We drive a lot of honeymooners. After hundreds of these trips, here's what works and what doesn't — written for couples planning their first trip and trying to balance "memorable" with "not exhausting."
The classic Costa Rica honeymoon: La Fortuna + Manuel Antonio
The 80/20 of Costa Rica honeymoons is 3–4 nights in La Fortuna (volcano + hot springs) followed by 3–4 nights in Manuel Antonio (beach + jungle). Total: 7–8 nights. This combo is popular because it gives you both the iconic CR experiences without too much travel time.
Sample 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Day 1: Land at SJO. Private shuttle to La Fortuna (3h). Check into a hot springs hotel — Tabacón, Nayara Springs, or The Springs. Welcome dinner.
Day 2: Morning at hot springs. Afternoon Arenal volcano hike + La Fortuna waterfall.
Day 3: Mistico Hanging Bridges in the morning. Spa or pool in the afternoon. Dinner at Don Rufino (the best restaurant in La Fortuna).
Day 4: Private shuttle La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio (4–5h). Stop on the way for lunch at Tárcoles (crocodile bridge). Check into beachfront hotel.
Day 5: Manuel Antonio National Park — guided tour. Beach in the afternoon.
Day 6: Catamaran sunset cruise. Dinner at El Avión or Kapi Kapi.
Day 7: Beach morning, spa afternoon. Last dinner at Ronny's Place (sunset view).
Day 8: Private shuttle to SJO airport (3h). Fly home.
The "best of CR" 10-day honeymoon
If you have 10 days, add Monteverde between La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio. Cloud forest, hanging bridges, zip lining, and incredible night walks. Adds variety without too much logistics.
Days 1–4: SJO → La Fortuna (volcano + hot springs). Days 4–6: La Fortuna → Monteverde (cloud forest). Days 6–9: Monteverde → Manuel Antonio (beach). Day 10: Manuel Antonio → SJO.
The "remote luxury" 8-day honeymoon
For couples who want fewer touristy spots and more wow-factor. This itinerary is for travelers willing to pay more for less crowded experiences.
Days 1–3: SJO → Nayara Tented Camp (La Fortuna). The tented suites here are some of the best in Latin America. Private plunge pools, jungle views.
Days 4–6: Private shuttle to Río Celeste / Bijagua area. Stay at Hacienda Sueño Azul or Río Celeste Hideaway. Almost no tourists. The Río Celeste river is unreal.
Days 7–8: Private shuttle to Papagayo Peninsula (Andaz, Four Seasons, Secrets Papagayo). Beach + luxury hotel finale.
Cost is higher but the photos are very different from everyone else's.
The best honeymoon hotels in Costa Rica
We've delivered guests to all of these. Honest categorization:
Adults-only luxury:
- Nayara Springs (La Fortuna) — Adults only, volcano views, private hot springs at each villa. The honeymoon classic for a reason.
- Andaz Papagayo (Guanacaste) — Beach + design hotel feel.
- Pacuare Lodge (Caribbean side) — Reach it only by raft. Unbelievable.
Romantic but not adults-only:
- Tabacón Thermal Resort (La Fortuna) — Hot springs included in the room. Honeymoon suites available.
- Lapa Rios (Osa Peninsula) — Eco-lodge in the rainforest. Very remote.
- Si Como No (Manuel Antonio) — Boutique, beachy, romantic suites.
Mid-range honeymoon (under $400/night):
- The Springs Resort (La Fortuna) — Big, full-service, hot springs on-site.
- Arenas del Mar (Manuel Antonio) — Beachfront, in the park, smaller than you'd expect.
- Cala Luna (Tamarindo) — Beach villas with plunge pools.
How to make the transfers feel romantic, not exhausting
The mistake honeymooners make: they treat transfer days as "lost days." With some planning, the drive can be part of the trip.
Tip 1: Stop somewhere meaningful. When you book the shuttle, ask the driver to stop at one place along the way. SJO to La Fortuna passes the Sarchí craft town (oxcart paintings) and several sloth sanctuaries. La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio passes Tárcoles (giant crocodiles under the bridge — easy 15-min photo stop).
Tip 2: Book the VIP service. Our VIP shuttle option includes a 1–2 hour flexible stop, welcome kit (local beers, sodas, snacks), and a driver who acts more like a concierge guide — telling you about what you're seeing, recommending restaurants at your destination.
Tip 3: Don't book transfers too late in the day. Mountain roads in Costa Rica are no fun in the dark. Aim to start drives by noon at the latest.
Tip 4: Pick the right hotel order. End in the type of place you want to remember most. If you're "beach people," do volcano first and beach last. If you're "nature people," reverse it.
Common honeymoon mistakes we see
- Cramming 4 destinations into 7 days. Don't. 2–3 destinations max.
- Renting a car. Skip it. Roads are slow, parking is hard, and you waste honeymoon time stressing about navigation. Private shuttles cost about the same or less when you factor in insurance and gas, and you get to look at each other instead of the GPS.
- Booking only Airbnbs. A mix is fine, but at least one luxury hotel night is worth it for a honeymoon.
- Skipping the airport transfer. Don't take a taxi from SJO or LIR at the start of your honeymoon. Book a private shuttle so someone is waiting with your name on a sign — sets the tone.
What we recommend booking in advance
- All inter-destination shuttles (book 1–2 months out)
- Manuel Antonio National Park tickets (sells out)
- Hot springs reservations at non-hotel locations
- Catamaran sunset cruise
- Hotel restaurants on the night of your anniversary date