The Perfect Costa Rican Honeymoon

Price guide

$0 PP

The Perfect Costa Rican Honeymoon

Duration11 days

Price guide

From

$0 PP

Scenic view of Arenal Volcano in central Costa Rica at sunrise

Destinations

Days 1–2

Nicoya Peninsula

Puerto Carrillo area of the Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.

For those looking for a honeymoon with exclusive lodges, unique excursions, beautiful beaches and lots of charm, Costa Rica ticks all the boxes. From the incredible Pacuare Reserve to the stunning coastline of the Nicoya Peninsula, this 11-day trip is Central America at its best.

Trip highlights

Relax in the geothermal waters of Tabacon's hot springs
Rest on the shores of Nicoya's tropical beaches
Get a thrill out of white water rafting to remote Pacuare Lodge
Stay in luxury rainforest cabins on the banks of the Pacuare River
Enjoy a sunset birdwatching boat trip on Arenal Lake
Discover the central market and downtown cafes of cosmopolitan San Jose

Arenal volcano, shrouded in the clouds

An unforgettable stay at Pacuare Lodge

A zip-lining adventure

Views over the jungle

Soaking up the city atmosphere in San Jose

Our bespoke trips include

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:

Luxury accommodation throughout
Privately guided tours
Private transfers
Meticulously selected experiences
Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge

Black and white illustration of two guides pointing to a building in the distance

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–2

Overnight in the Costa Rican capital city

Enjoy an overnight stay in the metropolitan capital city of San Jose, discovering vibrant colonial corners of the city, the busy central market permeated with the smells of food stalls and ground coffee, its downtown cafes, the National Theatre, Gold Museum, Lankester Botanical Gardens, and of course its night life. You’ll also have our list of recommendations as well as private guides on hand to enjoy the best of this lively city.

Where you could stay

Positive Impact

The Coffee Valley

Finca Rosa Blanca

Finca Rosa Blanca is the sort of place that’s difficult to leave once you’ve settled in. Mornings are spent sipping fresh Costa Rican coffee, grown right here on the plantation, overlooking the lush forest that surrounds the lodge, while by night you can gaze out to see the twinkling lights of San Jose in the distance, listening to the sounds of the Costa Rican wilderness around you.

San Jose

Grano de Oro

This traditional and elaborate mansion in the city’s downtown district is surprisingly cosy, but naturally classy and luxurious. Grano de Oro is a grand and tropical Victorian casona, very familial in feel with its heavily embellished interiors strewn with antiques, faded family photos, original art pieces, dark woods, deep carpets and stone tiles. Lit by the warm glow of wall lanterns, its forty rooms are well equipped with TVs and internet. Choose a standard room for comfort and a more modern style. Both the views and decor improve with the category rank. The Vista de Oro suite is wonderfully decorated in period ceramic floor tiles, wood panelling, with rich rugs and throws. The Garden Suite is similarly adorned but also has its own private garden and patio. On the ground floor is the restaurant with half its tables set in the hotel’s charming atrium circling a Spanish-tiled fountain surrounded by stained glass windows and the shuttered corridor balconies spilling over with vivid green plant life. The chef is French, the menu extensive, and its tables are often frequented by locals as well as guests. At night the rooftop terrace is a great place to relax, have a drink or try out the Jacuzzi. Set in the heart of San Jose in the Barrio don Bosco neighbourhood, this is a delightful hotel; a great place for exploring the city or stopping over on your way further into Costa Rica or flying out.

Rafting transfer to Pacuare Lodge

Expert guides will explain safety precautions and provide you with the necessary rafting gear before the adventure begins. Once in the water, you’ll experience sheer exhilaration as you face the challenge of each wave, battling surging waters down miles of raging rapids. The journey takes just over 1.5 hours as the river passes through scenic canyons where crystal clear waterfalls plummet down into the rapidly coursing river below. Tall trees and dense green vegetation come right down to the water’s edge, providing shelter for a variety of tropical animals and birds.

Days 2–5

Three nights in the rainforest at Pacuare Lodge

Pacuare Lodge is a magical hideaway in the remote Pacuare Reserve and its perfect place to experience the beauty of the rainforest. All shared activities are included from canyoning and zip lining to birdwatching and hiking. The lodge itself is a wonderful place to simply unwind with great food and drink and a spa offering a range of relaxing treatments. Falling asleep to the sound of the forest is a magical feeling and a few days here is a real tonic after the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Where you'll stay

Positive Impact

Pacuare Reserve

Pacuare Lodge

It could be Pacaure's remote setting in 740 acres of primary rainforest or its luxury cabins emerging from the thick milieu of foliage that makes this a great place to stay: but the combination is what transforms it into a truly unique one.

Make it mine

On a high

To the treetops

Indigenous Experience

Breakfast at the Nest

Enjoy a wonderful breakfast high up in the treetops at the Nest, located on a platform 20m high. The culinary adventure begins as you glide down a 130m cable to the platform high in the branches of a Ceiba, a tree that was sacred to the ancient Mayans.

A canopy tour in the private reserve of Pacuare Lodge

A canopy tour in Pacuare Lodge’s private reserve will transport you to an unspoiled treetop realm of gorgeous views and magnificent scenery; an unprecedented glimpse of Costa Rica’s biological diversity. Once strapped in, feel the adrenaline of dramatic views, rappelling down towering trees and sliding along cables from tree to tree as you descend the jungle cloaked mountain toward the Pacuare Lodge.

Meet the Cabécar people of Costa Rica

The Cabécar Indians are Costa Rica’s largest tribe. They traditionally live in small family groups scattered across the jungle, which has helped them to maintain their way of life. Take a short hike through the forest to a meet the son of a local shaman who will introduce to his culture and customs and show you around a traditional settlement.

Days 5–8

Three nights exploring Arenal

During your time in Arenal, there are a huge number of activities to enjoy. Thrill seekers can enjoy a range of exhilarating adventures whilst there are equally enticing options for those who want to enjoy the area at a more leisurely pace.

Where you could stay

Arenal

Nayara Tented Camp

Set in Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano National Park, Nayara Tented Camp is one of the only luxury tented camps in Central America and the sister property to the nearby Nayara Springs and Nayara Gardens. The immediate proximity to the surrounding rainforest and impressive views of the volcano make a stay here a one-of-a-kind experience.

Arenal

Tabacon

Tabacon is a beautiful and serene luxury hotel, located at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano. It is set within 900 acres of lush, tropical grounds through which Costa's Rica's largest network of hot springs flows.

Arenal

Nayara Gardens

Nayara Gardens, the original property in the hilltop trio that includes Nayara Springs and Nayara Tented Camp, is a fitting choice for those looking for a private getaway in the Arenal. Nestled in the green valleys at the foot of the spectacular Arenal Volcano are Nayara Gardens' 50 spacious and private casitas (bungalows).

Arenal

Nayara Springs

This boutique hotel encompasses all things luxurious, with views overlooking the grand Arenal Volcano, beautiful villas and a state-of-the-art spa and yoga pavilion. Privacy is as well taken care of as luxury, sitting outside the Costa Rican town of La Fortuna, Nayara Springs provides the perfect amount of seclusion at around three hours from the capital, San Jose. Each of the 35 villas is nestled among the floral gardens of the tropical rainforest and boasts its own personal pool, a spacious private garden with outdoor shower, a sumptuous four-poster bed, alongside both indoor and outdoor seating areas. A rich array of natural wildlife awaits, and guests can enjoy it from their private terrace, or by taking a tour through the Arenal Volcano National Park. Guests can then unwind by indulging in a treatment at the spa, heading to the yoga pavilion or swimming pool, or enjoying a drink at the stylish piano bar. Cuisine at Nayara Springs is served at the lovely poolside restaurant, Amor-Loco, where fresh fish, Latin American inspired sushi and organic home-grown vegetables all grace the menu.

The highlights of Arenal

Natural spa

Dining

Sunset

Tabacon geothermal springs in Costa Rica

Soak in the Tabacon Hot Springs

Unwind completely with a visit to the natural, mineral-rich geothermal waters of Tabacon’s hot springs. These pools are part of the largest network of mineral springs in Costa Rica. Find a secluded spot near one of the cascading waterfalls and soak yourself in the warm, mineral-rich waters to your heart’s content.

Pouring glass of red wine for a wine tasting

A private dinner at Tabacon

Tonight you’ll enjoy an an intimate dining experience and sit down to a customised menu prepared by a dedicated chef in a romantic, candlelit open‐air rainforest bungalow.

A birdwatching boat trip on Arenal Lake

This sunset boat tour on Arenal Lake will take you where the birds are active during the afternoon as the day cools into evening. Together with your guide you will spot toucans, parrots, oropendolas, colourful tanagers and parakeets. Your expert guide will also look for royal flycatchers, white-fronted nun birds, cinnamon woodpeckers, and different species of heron.

Days 8–11

Three nights on the white sand beaches of Nicoya Peninsula

Known for its stunning semi-deserted beaches linked together by grey stone cliffs or tangles of knotted mangroves, the Nicoya Peninsula is the more rustic end of Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coastline. Take some time to relax on secluded beaches, take to the water on a surf board or enjoy a cultural tour. You can swim, snorkel, paddleboard and kayak through the waters then back on land, relax on the golden sand and explore the lush green fores – you may wish to go on a beach hike, which we can arrange with a private guide.

Where you could stay

Nicoya Peninsula

Nantipa

Set in one of the world’s five Blue Zones, Nantipa, meaning ‘Blue’ in the native Chorotegan language, is a beachfront boutique hotel in the heart of Santa Teresa on the Nicoya Peninsula.

Nicoya Peninsula

Florblanca

A bona fide beachfront stay, you are but moments from the sand and surf of Santa Teresa at the Florblanca hotel. Folded away into the jungle shoreline of Santa Teresa beach are Florblanca’s ten striking ‘open’ villas. Large and well decorated in a simple, clean and luxurious style with open-air sitting rooms at the front and bathrooms to the side, the hotel’s villas manage not to compromise your privacy and the feeling is intimate and romantic. The decor features natural stone and food, accentuating the feeling of being surrounded by lush vegetation. Savour fresh, healthy, and locally grown food at Florblanca’s restaurant Nectar. The laid-back yet elegant restaurant specialises in farm-to-table and hook-to-fork philosophies, creating fusion cuisine with Latin, Mediterranean and Asian influences. Peruse the wine selection and discover a variety of exciting South American varietals as well as international vintages. What’s more, Florblanca strives to offer guests an experience focused on overall ‘wellbeing’ – there are daily yoga and pilates classes, surf lessons and a great spa. There are many other activities in and around the area and the staff are helpful and friendly.

Nicoya Peninsula

Casa Chameleon at Mal Pais

Casa Chameleon is a luxurious retreat hotel in the town of Mal Pais, making it a suitable choice for honeymooners and those seeking a romantic retreat to the tropical, natural surroundings of the Nicoya Peninsula. Each of the six, spacious villa rooms have an idyllic spot set against the mountainside and with floor to ceiling windows, guests can experience panoramic views of the verdant jungle and the shimmering Pacific Ocean. The villas are made from dark, Tamarind wood and feature private plunge pools, large bathrooms equipped with rain showers and spacious balconies where guests can sit and admire the breathtaking views. The decor has been inspired by the rich tastes of the modern explorer while also incorporating elements of the surrounding ecosystem. Enjoy your breakfast either in the dining area or on your private balcony. Lunch is available all day in the lounge area poolside. Dinner is by request and requires reservations, as meals are prepared from scratch and the menus are created according to guests’ preferences. The chef’s team work’s closely with local farmers and fishermen to get the finest local produce. Emerging from your villa, the Mal Pais experience awaits. Culture and adventure are steps away, and the hotel team are always keen to give their guests local tips tailored to the experience they’re after.

Horse riding with an expert guide

Explore the Nicoya Peninsula’s mountains, jungle and beaches on this wonderfully scenic private horse riding tour. This will be one of your last chances to see Costa Rica’s eco-diverse habitats, you enjoy the romantic journey through varied landscapes, lead by an expert guide.