This is your guide to Costa Rica Beach Weddings! If you’re planning a beach wedding in Costa Rica, you’ll first need to find…well, a beach. And with nearly 300 different ones sprinkled throughout the country’s Pacific and Caribbean coastline you might get a headache just trying to narrow down your choices. That’s why I did a ton of research and compiled the top spots for Costa Rica Beach Weddings.
On this list, you’ll find the top beaches. And because every one of them is unique, I’ll break down the following helpful info:
- An overview of what makes each one perfect for tying the knot
- Type of scenery/backdrop they’re popular for
- Popular activities in each area
- Type of accommodations available (i.e. all-inclusive vs. boutique)
Costa Rica Beach Weddings in the N. Pacific/Guanacaste Region
This region is very popular for Costa Rica beach weddings. Not only will you find many different types of beaches, but also tons of venues and resorts to suit every preference.
Papagayo Gulf
Credit: Jenny & Eddie Photography | Check out more of this real beach wedding in Papagayo Costa Rica
Home to some of the most high-end luxury resorts in the country, this area is experiencing an all-inclusive development boom some are comparing to the likes of Cancun.
It’s an isolated area with world-class white sand beaches, a high-end feel, tropical forests, and the volcanic landscape of the Guanacaste Mountains. You’ll have a ton of choices for accommodations ranging from mid-range to luxury, boutique to all-inclusive resorts, and even some bed & breakfast options.
Some of the most popular venues in this area are:
- Recreo
- The Four Seasons
- Sol Papagayo
Looking for an all-inclusive resort? Check out…
- The Hilton Papagayo Costa Rica Resort & Spa
- Occidental Grand Papagayo
- Allegro Papagayo
Tamarindo & Langosta
Credit: Phillippa Maitland Photography | Check out photos of this real beach wedding in Tamarindo with advice from the bride.
Tamarindo is one of the most developed and popular tourist destinations in the country and a great option if you’re looking for an area with lots of activities. The only drawback is that the coast is reportedly not one of the nicest in Costa Rica. Beach weddings are much more popular in the upscale pristine white sands of Playa Langosta just to the south. You won’t find a shortage of activities here including nightlife, rainforests, restaurants, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, swimming, and horseback riding. They have hotels and rentals available for all budgets and even an all-inclusive.
Some top picks for Costa Rica Beach Weddings, include:
- Pangas Beach Club
- The impressive Villa Marrakech (www.villatamarindo.com)
- All inclusive Barcelo Langosta
- For something a little more intimate, The Cala Luna Hotels & Villas
Playa Avellana
Credit: Sylvia Guardia Photography | See more of this real beach wedding in Playa Avellana
This area is just south of Tamarindo but a little more off the beaten path. It has beautiful white sand and is referred to as “little Hawaii” by some. It has some amazing waves, making it a favorite among surfers. Most of the accommodations are small villas and Bed & Breakfast spots.
A few great options include:
- Hacienda Pinilla
- The Award-winning beachfront restaurant, Lolas
- The private villa Diosa Del Mar
Ocotal
Credit: Sylvia Guardia Photography | Check out this real beach wedding in Ocotal & read the bride’s advice
This is a small, quaint, peaceful village located minutes away from the vibrant nightlife of Playas del Coco. This location is perfect for weddings because of the scenic cliffs, hills, forests & rocks surrounding the stunning blue ocean. You’ll have a lot to do including scuba diving, sports fishing, surfing, horseback riding, and sailing. They have different types of resorts from mid-range to luxury and private villas/home/condos.
Check out The Ocotal Resorts or if you want all-inclusive, check out the Riu Guanacaste. For a private venue, Villa Estrella is a great option.
Playa Hermosa Guanacaste
Photo Credit: Sylvia Guardia. Check out this real beach wedding in Playa Hermosa with advice from the bride/groom
This laid back coastline with gray sand and crystal clear waters is nestled between two mountains and beautiful tropical forests. Doesn’t that sound amazing? That’s the kind of backdrop that makes Costa Rica beach weddings so magical! Couples love it because it’s relaxed, rarely crowded and has national parks nearby including Rincon de la Vieja, Palo Verde, and Santa Rosa.
Other activities in this area include snorkeling, sport fishing, scuba diving, horseback riding, excellent shopping, restaurants, and bars. They cater to all travelers with a range of accommodations including small boutique hotels, large all-inclusives, and private home rentals.
What are some great places for Costa Rica beach weddings?
- La Finisterra
- Villa del Sueno
- The all-inclusive Villas Sol Hotel
Playa del Coco
If you’re looking for a touristy party town, popular with young people, and conveniently located near the airport, this is your spot. It’s set on a horseshoe bay with blue-gray ocean water instead of the area’s usual blue-green. You’’ll find nightlife, restaurants, bars and casinos to keep yourself and your guests entertained. They have a variety of lodging options ranging from affordable to luxury all-inclusive and private villa/condo/home rentals.
A popular resort for couples planning their Costa Rica beach weddings is The Pacifico Beach Club.
Playa Flamingo
This crescent-shaped white-sand coastline is one of the most popular in Costa Rica. Beach Weddings turn out amazing in the hills above the bay. There are tons of activities to keep you busy such as diving, horseback riding, quad tours, fishing, snorkeling, surfing and a good selection of restaurants.
This area is home to some beautiful luxury hilltop and beachfront villas/condo rentals which you can check out at www.specialplacesofcostarica.com
A popular spot for weddings is the Hotel Sugar Beach.
Playa Negra
As the name implies, the sand here is dark colored (almost black), making it a unique spot for Costa Rica beach weddings. It is also located to the south of Tamarindo and near Avellana but this isolated region can only be accessed via dirt roads. There’s not much to do except surf and get some R&R, so most hotels cater to the laid back surfing community, which makes your lodging options more limited. You’re better off getting a private home, villa or condo.
Check out playanegravacationrentals.com for some ideas.
Playa Grande Guanacaste
This area is off the beaten path, quiet, laid back, secluded, and part of the Marino Las Baulas National Park. This white sand, pebble-rock seashore doesn’t offer much to do besides surfing and relaxing. Since it’’s part of a protected area, hotels are not allowed to have rooms facing the ocean. Most accommodations are small laid back hotels, bungalows, and private home, villa and condo rentals.
Rip Jack Inn has some packages for more intimate Costa Rica beach weddings.
Playa Conchal
Playa Conchal is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. This amazing beach is one of the few in the Pacific with the crystal clear turquoise water usually found in the Caribbean, making it a stunning background for weddings. You can keep busy with many activities like snorkeling, deep sea fishing, hiking and visits to some of the nearby national parks & natural reserves.
A popular venue in this area is the eco-friendly, all-inclusive Paradisus Playa Conchal.
Playa Azul
This isolated, secluded, hidden gem is off the beaten path and only recently opened to tourists. Its dark almost blue sand and blue ocean water are surrounded by lush green forests. You can mostly count on some R&R in this area but there is also fishing and horseback riding to keep you busy.
One popular destination for Costa Rica beach weddings in Playa Azul is The Sanctuary Resort & Spa.
Nosara, Guiones & Pelada
Nosara is a quiet secluded community with beautiful beaches and thick green forests. Guiones has white sand & a crescent shape coastline surrounded by lush green forests. Although there’s not a lot of nightlife, you can spend your time surfing, fishing, horseback riding or on jungle rides, kayak excursions and zip lines.
This area doesn’t have beachfront developments or all-inclusive hotels. You’ll find very few budget options as most of the accommodations are either luxury hotels or private villas. One option for your destination wedding in this area of Costa Rica is The Harmony Hotel.
Samara
This laid back town has white sand, abundant tropical plant life, and is considered one of the safest in Costa Rica. And by most accounts, beach weddings here are simply magical.
After you tie the knot, you can keep busy with a number of activities like sport fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving or even a small selection of bars & discos.
Although they don’t have any all-inclusives, you can find hilltop hotels, B&B’s, villas, private home & condo rentals. Check out The Hideaway Hotel in Samara.
Punta Islita
This quaint & remote village with beautiful natural beaches is hard to get to but by most accounts, well worth it. If you’re tying the knot here, you might want to look into the charming white church with a bell tower located in the Town Plaza. You’ll enjoy some fun activities in this area like kayaking and jet skiing.
Hotel Punta Islita can host Costa Rica Beach weddings for up to 70 guests.
Go to page 2 for more Costa Rica beach wedding destinations. You’ll find dozens of locations that are very popular for weddings but also some off-the-beaten-path hidden gems!
Check out my other sections on Costa Rica Destination Weddings:
- Check out our Costa Rica Destination Wedding Planning Guide to see real wedding photos, vendors, tips & advice.
- Costa Rica Wedding Vendor and Venue Directory
Photo Credits: Photos that do not have a credit below the image, were obtained via Flickr under the Creative Commons License.
A Guide to Costa Rica Beach Wedding Destinations
