Thinking about a Costa Rica honeymoon?!
Do you love adventure?
What about exploring nature and immersing yourself in a different culture?
You’ve come to the right place!
Have you ever looked at an amazing view and instantly thought: “Wow! This is more special than I thought it would be”? Yup, we’ve been there. Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica was that place for us.
The moment we pulled up to our resort for our week-long honeymoon and saw the Pacific Ocean, we knew we had made a great decision.
Find out why we recommend Costa Rica as a honeymoon destination!
Picking Your Honeymoon Destination
Choosing a honeymoon destination is not easy, to say the least. There are so many things to think about. Start with the following questions to get you started on the right path:
- Do you want to go somewhere warm or cold?
- Are you interested in an all-inclusive option vs a la carte?
- Do you want an action packed honeymoon or one that is relaxing?
- Do you want to keep your travel/flights under a certain time?
- Is there a budget you have in mind?
Costa Rica checked all the boxes on our honeymoon wish list:
| Warm weather ✔️✔️✔️ | Cold weather ❌❌❌ |
| Action packed ✔️✔️✔️ | Relaxation ✔️✔️✔️ |
| Short flight ✔️✔️✔️ | Long flight ❌❌❌ |
| All-inclusive ❌❌❌ | A la carte ✔️✔️✔️ |
We wanted a trip full of adventure, beautiful scenery, and a cultural experience. Costa Rica is a place where you can put your feet in the sand or hike through the jungle. The possibilities in Costa Rica are endless!
Is It Easy Getting There?
From the United States, getting to Costa Rica is quite easy!
Costa Rica is home to two international airports, San José and Liberia. Both airports accept flights from the United States and Canada daily.
When we visited Costa Rica, we flew into the San José airport. Depending on where you are visiting in Costa Rica, travel to your destination can be tricky.
Central Pacific Region
We visited Manuel Antonio, located in the Central Pacific Region and 105 miles southeast from the San José airport.
Traveling to Manuel Antonio National Park
So you’ve landed in San José, Costa Rica… now what?!
There are several ways to get to Manuel Antonio, one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica!
1. Flying
Flying is a quick and beautiful way to see Costa Rican countryside. Flights land at the small airport of Quepos, a small town next to Manuel Antonio.
Two domestic airlines that offer flights to Quepos/Manuel Antonio are:
- Skyway
Prices will vary depending on the amount of luggage and if you are traveling during high vs low season. Occasionally, you can find discounts if flying during the “green season” (aka the rainy season) or if you are a passenger flying with less than 15 pounds (“loco discount”).
2. Private Shuttle
We opted for a private shuttle. It was easy, convenient, and stress free. We also got to make a few stops along the way and gained some knowledge from the locals!
Tarcoles River/ Crocodile Bridge
We made a stop at the famous “Crocodile Bridge,” which crosses the Tarcoles River. It is about 75 miles from San José and can be found 6.8 miles past the junction of Route 27 and Route 34.
Most days when you look over the edge of the bridge to the water below you can see upwards of a dozen crocodiles. Some crocodiles are 12 feet or longer!
3. Rental Car
Renting a car is easy. Driving the journey may be challenging. Prepare to drive defensively! It also may be helpful to familiarize yourself with some basic Spanish road sign names.
4. Public Bus
Tracopa buses run between San José and Quepos throughout the day. Try to take a directo (“direct”) bus route vs a collectivo (“collective”) bus route, which makes multiple stops. If taking a collectivo bus route, expect to add two more hours to your journey. The directo bus is about 3.5 hours and costs around ₡4,500 (about $9).
5. Uber or Taxi
It is possible to take an uber or taxi from the San José airport to Manuel Antonio. An uber will be cheaper and will run you about $150 for a 3.5hour drive.
Our Costa Rica Honeymoon Experience: Tulemar Resort
Tulemar Resort – wow. This place was the perfect mix of tranquility, beauty, and nature!
About The Property
Tulemar Resort is a 33-acre gated community that offers dining, accommodations, and activities on the premises. While it may not be all-inclusive, we experienced wonderful customer service and some great activity options on site.
The views cannot be replicated. When staying at Tulemar, you will be staying at one of the private villas or bungalows within Manuel Antonio’s jungle hillsides, which offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and/or lush jungles. In layman’s terms- you get to stay in a luxurious tree house!
Is anything included?
Yes! While it may not be considered an all-inclusive resort, you still have access to some amenities. Just a short walk away, we were able to lounge on their private, protected beach. There are also four swimming pools on site, a rancho bar, non-motorized water sports, a courtesy van, and the resort’s renowned restaurant.
If dining at the restaurant: Get the chips and dip! It is enough to split and we still rave about it 5 years later!!
Talk About the Wildlife
Staying in the jungles of Costa Rica, animals are expected. Costa Rica is known for the sloths, howler monkeys, mosquitos, crocodiles, and snakes!
The most memorable of all wildlife for us were the howler monkeys.
Our first night at 4 AM we were abruptly woken up by screaming. Startled, and not knowing what was happening, we sat up in bed and continued to hear this loud screeching noise. Scary and alarming was an understatement.
We soon found out we had howler monkeys on our bungalow balcony.
Welcome to Costa Rica.
Interested in visiting Tulemar Resort? Book a stay here and get free cancellation on most rooms! (**Confirm cancellation policy prior to booking***)
Never Ending Activities
Are you one for never ending adventure?
If so, you are looking into visiting the right place!
Because of the Costa Rican jungles and proximity to the ocean, there is never ending fun available during your stay.
Join us in revisiting our favorite adventures!
1. ATV tours
Our first excursion was an ATV tour through the jungle.This was a great way to see parts of Costa Rica not accessible by car. We also got to taste some wonderful pineapple as a snack midway through the ride!
Would I recommend? Yes. Was it my favorite? No.
2. Canopy Tour
If you are scared of heights, chose this tour cautiously. I, however, highly recommend it as it was one of my favorites!
When you go to Costa Rica, ziplining is a must-do activity. Well, you get to do MORE than just ziplining with this canopy tour.
We got to do ziplining, a high ropes course, suspension bridge, and Tarzan like swing.
Would I recommend? Definitely!
3. Jet Ski
This was an amazing experience. It was our last excursion and one we did on a last minute whim. We ended up jet skiing through a bunch of dolphins!
It was incredible.
Downside? The sunburn – questionable sun poisoning.
Make sure you pack the right sunscreen! If you forget to pack sunscreen, be prepared to pay extra as sunscreen and Aloe are pricey in Central America. To avoid an awful sunburn like we experienced, reapply frequently and try using Sun Bum.
Also, don’t try sneaking Aloe through customs… it doesn’t work.
Would I recommend? Yes! Was it my favorite? Yes!
4. Snorkeling
This is another activity that is very popular in Costa Rica. The water is clear and its a great place to view ocean life.
I never have had great experiences with snorkeling. I have trouble getting the perfect seal on my mask, water gets in my nose, and then I get anxious.
The scenery, however, was beautiful and I enjoyed relaxing on the catamaran!
Would I recommend? Yes! Wast it my favorite? No (see above)
As you can see, there is an array of things to do in this beautiful country! If none of the above entices you, take a stroll to the beach or visit the Manuel Antonio National Park.
Another popular area of Costa Rica is Arenal Volcano National Park. It is a 4.5hr drive from Manuel Antonio and, if you choose to see different parts of Costa Rica, could be another point of interest on your trip itinerary.
Costa Rica is a beautiful place! There is so much to see and the people are very friendly and welcoming! We hope this guide helps as you plan your Costa Rica honeymoon!
Costa Rica, with its tourist-based economy and lack of a national army, has focused on keeping safe its beaches, parks and other public draws. It is one of the safest countries in Central America based on the number of homicides.
Laura Chinchilla
Do You want to see behind-the-scenes video footage of our Costa Rica experience?! CLICK HERE
Until next time!
xxx Sara + Josh
Costa Rica FAQ’s
Is Costa Rica or Hawaii more expensive?
Costa Rica is cheaper than Hawaii.
Is it always hot in Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is warm all year long. The rainy season generally runs from the months of May through November. The dry season (more stable weather) runs from December to April.
The dry season is also considered the “high season” and the rainy season is the “low season.”
Is Costa Rica considered a third world country?
Costa Rica is considered one of the safest countries is Central America. It is, however, still considered a third world country because the poor outnumber the middle class and rich.
How do Costa Ricans say hello?
Quick Spanish lesson:
- Hola = Hello!
- Buenos días = Good morning!
- Buenas tardes = Good afternoon!
- Buenas noches = Good evening!
Need more help planning your Costa Rica Honeymoon?
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