Curator’s statement
Costa Rica is one of those destinations that genuinely has it all, and I never get tired of sending clients there. There’s something magical about waking up to a volcano view in the jungle after spending your first few days barefoot on a white-sand Pacific beach. The people, the wildlife, the food, the pure sense of adventure around every corner—it all adds up to an experience that feels both deeply relaxing and wildly alive. This is the itinerary I’d plan for myself, and I only put my name on the places I’d truly stay.
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Day 1: Arrival & your first Pacific sunset
Your Costa Rica adventure begins the moment you land at Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport—a small, relaxed gateway that puts you just 45 minutes from your resort and miles away from the chaos of larger international hubs.
After checking in, resist the urge to nap and head straight to the beach or infinity pool, because your first Guanacaste sunset is not something you want to miss—the sky turns every shade of orange, pink, and gold over the Pacific, and it sets the tone for everything that follows.
Settle in over a welcome dinner at the resort, order a Guaro Sour (Costa Rica’s signature cane-spirit cocktail) and fresh ceviche, and let the Pura Vida lifestyle wash over you.
A note from Elegant Escapes Travel
On the day after arrival, stop by the concierge desk to book any spa treatments and dinner reservations for later in the week—the best slots go fast.
Day 2: Sun, sail & sundowners
Today is your quintessential Costa Rica beach day, and it starts on the water.
Book a half-day catamaran snorkeling cruise out of Papagayo or Flamingo Marina—you’ll sail to prime snorkeling spots with the chance to spot dolphins, sea turtles, and manta rays, all while unlimited drinks and snacks flow on deck.
In the afternoon, make the short drive south to Playa Conchal, one of Costa Rica’s most breathtaking beaches—its sand is made entirely of crushed seashells and the water is a stunning turquoise that has to be seen to be believed.
For the evening, secure a reservation at Gracia at Mar Vista before you leave home—this hilltop restaurant has some of the most spectacular views in all of Guanacaste, a tapas-style menu built around fresh local ingredients, and a sunset that will stop you mid-sentence.
Insider tip: Gracia is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly, and always book at least a few days in advance.
Day 3: Rincón de la Vieja & spa evening
Today you trade the beach for something wilder—a day trip to Rincón de la Vieja National Park, about 90 minutes from the Guanacaste coast and one of Costa Rica’s most underrated natural wonders.
The Las Pailas trail winds through bubbling volcanic mud pots, steaming fumaroles, and a stunning waterfall, all set inside a lush rainforest teeming with birds, monkeys, and wildlife around every bend. It’s an easy, well-maintained loop that takes about two to three hours and delivers the kind of up-close volcanic landscape that most visitors to Costa Rica never get to experience.
After all that adventure, return to the resort for a couples massage at the spa—ask specifically for the volcanic stone treatment or a local botanical wrap using Costa Rican coffee and tropical oils, and book the late afternoon slot so you can flow straight from the treatment table to a sunset cocktail.
A note from Elegant Escapes Travel
The park is closed on Mondays, so plan this day for Tuesday through Sunday, and arrive early—the wildlife is most active in the morning hours before the heat sets in.
Day 4: Slow mornings & Tamarindo afternoons
Day four is intentionally unscheduled—because the best honeymoons have at least one day where the only plan is to have no plan. Sleep in, order breakfast to your terrace, and spend the morning drifting between the pool and the beach with nowhere to be and nothing to do.
In the afternoon, consider a casual drive down to Tamarindo, Guanacaste’s lively surf town about 30 minutes south—it’s a fun contrast to the quiet luxury of the peninsula, with colorful boutiques, great people-watching, beachfront cafés, and the kind of laid-back energy that makes Costa Rica so easy to fall in love with.
For your last dinner on the coast, head to Coco Loco in Playa Flamingo—a beloved beachfront institution where you eat with your toes practically in the sand, the ceviche is some of the freshest you’ll ever taste, and the signature coconut cocktails are absolutely non-negotiable.
Insider tip: Tonight is also a good night to pack for tomorrow’s transfer to Arenal, so you can wake up relaxed and ready without the morning scramble.
Day 5: Transfer to Arenal
Today marks the second act of your Costa Rica honeymoon, and the drive from Guanacaste to La Fortuna is an experience in itself—rolling through the Costa Rican highlands, past pineapple farms, river valleys, and small mountain towns, until the perfect cone of Arenal Volcano slowly emerges above the jungle canopy and you realize you’re somewhere truly extraordinary.
The transfer takes about three hours, and we recommend booking a private driver rather than a shared shuttle—it’s worth every penny on a honeymoon, and your driver will point out things along the way that you’d never notice on your own.
Arrive in La Fortuna in time for lunch, then check in to your Arenal resort and give yourself the afternoon to simply absorb where you are—the volcano views, the sounds of the rainforest, the humidity that wraps around you like a warm blanket.
End the evening with a soak in the natural hot springs, a long dinner, and an early bedtime—because tomorrow is your biggest adventure day.
A note from Elegant Escapes Travel
If the volcano is cloud-covered on arrival, don’t worry—Arenal has a habit of dramatically revealing itself at unexpected moments, often just after sunset when the clouds lift and the cone glows against the night sky.
Day 6: Zip lines, waterfalls & volcanic hot springs
This is the day you’ll be talking about for years—an action-packed adventure through some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet, bookended by one of the most relaxing evenings imaginable.
Start the morning at Sky Adventures, the best zip line operation in the Arenal area, where seven cables send you flying above the rainforest canopy with the volcano looming directly in front of you—it is genuinely one of the most exhilarating things you can do in Costa Rica, and the guides are exceptional at making even first-timers feel completely safe and totally alive.
After the zip lines, make your way to La Fortuna Waterfall—a thundering 70-meter cascade into a jade-green natural swimming pool deep in the rainforest, reached via a 585-step descent that is every bit as beautiful as the destination itself. Bring water shoes for the slippery rocks at the base, swim in the cold clear water, and take a moment to just stand there together and let it sink in.
As the afternoon mellows into evening, make your way to Tabacón Hot Springs, where naturally heated volcanic water cascades through a lush garden of tropical plants and the pools glow warmly under the jungle canopy after dark—it is the perfect way to unknot every muscle after a big adventure day.
A note from Elegant Escapes Travel
Book the earliest zip line slot available—the lines are shorter, the air is cooler, and the volcano is often clearest in the morning before clouds roll in mid-afternoon.
Day 7: Arenal Volcano, one last soak & farewell to Pura Vida
Your final full day in Costa Rica deserves to be savored slowly, and there’s no better way to spend it than inside Arenal Volcano National Park—one of the most iconic natural landscapes in all of Central America.
Enter the park early, before the tour groups arrive, and hike the Yellow Trail through ancient lava fields and dense rainforest with the volcano towering above you—keep your eyes open for toucans, howler monkeys, coatis, and the kind of extraordinary birdlife that reminds you why Costa Rica protects more than a quarter of its land as national parkland.
Back at the resort by midday, give yourself a long, unhurried afternoon in your private plunge pool or at the hot springs—order ceviche and cocktails poolside, lie in your hammock, and resist the temptation to fill the time with one more activity.
For your farewell dinner, ask the concierge to arrange something special—a private candlelit table on your villa terrace or a secluded spot in the resort gardens—and order the tasting menu with a wine pairing if it’s available.
Insider tip: Book your private transfer to San José airport for the following morning at least 48 hours in advance, and allow a full three hours before your departure. SJO’s international check-in lines move slowly during peak season, and the last thing you want on the final morning of your honeymoon is to be rushing.
Need to know
Costa Rica is one of the easiest tropical destinations to travel to, but a few insider moves will elevate your trip from great to absolutely seamless.
Accommodation
First and most importantly—book your Nayara Springs villa and Andaz Peninsula Papagayo rooms as early as possible, ideally six to nine months in advance for honeymoon travel. These are two of the most in-demand luxury properties in Central America, and the best room categories sell out fast, especially during dry season (December through April) when every couple in the world seems to have the same idea.
Getting around
Skip the rental car for this itinerary and invest in private transfers instead. The roads in Costa Rica are paved but narrow, GPS can be unreliable in rural areas, and driving after dark is genuinely not recommended due to limited road lighting and wildlife crossing the roads at night. A private driver costs more than a shared shuttle but is worth every dollar on a honeymoon—your driver will become an unofficial guide, pointing out wildlife, stopping at roadside fruit stands, and handling all the logistics so you can focus on each other.
Money & tipping
Both U.S. dollars and Costa Rican Colones are widely accepted, but bring small bills—$1s, $5s, and $10s—for tips, taxis, and small purchases at local markets. A 10–15% tip at restaurants is appreciated, and $1–2 per bag for bellhops and housekeeping goes a long way. Most luxury hotels and restaurants accept major credit cards, but always carry some cash for local sodas, roadside vendors, and national park entry fees.
Packing smart
The dry season means hot, sunny days (85–95°F) and breezy evenings—pack light, breathable clothing, a light layer for air-conditioned restaurants, and comfortable closed-toe shoes for hiking. The UV index in Costa Rica is extremely high year-round, so reef-safe sunscreen is an absolute must—both for your skin and for the ocean ecosystems you’ll be snorkeling through. Water shoes are worth packing for La Fortuna Waterfall and some of the rockier beaches along the Guanacaste coast.
Wildlife & nature
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse countries on earth, and you will encounter wildlife—iguanas on the beach, howler monkeys in the trees, toucans at breakfast, and possibly a crocodile on the Tárcoles River if you detour that way. Keep your camera accessible at all times, never feed the animals, and always keep a respectful distance. If you’re serious about wildlife spotting, hire a local naturalist guide for at least one morning—they will show you things you would walk straight past on your own.
Language
Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken at all luxury hotels, tour operators, and most restaurants in tourist areas. Learning a few basic phrases goes a long way with locals: "Hola" (hello), "Gracias" (thank you), "Con permiso" (excuse me), and most importantly, "Pura Vida"—which means pure life, and doubles as hello, goodbye, you’re welcome, no worries, and everything is wonderful all at once. It is the soul of Costa Rica in two words.
Health & safety
Tap water is safe to drink in most tourist areas, including Guanacaste and La Fortuna, but bottled water is always available if you prefer. Playa Flamingo and Peninsula Papagayo are considered very safe areas—use common sense, don’t leave valuables unattended on the beach, and use your in-room safe for passports, cash, and jewelry. No vaccinations are required for Costa Rica, but consult your doctor about hepatitis A and typhoid if you plan to venture off the beaten path.
One last thing
Costa Rica has a way of slowing you down in the best possible way—embrace it. If the volcano is cloudy, order another cocktail and wait. If it rains, the jungle smells incredible and the waterfalls run fuller. If a monkey steals your breakfast, you now have the best story from the trip. Say yes to the unexpected, tip generously, leave no trace, and travel with the same spirit the country runs on—Pura Vida.
Travel Advisor
Elegant Escapes Travel
Amanda Dante
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