If you are dreaming of a memorable Central American honeymoon, there is no doubt that Costa Rica is your best destination. With breathtaking coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific, this beautiful country promises newlyweds, exciting jungle expeditions, incredible wildlife, relaxing beaches, imposing volcanoes, and a laid-back culture, difficult to find in many other places.
Whether you want a romantic, luxurious, or adventurous escape, continue reading this article, and find out how to plan your honeymoon in Costa Rica.
Costa Rica Honeymoon Resorts & Packages Quick Picks
- Best Time to Honeymoon in Costa Rica: mid-December to April
- Best Costa Rica Honeymoon Suite: Florblanca Villas
- Best Luxury Costa Rica Resort: Nayara Springs
- Best Costa Rica Bungalow: Tulemar Resort
- Best Adult-Only All-Inclusive Costa Rica Resort: Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica
- Best Unique Costa Rica Resort: Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat
Best Time to Plan a Costa Rica Honeymoon
If you want to be in Costa Rica during its dry season, you should plan your honeymoon from mid-December to April. The dry season boasts plenty of sunshine, but this also means Costa Rica is filled with travelers. If crowds and higher prices don’t bother you, this is the ideal time to relax on the beautiful Costa Rican beaches and explore its lush rainforests.
In case rain doesn’t scare you away, plan your escape outside the dry season, and enjoy the tranquility and lower prices of a mesmerizing country.
Best Places to Stay in Costa Rica for a Honeymoon
To make sure you have the memorable honeymoon you deserve, you should find the best accommodation for your preferences. Fortunately, Costa Rica offers many different types of accommodations, and, to help you choose, we made a list of the best recommendations.
Costa Rica Honeymoon Suites
When it comes to accommodations, Costa Rica has a lot of great suites to offer honeymooners. Often these suites are self-contained, perfectly designed spaces to help you relax and connect. There are many honeymoon suite options, but these suites top our list.
If you are looking for a sense of true privacy in the middle of a lush, luxurious setting, consider celebrating your love in a Costa Rican honeymoon suite.
Florblanca Villas, for instance, offers newlyweds the chance to relax in a stunning surf suite, with mesmerizing ocean views, and surrounded by exotic gardens.
Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge
Also in a tranquil area, Si Como No Resort & Wildlife Refuge awaits romantic couples with 4 hectares of forested hillside grounds overlooking the Pacific Ocean and a private, luxurious honeymoon suite that promises to enhance your amorous escape.
Costa Rica Luxury Resorts
For couples who love privacy but long for luxury, you can choose between a multitude of high-end resorts for their special honeymoon in Costa Rica.
Andaz Costa Rica Resort is a gorgeous Peninsula Papagayo option for couples who want a lavish honeymoon full of pampering and relaxing moments.
The posh rooms and suites, breathtaking forest or bay views, flawless room services, amazing culinary experiences, and live music events are some of the many things you can enjoy at Andaz Resort.
Located on lovely Playa Hermosa beach, and featuring tropical-chic suites, with earth-tone palettes, garden or ocean views, and amenities that can easily make you feel like in heaven, Hotel Bosque del Mar is another fantastic choice for luxury seekers.
There is nothing more relaxing than sipping a delicious cocktail at a cozy bar with beach views, before heading towards a luxe spa for a memorable pampering. And these are only some of the great things you will find at this high-end resort.
Honeymooners who see themselves celebrating their new beginnings on a lush hillside overlooking the rainforest can find their best room at the luxury Nayara Springs, a 5-star hotel that welcomes travelers with deluxe rooms and extravagant amenities, like a posh spa with open-air treatment rooms, and fancy Latin-Asian fusion restaurants.
Gorgeous Costa Rica Honeymoon Bungalows and Cabins
Another great honeymoon option is a stay in a bungalow or cabin. These accommodations are often more secluded, wrapped in lush greenery, or tucked into a corner of a quiet beach. Take a look at these bungalow and cabin options.
If your idea of romance involves serene bungalows or cabins, Costa Rica promises to satisfy you completely. Tulemar Resort, for example, awaits you with 33 acres of gardens and lush forests and cozy, chic cabins with en suite bathrooms and views of the ocean and rainforest.
Your stay will be enhanced by luxury amenities such as outdoor pools, some overlooking the ocean, a deluxe spa, fancy restaurants, and a cool bar.
And, if you and your loved one are conscious travelers, you can plan your perfect honeymoon stay at Drake Bay Getaway Resort. Here, you will find a relaxed eco-lodge overlooking Drake Bay with five airy cabins built from recyclable materials. But that is not all. The delightful, romantic cabins also feature natural cooling methods such as white roofs and solar-heated water.
Also, during your whole stay, you are served organic meals and invited to spend relaxing moments at the resort’s airy cafe and bar.
Best All-Inclusive Resorts and Hotels
Honeymooners who prefer all-inclusive packages will find plenty of fabulous options in Costa Rica, as well. There are a handful of all-inclusive resorts and hotels to take away all the stress of detail planning.
Located along Arenillas Beach on the Culebra Bay, Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica is a superb, upscale, adults-only all-inclusive property that welcomes romantic couples from all over the world.
Beautifully decorated refined rooms, some with breathtaking bay views, outdoor plunge pools, and whirlpool tubs, direct beach access, and a fantastic spa, are some of the things you can enjoy at this deluxe resort.
Occidental Tamarindo, a 4-star laid-back all-inclusive resort overlooking Parque Nacional Marino Las Baulas, is another great option for honeymooners. Located along a tranquil beach on the Pacific Ocean, this opulent resort is waiting for love birds with sensational packages, amazing culinary experiences, romantic views, a spa, a gym, and a tennis court, as well as beach access.
JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa
If you usually love staying at the sumptuous Marriott hotels, you can do it when traveling to Costa Rica, too. In the well-known Guanacaste region, JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa awaits visitors with elegant rooms and deluxe amenities.
Also, the upscale hacienda-style resort is set on a superb Pacific beach and the beautiful surroundings, its location promising to enhance your lavish stay.
Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica
For more adventurous newlyweds who want a smooth combination of luxury and nature, Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica is a good choice.
Perfectly situated in a tropical jungle alongside El Jobo Beach, the high-end resort provides everything necessary for a magnificent stay, with the possibility of exploring the fascinating Costa Rican jungle life.
The Most Unique Costa Rican Resorts
Having Costa Rica as your honeymoon destination already makes your escape very special. But, there are some unique resorts in this beautiful country that promise to bring even more uniqueness to your celebration.
Flanked by tropical rainforest and overlooking the calming, blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, Los Altos Resort is, without a doubt, a unique choice for honeymooners. High-end restaurants, a private beach, an infinity pool, and fun cooking classes are some of the great things you can experience at this upscale all-suite resort located only 3 km from Manuel Antonio Beach.
Its lavish suites have panoramic rainforest or ocean views you can admire from your cozy balcony or terrace. The luxury offered is enhanced by the endless number of outdoor explorations and activities available in the area.
Hotel Makanda by The Sea is another unique option for romantic couples. Also close to the Manuel Antonio National Park, this stylish adults-only hotel awaits honeymooners looking for both relaxation and adventure in the middle of beautiful nature. Fishing and bike trips, horseback riding, and yoga classes, as well as relaxing moments at the pool and in your balconies with ocean views, are some of the things you will enjoy during your honeymoon at Hotel Makanda.
With airy rooms featuring local art, terraces with hammocks and ocean views, as well as a great location on Islita Beach, surrounded by tropical forest, Hotel Punta Islita is an upscale resort that promises honeymooners the romantic, laid-back escape of their dreams.
In addition to sumptuous meals at high-end restaurants with lovely views and relaxing moments at a sexy infinity pool, this luxury resort awaits more active couples with plenty of thrilling water activities, horseback riding sessions, and ziplining adventurers.
Also surrounded by mesmerizing jungle, and located directly on the white sand of the charming Playa Montezuma beach, Ylang Ylang Beach Resort invites honeymooners to celebrate their new beginning in one of their colorful rooms, suites, bungalows, or tents.
Whatever type of accommodations you choose, the quaint property promises spectacular ocean views, tranquility, as well as luxury amenities and treatments in one of the most scenic Costa Rican resorts.
Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat
If you are looking for a secluded place that has a rustic charm and breathtaking views, Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat is waiting for you with cozy cabins with fabulous views of the Arenal Volcano, an outdoor pool and delicious culinary experiences.
This is one of the best options for couples who are looking for complete peace of mind in a superb home away from home.
Most Romantic Places in Costa Rica
This Central American piece of heaven is a fantastic destination for all kinds of travelers, especially honeymooners, who long for the perfect combination of romance, adventure, relaxation, and interesting culture.
La Paz
La Paz Waterfall Gardens Nature Park is, for instance, a must-visit for all nature aficionados. Located in central Costa Rica, the park offers a gorgeous adventure filled with amazing landscapes, a fascinating zoo area, where you can spot great wildlife, and buffet areas where you can let your taste buds run wild. The outstanding waterfalls of La Paz are a must-see when visiting the park.
La Fortuna
If you are planning to visit Costa Rica’s bustling capital, San Jose, make sure you also stop in La Fortuna, a delightful, small town, northwest of the capital. The little town is not only a place to explore the culture of the country but also a gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park.
Manuel Antonio
Also close to San Jose, you will find one of the best honeymoon destinations in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio.
With lush rainforests, tranquil beaches, thrilling outdoor activities, and the well-known Manuel Antonio National Park, this top destination is a must-visit for all types of honeymooners.
Puerto Viejo
Couples who want to spend their amorous escape on gorgeous beaches and explore the Costa Rican nightlife should consider visiting Puerto Viejo.
With its lovely coconut palms, crystal clear waters, soft sand, and laid-back Caribbean atmosphere, this destination is perfect for a relaxing holiday.
Monteverde
Another Costa Rican destination that promises honeymooners a magical experience is Monteverde.
This dreamland awaits nature enthusiasts with amazing biodiverse cloud forests, picturesque landscapes, and plenty of activities for adrenaline seekers.
Guanacaste
At the same time, Guanacaste, one of the country’s most popular provinces, also offers couples the chance to celebrate their love in style. The tropical paradise of Guanacaste is filled with pristine beaches, imposing mountain ranges, and spectacular volcanoes, but it also has many options for recreation and is a great place for culture enthusiasts who want to catch a glimpse of Costa Rica’s real life.
We personally honeymooned in Guanacaste, spending time in Tamarindo and in Rincón de la Vieja National Park. We loved experiencing both the jungle and the beach in the same trip.
Dominical
And for excited surfers who want to honeymoon in a world-renowned surfers’ heaven, Dominical is the best answer. The small village is located in Costa Rica’s Puntarenas province, and it attracts surf fans from all over the world, but it also offers beautiful beaches for sunbathing, enjoying other water sports, and even sailing.
Things to do in Costa Rica for a Honeymoon
So, how do you fill your days in Costa Rica? Fortunately, Costa Rica has no shortage of fun adventures and experiences. You can find just about everything from relaxing on the beach to white water rafting.
Take a look at some of the top activities to enjoy on a Costa Rica honeymoon.
Enjoy the Beaches
There are tons of amazing beaches throughout Costa Rica. Make sure you plan some time to relax on the beach. Costa Rica is a great place to take a surf lesson or go on a sunset cruise together.
Go Ziplining
Costa Rica is home to tons of zipline courses. When we honeymooned we went on the best zipline we have ever experienced. We went by waterfalls and over valleys with horses walking around. It was absolutely amazing.
White Water Rafting
There are several places in Costa Rica where you can enjoy white water rafting during some times of the year. It is a fun honeymoon activity that will be hard to forget.
Food Experiences
Costa Rica is known for many food experiences including coffee and chocolate. You can tour coffee plantations throughout the country and learn about the process of going from plant to your coffee cup.
You can also go on a chocolate tour to see how it is produced from tree to final product.
Is Costa Rica safe for honeymooners?
All travelers should be concerned about their safety when visiting unknown territory, whether it is big cities or smaller, more secluded areas. Fortunately, Costa Rica is not only safe, but it also hosts some of the friendliest people in the world.
Once you are there, their ‘Pura Vida’ lifestyle, perfectly combined with the lovely weather, is intoxicating and instantly makes you feel at home. Also, the Costa Rican government provides additional security resources in most areas frequented by tourists.
However, just like in any other destination, there might be problems. This is why personal safety is very important. So, to be safe, don’t display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry, and don’t carry large amounts of cash.
Also, keep your personal belongings close and even leave most of them in the hotel’s safe. At the same time, use reputable transportation services, and pay attention to your surroundings.
Costa Rica is a great honeymoon destination for any couple looking for some sun, sand, and adventure. With these resorts and packages, you can find the perfect place to stay and start your Costa Rica honeymoon off right. Then it’s all about finding the right activities, but that’s the fun part!
He is an expert travel advisor and enthusiast. He has traveled extensively in the USA, Central America, South America, and Europe. He has visited every Sandals Resort and is one of a select few Diamond Elite members of the Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club.
Dan graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an associate degree in Culinary Arts. Later he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a focus on people and culture.
Costa Rica looks like the perfect honeymoon destination! Dreaming of a few days of adventure followed by some relaxing days in an all inclusive resort. Thanks for all the accommodation recommendations!