Costa Rica Honeymoon Itinerary and Ideas: Romance in a Tropical Paradise

In this guide you’ll find all the information you need to know about planning a Costa Rica honeymoon.

Read our Costa Rica honeymoon itinerary ideas, recommendations for hotels, best places for a Costa Rica honeymoon, things to do and more!

This post has affiliate links which we may earn a small commission from if you choose to purchase, at no extra cost to you. Listed prices are quoted in USD and are estimates. More info: Disclosure

Best Costa Rica Honeymoon Hotels and Resorts

No doubt you will want to stay in a high end – luxury hotel for your honeymoon in Costa Rica.

Here are some of best hotels in Costa Rica for honeymoons and couples.

Las Catalinas and Mal Pais Casa Chameleon Adults Only

Casa Chameleon has some of the most romantic boutique hotels in Costa Rica.

Both of these adult only hotels feature ocean view villas, each with their own private plunge pool. The location cannot be beat when it comes to stunning scenery and privacy.

Rooms have big comfy beds, luxury furnishings, high end toiletries and fantastic views. The private plunge pool at the Las Catalinas hotel was incredible, as the hotel is perched on a cliff with 180 degree ocean views.

Las Catalinas is an up and coming community in the Guanacaste province by the beautiful and quiet beaches of Danta and Sugar Beach.

Mal Pais is next to the bustling beach town of Santa Teresa.

Check rates for Casa Chameleon Las Catalinas and Casa Chameleon Mal Pais here.

Andaz Papagayo

As one of the most luxurious hotels in Costa Rica, any couple will love the Andaz. It sits above Culebra Bay in the Gulf of Papagayo, boasting breathtaking ocean views and their own beach.

The property has two infinity pools, a spa and all the luxury amenities.

It’s located in a remote area of the Gulf of Papagayo so you can enjoy an intimate honeymoon in Costa Rica.

Check rates for Andaz Papagayo here.

The Springs Resort and Spa

Although this upscale hotel is one of the best hotels in La Fortuna for families, it’s also great for couples, weddings and honeymooners.

They have their own outdoor adventure club, two large hot spring sections, a spa, multiple restaurants and a beautiful view of Arenal Volcano.

There are standard rooms, villas and higher end rooms. The standard rooms are plenty nice enough for a honeymoon, complete with a Jacuzzi, incredible views, private balcony and luxury toiletries and furnishings.

Read our review of the Springs Resort and Spa.

Peace Lodge

Experience the rain and cloud forest while staying in luxurious comfort at the Peace Lodge in Vara Blanca.

All rooms have a balcony with a Jacuzzi, river stone fireplaces, views of the cloud forest and free entrances to the La Paz waterfall gardens. Each room is decorated with a very unique design and decor, with a rainforest/jungle theme.

Upgrade to a deluxe room and enjoy the nicer furnishings. Our bathroom had a natural garden inside the waterfall Jacuzzi!

The Peace Lodge is a must for any Costa Rica honeymoon itinerary!

Read our review of the Peace Lodge here.

Westin Playa Conchal

For couples looking for an all-inclusive, the Westin Playa Conchal is one of the best.

Their Royal Beach Club is adult only and they have their own section of the resort with a pool, restaurants, check in and rooms.

Couples can relax on the stunning Conchal beach, enjoy therapeutic massages and lay out by the saltwater pool.

Read our review of the Westin Playa Conchal.

Ylang Ylang Beach Resort

This secluded resort on Playa Montezuma is perfect for any couple who doesn’t need an all-inclusive resort and wants a quieter beach experience.

They have all the comforts of home with spacious and beautiful rooms, all close to the pristine jungle and beach. Popular place for intimate beach weddings.

Click to check Ylang Ylang Beach Resort rates.

Nayara Springs Adults Only

For couples looking for the utmost privacy and romance, the Nayara Springs is the hotel to splurge on.

The Nayara Springs is the adult only section of Nayara Hotel and each of their gorgeous luxurious villas have their own private hot spring and an outdoor and indoor shower.

Their king size beds are super comfy and they offer morning and nightly turn down service along with a breakfast spread in room.

Hands down, the Nayara Springs is definitely one of the best hotels in Costa Rica for honeymoons!

Another option is Nayara Tented Camp. Luxury “glamping” in the jungle.

Click here to check rates for Nayara Springs.

Oxygen Jungle Villas

This adult only Oxygen Jungle Villas is up in the mountains of Uvita with a breathtaking view of the coastline. All the villas are made of glass and you can choose between jungle or ocean views.

The infinity pool is one of the nicest in Costa Rica and they even have their own waterfall on the property.

Click here to read our Oxygen Jungle Villas review.

El Silencio Lodge and Spa

This gorgeous mountain lodge is in Bajos del Toro, a remote part of the country. Guests can enjoy the stunning cloud forests, nearby hikes and many waterfalls in the area.

Perfect for any couples who want a very intimate and unique stay in a non-touristic part of Costa Rica.

They have 3 on-site waterfalls, a restaurant, adventure park and bar. Check our review of El Silencio Lodge here.

All Inclusive Resorts

In case you are looking for an all-inclusive, there are several in Costa Rica. Read about the best all-inclusive resorts in Costa Rica.

Top Costa Rica Honeymoon Destinations

Here are the best places for a honeymoon in Costa Rica.

La Fortuna

As one of the most tourist friendly towns in Costa Rica, La Fortuna is the perfect place for honeymooners visiting Costa Rica for the first time.

There are no shortages of luxury hotels and all sorts of romantic things to do for couples like hot springs, massages in the rainforest and hiking.

Couples can easily spend 3 or more fun filled days in La Fortuna, exploring the jungle and volcano.

Some of the best hotels in La Fortuna for honeymoons are Tabacon, Kioro and Amor Arenal Adults Only.

Monteverde

For the couples who love hiking, birds and nature, Monteverde is the destination to go. Discover the wonders of the cloud forest, see toucans and quetzals and go extreme ziplining.

You don’t need many days in Monteverde to discover the jewels of the cloud forest and it’s not quite as touristy as the beaches. Great for the nature and hiking lovers.

There aren’t as many high end hotels in Monteverde but Belmar, Senda and El Establo are the luxury ones.

Conchal

For the couples who want an all-inclusive beach vacation, Conchal is the best place as it is home to the Westin Conchal.

Not only that, Conchal beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica with clear turquoise water and sparkling white sand and shells. Perfect for honeymooners!

There is also the W Costa Rica, a luxury chic hotel (not all inclusive) on the same property.

Gulf of Papagayo

The Gulf of Papagayo is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica and is largely part of the reason why the Guanacaste province is nicknamed the “Golden Coast.”

You can find a handful of fancy resorts in the Gulf as well such as the Andaz, Four Seasons, Secrets Papagayo all inclusive, Waldorf Astoria Punta Cacique, Planet Hollywood, Ritz Carlton Nekajui and Occidental Papagayo (adult only all inclusive).

If you and your honey are looking for the ultimate relaxing beach vacation, you have to include the Gulf of Papagayo in your Costa Rica honeymoon!

Costa Ballena (Dominical, Uvita, Ojochal)

Uvita is the perfect place for couples looking for quiet jungle and beach.

The South Pacific is not as developed or touristic as Guanacaste but has a ton of great nature and wildlife activities since it is actual rainforest, and not dry forest.

Couples can hike to waterfalls, go whale watching, wake up to toucans and take long walks on the beach. There is so much to explore in this area!

You can read our post things to do in Uvita for ideas.

Surprisingly, for how rural this area feels, you can find some extremely high end, luxurious adult only hotels.

Oxygen Jungle Villas, Kura Design Villas and Three Sixty Boutique Hotel adults only in Ojochal only are just a few of them.

Manuel Antonio

Since Manuel Antonio was named one of the most beautiful national parks in the world back in 2012, couples from all over the world visit this area specifically for the park’s lush jungles and pristine white sand beaches.

It is a true nature lover’s paradise! And with the plethora of luxury five star ocean view resorts, it’s impossible not to have a romantic stay in Manuel Antonio.

Some of the best hotels for couples are Makanda by the Sea (adults only), Hotel La Mariposa (gay friendly), Parador, The Falls Resort, Tulemar, Gaia (gay friendly adult only), Los Altos and Arenas del Mar.

Puerto Viejo

For the couples who want a more laid back beach vacation without the pomp and circumstance, Puerto Viejo is an excellent destination.

It’s chill Caribbean vibes, incredible beaches and abundant wildlife will dance its way to you and your loved one’s hearts.

It’s not as developed as Guanacaste or Manuel Antonio and you won’t find any big resorts but you can still find some lovely hotels on the beach such as Hotel Banana Azul (adults only and gay friendly) or Hotel Le Cameleon.

Drake Bay

Drake Bay is the ultimate destination in Costa Rica for adventure couples who really want to get away from it all.

First, just getting to Drake Bay requires a bumpy 4×4 drive, a wild boat from Sierpe to Drake Bay through the mangroves or a local jumper flight from San Jose.

But you are rewarded with breathtaking ocean views, lush jungles and a plethora of wildlife as you will be in the Osa Peninsula, one of the most biologically diverse places in the world.

You can spend a few nights at Drake Bay hiking Corcovado National Park, fishing and snorkeling.

Even though it’s one of the most remote places in Costa Rica, you don’t need to give up luxury to be close to nature.

Stay at the high end Copa de Arbol, Aguila de Osa or Tranquilo Lodge adults only, all with 3 meals included.

Save 5% on your stay at Copa de Arbol Beach & Rainforest Resort with our promo code “mytanfeet”

Costa Rica Honeymoon Map

This map has the Costa Rica honeymoon itineraries, best Costa Rica honeymoon destinations and best honeymoon hotels in Costa Rica.

An Easy 1 Week Costa Rica Honeymoon Itinerary

For those who only have one week in the country to celebrate their love, here is an easy one week Costa Rica honeymoon itinerary.

This itinerary gives you a little of everything Costa Rica is known for: adventure, beaches, rainforest, wildlife and volcano. Ideal for the couple looking for more leisure and relaxation.

Want help booking this itinerary? Contact us and we’ll be happy to assist you with booking your services!

Day 1: Land in Liberia, go to Guanacaste

Fly into Guanacaste Airport and stay at a luxury resort for the first few days.

Day 2 and 3: Guanacaste

For your 2 days in Guanacaste, soak in all as much beach time or go on a day excursion if you’re up for it.

You can read about our favorite day trips in Guanacaste here.

Day 4: Travel to La Fortuna

Today is a travel day to La Fortuna, the adventure capital of Costa Rica.

There you will discover the amazing Arenal Volcano and surrounding rainforest.

Days 5 and 6: La Fortuna

You have two full days to go on adventures and enjoy La Fortuna. Go hiking, ziplining, canyoning and so much more. Our most recommended thing to do for couples is the hot springs though!

You can read about our favorite things to do in La Fortuna (and get 7% off excursions) here.

Day 7: Fly out Liberia

The drive from La Fortuna to Liberia is around 3 hours so plan your trip accordingly. Depending on your flight time, you may need to take a private shuttle to get there 2 hours early.

10 day Costa Rica Honeymoon Itinerary

If you have 10 days, I recommend adding more beach time and one more destination.

4 days in La Fortuna – 2 days in Monteverde – 4 days in Guanacaste. You will have rainforest, volcano, nature, cloud forest and beach.

Costa Rica Adventure Honeymoon Itinerary (2 weeks)

This itinerary is ideal for the adventure couple who want to do, see and explore as much as possible.

Since this itinerary is best with renting a car in Costa Rica , you will be able to visit a few less touristic places. Get our Costa Rica car rental discount here!

You’ll get to see waterfalls, rivers, volcano, rainforest and the beach and you’ll get to raft, hike, zipline, snorkel and much more!

Day 1: Fly into Liberia, Travel to Guanacaste

Same as the one week itinerary, you have several different places to choose from for your time in Guanacaste.

Day 2 and 3: Guanacaste

Beach, beach and more beach!

Savor your beach time because it’s all you’ll get for this itinerary. Go beach hopping, snorkeling, scuba diving, stand up paddle boarding, surfing and much more.

Day 4: Travel to Bijagua

On this day, you’ll drive to Bijagua, a small rural town up in Alajuela.

It’s the launching point to Rio Celeste, the magical sky blue river in Costa Rica. Stay at the luxury Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel for a romantic stay.

Day 5: Rio Celeste

Today you’ll hike Tenorio Volcano National Park and see Rio Celeste.

Spend the day hiking the national park and swimming in the Rio Celeste free pool.

Day 6: Travel to La Fortuna

Today you’ll travel to La Fortuna, about a 2 hour drive. You can spend the evening enjoying the hot springs or exploring town.

Day 7 & 8: La Fortuna

Adventure on in La Fortuna! Go ziplining, hiking, wildlife watching, hanging bridges, canyoning and much more.

Click here to go to our La Fortuna tours discount booking page to save $$ on hiking tours, waterfall adventures, cooking classes and much more!

Day 9: Travel to Catarata del Toro

Day 9 will go to Catarata del Toro, one of the the tallest waterfalls in Costa Rica. It drops an impressive 270 feet down an extinct volcano crater in the rainforest.

It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from La Fortuna to Bajos del Toro, the small town by the waterfall. They also have blue rivers in the area you can explore!

For places to stay, El Silencio Lodge & Spa is the best. They have their own waterfalls on the property and it’s completely tucked away in the rainforest with nothing around.

Day 10: Travel to San Jose

Today you’ll drive to San Jose and return your car rental.

You’ll want to relax that day because the next couple days will be another big adventure!

Some nice hotel recommendations are Gran Hotel, Hotel President and Hilton San Jose Sabana.

Day 11 and 12: Pacuare River overnight tour

Get picked up bright and early for your white water rafting adventure.

You’ll spend day 1 rafting down the first easy portion of the Pacuare River, which is known for being one of the best rivers in the world for rafting.

Then you’ll spend 2 day, your full day at the lodge where you can horseback ride, zipline, canyon or just relax riverside in a hammock.

Day 13: Pacuare River and San Jose

On day 3, you’ll raft the second half of the Pacuare river which has the Class 3, 4 and 4+ rapids.

After you’re done twisting and turning through the beautiful river, get dropped off in San Jose where you can relax and finish packing to go home.

Day 14: Fly Out of SJO Airport

Say goodbye to your epic Costa Rica adventure honeymoon trip!

If you have a couple of extra nights in San Jose, we recommend Finca Rosa Blanca.

Costa Rica Honeymoon Things to Do

Here are some of our favorite romantic things to do in Costa Rica.

Sunset sailing

Watch the sky turn brilliant colors of purple, pink, orange and red as you go on a sunset sailing tour. These are very popular up in Guanacaste and is one of the best things to do in Costa Rica for couples.

Hot springs

No Costa Rica honeymoon is complete without a trip to the hot springs! La Fortuna has the most hot springs. Relax in the hot water under a sky full of stars with your loved one.

Waterfall hike

Hike through the rainforest to a stunning waterfall with your significant other. Then cool off, swim and enjoy the beautiful scenery together.

Some great waterfall hikes are Nauyaca Waterfalls and Catarata La Cangreja in Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

Costa Rica Honeymoon Budget

How much you’ll spend on your Costa Rica honeymoon will depend on two main things: hotels and tours.

These two things take up the most of the travel finances so depending on your budget, you’ll need to choose wisely.

If you have the money to spare and splurge, then you’re in luck because you can stay at some of the most luxurious hotels in all of Costa Rica and do some of the best activities.

But if not, don’t worry! There are plenty of beautiful 2-3 star hotels that will still offer you a romantic escape. Or even boutique hotels, inns, lodges and B&B’s.

If you’re a bit more on a budget, my recommendation is to spend less on lodging to have more for activities.

Another tip for saving money is to visit in the lowest tourism season which are September, October and November. You can save a lot on hotel rooms and tours.

Hotels

High end resorts and hotels can run anywhere between $400-1000 USD a night for two people.

Most of these are not all inclusive either so you will still need to pay for food and drinks, which you most likely will have at the hotel.

If you plan to eat and drink a lot, consider an all-inclusive. The more luxurious ones can cost around $450 USD per person a day in the high season.

Tours

All day tours can go around $70-500 per person.

A sunset sailing tour is around $105 per person, ziplining can be around $85 per person, ATV tours are around $70 per person for a single and the white water rafting one day is $115 per person.

Some tours can cost a lot more such as Cano Island snorkeling which is ~$160 per adult and Tortuga Island 1 day which is around ~$155 per adult.

Shuttles

How much your private shuttle costs depends on your destinations. A popular route is La Fortuna – Tamarindo, which is around $330 USD per way.

Car Rentals

In high season, a mid size SUV costs around $900 USD a week with mandatory insurance. A sedan is around $450 USD per week.

Prices are an estimate, and may fluctuate as they are dynamic rates, depending on the time of year, availability, demand, and other factors.

If you’re not planning on visiting many places or exploring, you can just take a private or shared shuttle to your hotel and do day trips.

However, renting a car gives you more freedom to explore and can make your trip even more special though it requires more work so it will depend on what kind of honeymoon you want.

You can read more about how to get around Costa Rica in this post.

Costa Rica Vacation Checklist

• First time to Costa Rica? Read our First Time in Costa Rica guide.
• Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? Read our How to Get Around Costa Rica guide to find the best transportation method for you.
• Click the link to get our detailed Costa Rica Packing List so you know what essential items to bring.
• Check our Costa Rica destinations map and Costa Rica restaurant map
• Do not forget to purchase Travel Insurance for your trip to Costa Rica.
• Stay connected by purchasing a prepaid SIM Card in Costa Rica.
• Save money with Mytanfeet Deals for tours and hotels and our Costa Rica Car Rental Discount.

Join our mailing list and get our free Costa Rica eBook!