Honeymoon Secrets: Costa Rica

Need some expert help? Luca Newbold, founder of Latin America specialists Llama Travel, shares the secrets to planning a wildly romantic honeymoon in Costa Rica

Honeymoon Secret #1

Discover the wildlife in Corcovado

Shh… On the remote Osa Peninsula, the Corcovado National Park is one of the most pristine areas in Costa Rica. The rainforest, which descends to the ocean, is home to jaguars, tapirs and scarlet macaws.

Tell me more… Stay in the beautiful Casa Corcovado. There are no roads to get here, so you fly then take a boat down the Sierpe River, then follow the Pacific coast to the lodge. 

Honeymoon Secret #2    

Relax in volcanic hot springs

Shh… The Tabacon hot springs, set in tropical gardens, consist of large and small pools of mineral water heated by Arenal Volcano. Hot water rivers run throughout the grounds, forming natural waterfalls and pools where you can bathe.

Tell me more… Visit the hot springs in the evening, where the pools and gardens are beautifully illuminated. 

Honeymoon Secret #3

Explore the jungle waterways on the Caribbean Coast

Shh… Tortuguero, on the Caribbean coast, is home to jungle waterways with abundant wildlife, including monkeys and caimans. At some times of the year you can arrange a tour to watch sea turtles arriving to lay eggs on the beach.

Tell me more… The romantic Manatus Hotel is the perfect place from which to explore the jungle. All 12-rooms in this small lodge have private solariums. 

Honeymoon Secret #4

Relax on the beaches of Manuel Antonio 

Shh… Costa Rica has great beaches, and Manuel Antonio on the Pacific coast has some of the best. The verdant hills roll into the ocean, with beautiful white sandy beaches fringed with tropical forest.

Tell me more… The Manuel Antonio National Park is the smallest in Costa Rica, but the trails offer a great chance to spot wildlife, including sloths, monkeys, toucans and macaws. 

Honeymoon Secret #5

Extend your trip to visit Guatemala

Shh… If you want to combine the natural wonders of Costa Rica with more culture, nearby Guatemala offers ancient Maya ruins, wonderful colonial cities and highland market towns.

Tell me more… Only a 90-minute flight from Costa Rica, Guatemala has some of the finest sights in all of the Americas. The Maya site of Tikal consists of stunning temples and palaces in the midst of dense rainforest. 

More about the expert

Luca Newbold is founder of Llama Travel, which specialises in holidays to Latin America. Llama Travel won bronze in the Top Tour Operator category of the 2013 Wanderlust Readers' Awards.

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