I'm looking for a wedding destination in Costa Rica.?

Question

I want something that is NOT touristy. We'd like a nice, quiet, beautiful place near, if not on the beach. We also want to do some of the local activities, like riding horses on the beach, canopy tours, snorkling etc. I'm looking for any suggestions of where to go and where to avoid. We aren't independently wealthy, so we're looking for the most cost effective way to enjoy ourselves. Also, if anyone can give pros and cons of Atlantic vs. Pacific side, I would appreciate the input. Thanks!!

Answer 1

if you want to be coastal, tourists will be hard to avoid.  i witnessed an outdoor wedding at los suenos resort on the pacific side (it was outdoor, so that would only work during the dry season).  I didn't specifically do a canopy tour, but we ziplined.  that is really better to do near monteverde although ours was near the volcano arenal (we were staying at tabacon resort) and was exceptional (skytrek).

Answer 2

Try the Hotel Diria in Tamarindo Beach on the Pacific side.  Its on the beach, has three huge swimming pools, Rooms all First Class and are like about $50.00 a night with all of the amenities and bar.  Breakfast is included in the the room rate and they offer three huge tables of all sorts of breakfast food to start your day off right!

And they have tons of activities like what you are looking for!

If I ever get married again this is exactly where I will be going!

You can check this Hotel out by picking it up on their web site that has lots of pics, etc.

I always go there when I am in Costa Rica.

Good Luck!

VIVA LA PURA VIDA!

Answer 3

check out "Dolphin Quest"  perfect for a wedding

Answer 4

Dominical, (Southern Pacific) by far. Just had my wedding there on March 25th, on the beach and did our reception at a bed and breakfast absolutely spectacular. We had quite a few guest go down with us, thier cost was about $1,000 per person including flight and room. I can e-mail you pictures if you would like. Good luck, let me know if you have any questions.

Answer 5

Costa Rica is just about always full of tourists. however belize is just as nice if not better and tourist traffic is not as thick.

Here are some links that should help.

Costa Rica

http://adventurebrat.com/search.php?acti...

http://adventurebrat.com/search.php?acti...

http://adventurebrat.com/search.php?acti...

http://adventurebrat.com/search.php?acti...

http://adventurebrat.com/search.php?acti...

If you want to take a look at some great Belize honeymoon ideas here are some perfect ones that are all far from tourists.

http://adventurebrat.com/search.php?k=be...

Answer 6

Costa Rica is a tourist country, so any place that is beautiful is likely to have tourists.  I assume that you knew that, and what you meant by "touristy" is a place with a lot of large resort hotels and large scale rather impersonal tourism.  Fortunately, there isn't a lot of that kind of tourism in Costa Rica--if you avoid the Papagayo complex in Guanacaste, Tambor and the Lost Suenos Playa Herradura complex near Jaco.  The Atlantic side is a lot less developed but it rains a lot--except in September-- so most of the year, the Pacific side is where you should go.   My recommendation would be to go someplace like Manuel Antonio-- the views are spectacular and there are hotels like the Parador that are in quiet settings (there are others just as good, but only the Parador comes to mind).  Get a good guide book like Fodors or Lonely Planet to check out your options.  Domincal is an option, but I think its location is a little awkward for the kinds of things that you would like to do.  If you are a little more "alternative" try Mal Pais or Montezuma on the Nicoya penninsula-- there are a few places nearby that would be great.