Travel tips
Costa Rica honeymoon: 6 hotels for newlyweds
Hot spring water in your own pool, monkeys in the trees above the beach and sunset over the Pacific. These are the six hotels we would book for a Costa Rica honeymoon, and the route that links them.
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In short
Nayara Springs at Arenal is our first choice for a Costa Rica honeymoon: adults-only villas, each with its own pool fed by the hot springs. Pair the volcano with the rainforest at Manuel Antonio or the beach on the Papagayo Peninsula, and split 10 to 14 nights across two or three places. Go between December and April if you can.
Our first choice: See rooms at Nayara Springs
When darkness falls at Arenal, the rainforest gets louder and steam rises from pools filled by the hot springs. We have been to Costa Rica and to several of the places in this guide. Our advice to anyone planning a honeymoon here is always the same: choose two or three places, not five.
How to plan your honeymoon
The roads wind, and journeys take longer than the map suggests. More bases mean more time in the car than at the hotel. These are the three areas we would choose between:
Volcano and hot springs: Arenal and La Fortuna, around three hours by car from San José. Stay at least two nights, as the summit is often in cloud.
Rainforest and beach: Manuel Antonio on the Pacific coast, where the jungle runs right down to the sand.
Pure beach: The Papagayo Peninsula in Guanacaste, the driest part of the country and close to Liberia airport.
A good route is Arenal first and the beach last. If you fly out of San José, Manuel Antonio works best as the final stop. If you fly home from Liberia, Papagayo is the natural choice. The day-by-day plan is in our Costa Rica itinerary.
Our top picks
Best for privacy: Nayara Springs, Arenal
Best for hot springs: Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, Arenal
Best for rainforest and beach: Arenas del Mar, Manuel Antonio
Best for a beach finish: Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo
Arenal: hot springs beneath the volcano
Arenal volcano was active from 1968 to 2010. Today it is the heat underground that draws people here, and the rivers around La Fortuna are warm enough to bathe in all year. There is more in our guide to Arenal and La Fortuna.
Nayara Springs: hot spring water in your own pool
The villas are scattered through the rainforest, and the pool outside each one is filled with water from the hot springs. Nayara Springs is adults only, breakfast is included and more than 400 guests give it 10 out of 10. There are only a few villas, so they go first in the dry season.
Best for: couples who want to start married life in the jungle, with no children around.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Nayara Springs
Nayara Tented Camp
The tents stand on a hillside facing the volcano.
Nayara Tented Camp: tents with a view of the volcano
The sister hotel sits on the hillside above the rainforest, with luxury tents that each have a private pool and a terrace facing Arenal. It feels like a safari lodge in Africa, except for the tropical rain on the canvas at night. Guests give this one 10 out of 10 as well.
Best for: couples who want something different without giving up comfort.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Nayara Tented Camp
Tabacón
The warm river runs through the spa in the rainforest.
Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa: a warm river in the rainforest
At Tabacón the river is the main event. Heated by the volcano, it flows through the spa in waterfalls and natural pools, and it is easy to stay in until late in the evening. The hotel welcomes families but has areas set aside for adults only. More than a thousand guests give it 9.6.
Best for: couples who want to spend their evenings in warm water.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa
Manuel Antonio: rainforest down to the beach
Around the small national park on the Pacific coast, sloths and monkeys are part of everyday life, and the hotels sit in the hills looking out to sea. More on the park and its beaches in our Manuel Antonio guide.
Arenas del Mar
The pool sits among the trees above the Pacific.
Arenas del Mar: from the jungle straight onto Playa Espadilla
Arenas del Mar sits where the rainforest ends and the sand begins, and from the hotel you walk straight down to Playa Espadilla. It belongs to the Cayuga Collection, a group of hotels with a focus on sustainability. Breakfast is included, and guests rate it 9.8.
Best for: couples who want to spot monkeys in the morning and swim in the afternoon.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Arenas del Mar
Papagayo: finish on the beach
Guanacaste in the north-west is the driest region, with long beaches and a short transfer from Liberia airport. The most exclusive hotels are at the tip of the Papagayo Peninsula.
Peninsula Papagayo
Sun loungers facing the bay at Four Seasons.
Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo: a beach on each side
Four Seasons sits at the very tip of the peninsula, with a beach on either side and five restaurants to choose from. Every room has a deep bath, and guests rate the hotel 9.6. With Liberia airport close by, it is a good place for your last nights before flying home.
Best for: couples who want to end the trip with a proper beach holiday.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo
Culebra Bay
The view across the bay from Andaz.
Andaz Peninsula Papagayo: the same peninsula, a calmer style
Andaz is on the same peninsula, looking out over Culebra Bay and a short hop from Marina Papagayo. The style is more relaxed than its neighbour at the tip, and many guests single out the staff. It is rated 9.4.
Best for: couples who want Papagayo with a more relaxed feel.
Book your honeymoon: See rooms at Andaz Peninsula Papagayo
When should you go to Costa Rica?
The dry season from December to April is the safest bet, with sunshine on the Pacific coast and at Arenal. May to November is the green season, with afternoon showers and fewer visitors. September and October are the wettest months on the Pacific side. Our guide to the best time to visit Costa Rica goes month by month.
Good to know before you book
Car hire: Choose four-wheel drive and only drive in daylight. Read our Costa Rica car hire guide first.
Hotel taxes: Rates are often shown without tax, so check the total price.
Book early: The villas at Arenal and the hotels on Papagayo fill up first, especially around Christmas and Easter.
Frequently asked questions about a Costa Rica honeymoon
Is Costa Rica good for a honeymoon?
Yes, especially for couples who want to do things together rather than just lie on a beach. On one trip you get hot springs beneath a volcano, rainforest with sloths and monkeys, and Pacific beaches. Several of the best hotels are adults only, and many have villas with their own pools.
Where should you stay in Costa Rica for a honeymoon?
Arenal is the first choice, with hot springs and villas in the rainforest. Pair it with Manuel Antonio for jungle and beach in one place, or with the Papagayo Peninsula to finish with a pure beach holiday. Choose two or three places so you are not moving every day.
When is the best time for a Costa Rica honeymoon?
The dry season from December to April is best, with sunshine on the Pacific coast and at Arenal. May to November is the green season, with afternoon rain, fewer visitors and often lower prices. September and October are the wettest months on the Pacific side. For Christmas and Easter, book several months ahead.
How many nights do you need for a Costa Rica honeymoon?
Ten to fourteen nights across two or three places is a good starting point. Allow three to four nights at Arenal, three at Manuel Antonio and the rest on the beach. Distances take time on winding roads, and the long-haul flight takes most of a day each way, so a shorter trip feels rushed.
Are there adults-only hotels in Costa Rica?
Yes. Nayara Springs at Arenal is adults only, with private villas and pools fed by the hot springs. Tabacón welcomes families but has adults-only areas. At Manuel Antonio, Gaia Hotel and Reserve is adults only. These villas sell out first in the dry season, so book early.