Costa Rica is a fantastic honeymoon destination, but the country’s beauty can make it challenging to decide which areas to explore. My husband and I chose Costa Rica because we wanted a combination of adventure and relaxation, and it did not disappoint! How you plan your Costa Rica honeymoon depends on what you want to do during your stay. There are numerous options for where to go in Costa Rica, and I truly believe you can’t go wrong with this beautiful country.
Listed below is our full 10-day itinerary, along with some other recommendations depending on your Costa Rica honeymoon wants and needs.
Our Costa Rica Honeymoon Itinerary
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is situated in the mountains of Costa Rica, offering amazing views of Arenal Volcano, beautiful rainforest scenery and wildlife, and an opportunity to relax in the thermal hot springs heated by the volcano. Because of the stunning landscape, I would say La Fortuna is a must-see, as it is unlike anywhere I’ve been before.
This is a brief summary of the activities we did, if you want the full Squeeze with Louise La Fortuna itinerary click here.
Accommodation: Tabacon Hot Springs
- This hotel is luxurious, but your honeymoon is the best time to treat yourself! It was so idyllic to be able to walk down to the hot springs surrounded by nature. Click here to read my full review of this resort.
Days 1-4: La Fortuna Itinerary
- Day 1
- Mistico Hanging Bridges
- At Mistico Park, you can explore the different levels of the rainforest and observe wildlife from 15 bridges.
- There’s an option to include a guide to help you spot wildlife along the trail. I recommend adding this to your ticket, as many tropical birds and other creatures are difficult to spot for someone unfamiliar with the area.
- Afternoon Hike
- I highly suggest going on a hike around Arenal Volcano. We opted for the adventurous Cerro Chato hike, but linked below is the AllTrails description of popular hikes with various difficulties:
- Mistico Hanging Bridges
- Day 2
- Rio Celeste
- 1 hour and 15 minutes from La Fortuna, this waterfall is a must-see due to its beautiful blue waters.
- To reach the waterfall, there is a 3.7-mile hike with 250 stairs to the viewing point. Make sure to continue the trail after viewing the waterfall as there are some other cool sights to see along the trail.
- Rio Celeste
- Day 3
- La Fortuna Waterfall
- The namesake for La Fortuna, this beautiful waterfall costs $20 to enter the park, and there are 530 stairs leading to the viewing area.
- Visitors can swim near the waterfall and in the surrounding rivers. However, caution is advised when there has been heavy rain, as the current can be very strong.
- Thermal Waters
- There is no better way to relax after an adventurous day than to sit in thermal hot springs heated by the volcano.
- Tabacon Resort and Spa has magnificent hot springs that are included for hotel guests. Day passes can also be purchased for $89 for adults and $47 for children. If you want to explore other hot spring options, listed below are some other amazing hot springs in the area:
- Ecotermales $47/day
- El Choyin FREE
- La Fortuna Waterfall
- Day 4
- Zip-lining & Spa Day
- Another fantastic way to experience the rainforest from a unique perspective. It’s so enjoyable to be surrounded by the trees and truly grasp the immense size of the rainforest.
- We opted for this company with 12 different cables to get various views of the rainforest. There are so many zip line tours in the area so you can’t go wrong with wherever you choose.
- Zip-lining & Spa Day
Gulf of Papagayo
The great thing about all-inclusive resorts is that you truly do not have to worry about anything during your stay. Even though my husband and I do not typically choose all-inclusive options, we wanted to spend a few days in full relaxation mode.
Accommodation: Secrets Papagayo
Days 5-8: Arenillas Beach- All-inclusive Itinerary
- Day 5
- Relax and enjoy the hotel amenities
- Day 6
- Sunset Catamaran & Snorkel
- We opted for the Marlin Del Ray Catamaran for $75 per person. They provided transportation to and from the hotel. Our ticket also included an open bar and a typical Costa Rican dinner.
- The catamaran started in Playa Del Coco and sailed around some of Guanacaste’s bays. We docked on a small island where we were able to snorkel or explore the island.
- click here if you are interested in catamaran tickets.
- Sunset Catamaran & Snorkel
- Day 7
- Surf Day at Tamarindo
- This was very impromptu, but we are so glad we decided to venture down to Tamarindo. We did a two-hour surf session at Iguana Surf Shop and it was amazing! If you want the same experience, you can purchase lessons here.
- Surf Day at Tamarindo
- Day 8
- Relax and enjoy the hotel amenities
Playa Hermosa
Funny story – we ended up staying in Playa Hermosa coincidentally. It was my husband’s job to plan the honeymoon, and he accidentally had a gap between our stay in La Fortuna and Secrets Papagayo. We quickly found an Airbnb and enjoyed one night in Playa Hermosa. I cannot say enough good things about this location and beach. Even though this was an unexpected change, I couldn’t imagine our Costa Rica honeymoon without staying in Playa Hermosa.
Accommodations: Hotel Bosque
Days 9 & 10: Playa Hermosa Itinerary
- Day 9
- Relax on the beach and admire the natural surroundings. We loved this beach because of its lush landscape. Coming from the US, it’s so nice to be on the ocean and look back at the natural scenery and lush green along the sandy beach.
- Day 10
- Prepare for flight home
- Playa Hermosa is one of the closest beaches to Liberia Airport, which makes for a great location when planning your trip.
- Prepare for flight home
Other Areas Worth Looking Into for a Costa Rica Honeymoon
As I mentioned earlier, your Costa Rica vacation truly depends on what you want to get out of your honeymoon. In addition to the places we visited in Costa Rica, I’ve added a few other places for that you may want to check out when planning your itinerary.
Monteverde
If the mountains are more your thing, then I would look into Monteverde. The landscape is similar to La Fortuna but is tucked away in the cloud forests.
Corcavado
Located on the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, Corcovado is a national park on the coast. Home to unique wildlife, including tapirs, jaguars, macaws, monkeys and sloths.
Puerto viejo
This beach area is located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica with beautiful blue waters and is close to Cahuita National Park.
Nosara
Wellness oasis on the Pacific side highlighting surfing, yoga, and blue zone lifestyle. This beach town truly emphasizes wellness and sustainability as part of its community.
THANK YOU
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article by Squeeze with Louise. I’m very passionate about sharing my travel tips and recommendations with you. I would love to know your thoughts on how I can enhance my blog. Please feel free to comment below with any questions regarding this itinerary or general questions about Squeeze with Louise.
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