiences, you expect to pay between 30 and 70 USD for two meals with one drink.

Activities

With all the regulations and conservation efforts Costa Rica has set in place, the activities and entrance fees to national parks are not the cheapest when comparing them to neighboring countries. The entrance fee for national parks are around 15 USD per person, depending on the park. Here are the average prices for some of Costa Rica’s most popular activities:

• Ziplining adventure in Monteverde from 50 USD per person
• Full Day rafting trip In Arenal from 110 USD per person
• Arenal Volcano and Tabacon Hot Springs tour from 156 USD per person
• Horseback riding tours in Guanacaste from 40 USD per person
• The Hacienda Guachipelin One Day Adventure Pass for around 90 USD per person
• Tortuga Island Catamaran Tour with snorkeling and sunset sailing (lunch and drink included) from 140 USD per person
• Half day scuba diving tour in the Catalina Islands from 110 USD per person
• …

Transportation

Private transfers will be included in our package deals but if you would rather rent a car, you should make sure to use rental agencies like Thrifty and Abode Cars that show full transparency in their costs. If you see a deal somewhere else that is much cheaper, they are likely leaving out the insurance costs which will be (sneakily) added later. Depending on the type of car you choose and which extra options you select, you can expect to pay anything between 250 and 700 USD for one week. Read more about renting a car in Costa Rica.

Accommodation

We work together with around 600 hotels, lodges and resorts that have all been personally tested and approved by us and range from 3 to 5 stars. So, the price of your hotel will very much depend on your preferences. Consult the list of our best and most romantic hotels and the average price per night.

Costa Rica is versatile, stunning, safe and a tropical paradise just around the corner from the US. With this honeymoon guide we hope you are feeling better prepared for you trip to Costa Rica and know that we remain available for any questions and can even offer you a free sample itinerary!