The Most Romantic Resorts for a Costa Rica Honeymoon in 2022
Insane adventures in nature and sublime luxury and romance need not be mutually exclusive. On a Costa Rica honeymoon, you really can have it all – especially when you stay in one of the country’s most romantic resorts!
Why is Costa Rica so ideal for adventure honeymoons?
Many of our Costa Rica adventure vacation guests are return customers. Naturally, this is the first destination on their mind when they begin planning their honeymoon. Once bitten by the adrenaline-pumping rush Costa Rica offers, there’s simply no other kind of vacation you’d ever imagine taking. Nope, not even on honeymoon!
It’s no surprise that adventure honeymoons are exceptionally popular in Costa Rica, a land revered for its waterfalls, rain forests, volcanoes, dreamy beaches, fantastic wildlife, endless adventures, and an insanely idyllic year-round climate.
Yet no matter how adrenaline-addicted our adventure-seekers may be, luxuriating in a ridiculously gorgeous and romantic resort is always part of their honeymoon plan. Because how could it not?!
Costa Rica is not exactly short on these stellar and incredibly romantic accommodation options.
Are you looking to stay in a romantic resort on your Costa Rica adventure honeymoon?
Here is the top of the crop for 2022 (and don’t forget to scroll to the very bottom for insider tips on making the most of your Costa Rica honeymoon):
Romantic Costa Rica Resorts In The Most Popular Destinations For Adventure Honeymoons
Most adrenaline-addicted couples plan their Costa Rica honeymoon within a zip line length of the Arenal Volcano and Manuel Antonio National Parks. These two centrally located highlights make an ideal base for both activities and romance. You can whitewater raft, kayak, mountain bike, canopy swing, horseback ride (and basically have the time of your life) during the day, and luxuriate in private thermal pools and candle-lit dinners in enchanting honeymoon resorts in the evening.
Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right?
Countless honeymooning couples certainly think so!
Here are the most romantic Costa Rica resorts in the most popular hot spots:
Nayara Springs, La Fortuna
Nayara Springs‘ stellar location, right at the heart of the Arenal Volcano rain forest, belies its incredible seclusion. An upscale adults-only resort designed with honeymooning adventurers in mind, Nayara is nestled in the wilds of Arenal – both just a step away from the most visited Costa Rica highlight of all and feeling like it’s a million miles away.
The perfect hideaway after a full day of activities, this insanely inviting space is all about relaxation, indulgence, and romance. Enjoy a dip in your villa’s private thermal pool, spot toucans in flight from your private terrace, tantalize your taste buds on exquisite food, and wave those stresses goodbye as you indulge in all manner of treatments at the in-house, world-class spa. Just 16 villas, complete with thermal pool and private butler. Yes…butler.
New luxury honeymoon resorts continue to open in Costa Rica every year, but Nayara Springs continues to lead the pack. Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure have named Nayara Springs one of the most romantic hotels in the world. You certainly won’t hear an argument on that from us!
Arenas del Mar, Manuel Antonio
Another genially located gem, this time in the world-famous Manuel Antonio National Park, Arenas del Mar is an astonishing property that’s managed to squeeze itself in between the crashing shores of the Pacific and wildlife-enriched forests. You can sit back on your enormous private terrace (complete with hot tub) soaking up a glorious Pacific Ocean sunset and still hear monkeys howling behind you.
Suite options include Ocean View (we’re talking uninterrupted vistas across the coast) and Ocean Breeze, facing the rain forest instead. Whichever option you choose, your honeymoon dreams will be more than satisfied. Beach or rain forest? The choice is yours.
The restaurant, pool, and bar are decked on an upper level, overlooking Playa Espadilla. The entire property screams wilderness immersion thanks to the stellar eco-friendly efforts employed on construction. A few trees were felled when Arenas del Mar was built, yet many more planet native trees replaced them. This means you don’t even need to pry yourself away from your sun lounge to enjoy galore wildlife encounters.
If sustainable travel is important to you, then you will simply love this place. A bevy of eco-friendly initiatives makes Arenas del Mar a beacon of sustainability. There’s no single-use plastic anything in sight, electric buggies to get around, and your side-serves of organic veggies are compliments of the in-house hydroponic vegetable garden. The entire resort is powered by renewable energy. Just three months ago, Arenal was named one of the top eco-lodges in the world by Lonely Planet.
Arenas may not be as swanky as Nayara Springs but few resorts can be. Yet for easy beach access, resident wildlife experiences, and excellent service and amenities, not to mention sustainable travel rewards, it’s an excellent choice for active honeymooners in search of luxury and romance.
Arenas del Mar is not specifically adults-only so if that’s more your jig on your honeymoon (understandable), check out our next entry.
Makanda by the Sea, Manuel Antonio
Makanda shares Arenas’ price point yet is aimed explicitly at honeymooners. In fact, it’s a super popular choice for destination weddings in Costa Rica. Because how idyllic would that be?
With 12 acres of pristine wilderness framing your jaw-dropping villa, including a stretch of the hotel’s private beach, Makanda by the Sea is the kind of honeymoon oasis every couple dreams. The property is a bonafide wildlife sanctuary and the activities are more than you could ever enjoy in just one trip. In essence, you’ll find it impossibly difficult to leave the property although that sums up the idea of romantic honeymoons anyway.
Makanda wasn’t the eye-popping beauty it is today until 2017, when new owners revamped and redesigned the space to take it several notches above the average. The tropical vibe, bespoke art, and outstanding décor combine to create a romantic resort that is, quite frankly, unlike any other. The in-house Shanti Spa is worth a look-see for its fantastical design, let alone its array of wonderful treatments.
With world-class dining and spa indulgences to explore, this is one honeymoon treat you’ll remember forever.
Plan Your Costa Rica Adventure Honeymoon Today!
Romantic Costa Rica Resorts For Off-The-Beaten-Path Adventure Honeymoons
If you have a few more days to dedicate to your Costa Rica adventure honeymoon, or wish to explore the country way off the beaten path, these stunning honeymoon romantic resorts are tailor-made for you! All are in off-beat destinations that see fewer tourists and boast fewer large-scale, all-inclusive resorts – the kind that has made the Papagayo famous.
Swap the hustle for the jungle and immerse yourself in pristine nature, luxuriating in privacy and remoteness.
Just the ticket for a perfect honeymoon getaway?
We think so too.
Here are some amazing gems you should consider:
Oxygen Jungle Villas, Uvita

On the southern Pacific Coast, overlooking the dramatic coastline of Uvita, is where you’ll find a cluster of super chich jungle villas. This upmarket adults-only resort’s remoteness and isolation (a few miles from the coast and the Marino Ballena National Park) are undoubtedly the main enticements for honeymooning guests. Oxygen is a 4-hour drive from San Jose and a 4WD transfer is recommended.
All of this is effort handsomely rewarded as once you arrive and are enveloped by the luxurious romance of this place, heading off on adventures may be the last thing on your mind. And that’s simply perfect.
Set high on a hilltop, Oxygen offers sweeping coastal and rain forest views. This is a small and intimate resort and that’s what makes it so enchanting. Only a dozen villas share the breath-taking property yet the offerings are substantial. #
A stay here is exclusive and private, not to mention romantic and relaxation. Yet there’s plenty to keep you busy if you’re high energy – daytime activities, SPA treatments, sunset cocktails and gorgeous food make for a sublimely enjoyable honeymoon getaway.
Aguas Claras, Puerto Viejo
While most holidaymakers tend to stick to the western coast of Costa Rica’ discerning honeymooners looking for the ultimate escape opt for the southern Caribbean coast instead. Unassuming Puerto Viejo, a hit with surfers and anyone looking for off-the-beaten-path adventures, boasts just a smattering of luxurious and romantic adults-only resorts.
Aguas Claras is the most exclusive option on this side of the mountains and an excellent one at that. Elegance here takes priority, the décor an intoxicating mix of tropical-chich-meet-Victorian-glamour. In their distinctive design, the white-washed villas are all about old-school charm, while the perfectly manicured gardens and pool, an ode to the natural beauty of the location. As so many guests attest, the resort looks like a 19th-century oil painting!
The property is immersed in nature and attracts wildlife while offering an impressive variety of activities. What couples love about this place is that they can do as much or as little as they wish. A jaguar rescue centre is nearby, as are plenty of options for adrenaline-pumping adventures. Discover more about the unique Aguas Claras Boutique Hotel.
Drake Bay Greenleaf, Osa Peninsula
Down the western tippy-toes of Costa Rica is the Osa Peninsula, widely reputed as the most biologically diverse corner of the country. Most of Osa is made up of the Corcovado National Park, a wildlife haven that has few parallels anywhere on earth. This is a remote and, in rain season, hard-to-reach destination, one favored by extreme nature lovers craving a life-changing experience.
If you’re after a truly once-in-a-lifetime adventure honeymoon in Costa Rica, you’ll find no better place on which to set your sights. Wish to double the magic? Then a stay at Drake Bay Greenleaf is for you.
Tucked into the untamed wilderness of Drake Bay, right across from Corcovado, is a slice of heaven on earth. Drake Bay Greenleaf is an incredible ecolodge that marries sustainability with rustic luxury, a rare feat in such an isolated and fervently protected part of the world. No wonder the resort has won multiple Conde Nast and TripAdvisor travel awards over the last few years.
A handful of rain forest villas, built from recycled steel and teak, are the crowd jewels of Greenleaf; each one strategically located on hilltops to afford magnificent views. A short 10-minute walk sees you on a stretch of private beach and you’ll have multiple activities – like whale and dolphin watching boat tours, guided wildlife-spotting hikes and snorkeling – on offer every day.
It’s not often you get to be a 21st-century Robinson Crusoe (you know, the kind that enjoys gourmet meals, sundowners with killer views and in-room massages) but if that’s what you envisage on your Costa Rica adventure honeymoon, Drake Bay Greenleaf delivers.
Plan Your Costa Rica Adventure Honeymoon Today!
Insider Tips for Making the Most of Your Costa Rica Adventure Honeymoon
Finding the perfect romantic resort is only part of the planning for a Costa Rica adventure honeymoon. Before you can even pin down the right place to kick off your wedded bliss, it would help to know the best time of year to travel, how much to budget and how many days you need for this incredible adventure.
How long do I need for a Costa Rica honeymoon?
The most popular time frame is about 8 days, and that works (almost) no matter where in Costa Rica you wish to venture. Obviously, you couldn’t possibly see and do it all but you can hone in on a specific interest (destination or activity) and enjoy it thoroughly. Our Costa Rica Adventure Honeymoon packages follow this model. If you wish to get way off the beaten path, adding a couple of days to that to create a 10-day bespoke itinerary is optimal. Travel time can be considerable, at least on two days.
You can learn more about what you can go, do and see in a week right here.
How much should I budget for a Costa Rica honeymoon?
It depends. Costa Rica is an affordable travel destination yet chances to spend big are also on the cards, which is perfect for honeymooning couples who want to splurge. Usually, our guests don’t need much help deciding how to spend big (luxury resorts, we see you!) Instead, budgeting tips on how to best contain expenses are appreciated.
Choosing the right season and location, scrutinizing all-inclusive resorts and setting up a travel-account wedding gift registry are all clever tactics to enjoy a luxurious honeymoon for less. You can learn more in our Costa Rica honeymoon budgeting tips blog.
By far the easiest way to ensure your honeymoon budget doesn’t go nuclear, however, is to plan things the other way around. This is what we do at Costa Rica Rios: we plan fantastic honeymoon adventure that fit within a pre-determined budget.
Tell us how much you wish to spend and we’ll create a bespoke honeymoon vacation to suit.
Simple!
Plan Your Costa Rica Adventure Honeymoon Today!
The ULTIMATE Costa Rica Honeymoon Guide!
Our Ultimate Costa Rica Honeymoon Guide is a comprehensive resource for all things related to location, budget, activities and even what to avoid. If you have yet to find the answer to your questions above, you’ll surely find them there. Oh, and you’ll discover more Costa Rica romantic resorts to check out!
Planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip, like a honeymoon, is usually a fraught endeavor. At Costa Rica Rios, we make it FUN by taking the logistics off your hand – we know what works and what doesn’t and we have 25 years of experience creating award-winning itineraries for adventure-seeking travelers.
Want to be among them?
Contact us to know more.