When I first started getting into international photography, Costa Rica was a place I found so much inspiration in. While I was there on vacation—in between taking photos of the gorgeous natural setting—I was also asking random couples on the street if they would model for me! There was no way I was leaving a place as gorgeous as Costa Rica with no photos of people in love.
One of my favorite elopement locations in the country is Manuel Antonio National Park. Take a boat tour of the mangroves to check out the monkeys & sloths and then head out on the short trails that somehow give you the views of a double-digit mile hike near the coast. This is a perfect blend of scenery & activity!
But Costa Rica packs so much beauty into its ~20k miles, and there are so many other options! Read on for more of my top picks from this Central American gem that would be stunning to elope at.
Or, if you need more precise answers, check out my location map! It’s packed with over 600 locations and filters so that you can see only what you’re looking for and take out the guesswork. Click here to go right to it!
Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
This place packs so much into such a small area: jungle, beaches, wildlife, and some of the best views in Costa Rica. The trails here are short but full of big payoffs, winding through dense rainforest that’s alive with monkeys, sloths, and toucans before spilling out onto white-sand beaches with crazy blue water. Post-ceremony, you can kayak through the mangroves, take a catamaran out for sunset, or just kick back at a beachfront resort and let the tropical vibes do their thing. And if you’re up for a little road trip, the two-tiered Nauyaca Waterfalls are just an hour away.
Best for: Coast, Forest, Mountains and Waterfalls
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking and Boating
Poás Volcano National Park, Costa Rica
This park is home to one of the largest active craters in the world, filled with an electric blue acidic lake that looks like something out of sci-fi. The best part is that you don’t have to hike for hours to see it – it’s one of the most accessible volcanoes in Costa Rica, with a paved path leading straight to the crater’s rim. Imagine your wedding photos with a massive, steaming volcanic crater in the background! After your ceremony, explore the park’s lush cloud forest, or head to a nearby coffee plantation for a post-vow caffeine boost.
Best for: Volcano, Forest
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Tamarindo, Costa Rica
Golden sand, rolling waves, and some of the best sunsets in the country – Tamarindo knows how to set the scene for an unforgettable elopement. With surfing, sailing, or just soaking up the sun all on the table, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate. The town itself has a lively but laid-back energy, packed with beachfront restaurants and boutique stays that put you right next to the water. So, how’re you gonna fill your days? Take a catamaran out at golden hour, ride horses along the shore, or head into the jungle for a private waterfall dip before exchanging vows.
Best for: Forest, Mountain, Beach and Coast
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Boating
Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
Corcovado doesn’t do half-measures – this place is Costa Rica cranked up to 11. It’s home to a whopping 5% of the world’s biodiversity, which means that on any given day, you could be crossing paths with a tapir, spotting scarlet macaws overhead, or watching spider monkeys swing through the trees. This is rainforest at its most untamed, with jungle trails leading to hidden beaches, waterfalls tucked into the trees, and no shortage of adventure. You can only get here by boat or plane, but once you do, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another world.
Best for: Rainforest, Rive, Waterfalls, Mountains, Beach and Coast
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Safari
Playa Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Playa Manuel Antonio is what happens when a beach and a rainforest decide to one-up each other. White sand? Check. Turquoise water? Of course. A literal jungle full of monkeys and sloths right behind you? Now we’re talking. This beach sits inside Manuel Antonio National Park, which means it’s stunningly preserved, free of resorts, and packed with wildlife. Getting married here means sharing the moment with curious capuchins, crashing waves, and maybe even a few iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks.
Best for: Forest, Beach and Coast
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Bird watching
Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica
Picture a perfectly conical volcano towering over a deep blue lake, surrounded by rainforest – that’s your backdrop if you decide to elope at Arenal. The area is packed with hot springs, hanging bridges, and hidden waterfalls, giving you endless ways to soak up the scenery. Say your vows with the volcano in view, then wind down in a thermal river and take a boat ride on Lake Arenal. For an added bonus, the sunsets here hit next-level levels of unreal.
Best for: Volcano, Forest, Waterfall, Rivers, Hot Springs
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking and Boating
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica
Eloping in a cloud forest? Absolutely. Monteverde is one of Costa Rica’s top spots for a reason. It’s lush, misty, and packed with hanging bridges that take you high into the canopy. This place is home to some of the rarest wildlife in Costa Rica, from neon-green quetzals to tree frogs that look straight out of a sci-fi movie, and saying your vows here means being surrounded by towering ferns, tangled vines, and a soundtrack of rustling leaves and bird calls. Afterward, celebrate with a zipline ride over the treetops and sipping Costa Rican coffee while the clouds drift past.
Best for: Rainforest
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking and Safari/Bird watching
Montezuma, Costa Rica
Costa Rica has some epic beaches, so why not elope on one! If you love the idea of a laid-back, toes-in-the-sand elopement with a wild side, Montezuma is the spot. This little beach town has a free-spirited, bohemian energy, with golden beaches, jungle waterfalls, and just enough adventure to keep things interesting. You can say your vows by the ocean, then hike to Montezuma Waterfall for a post-ceremony swim or take a boat trip to Isla Tortuga for snorkeling in crazy-clear water. After dark, head back into town for fresh seafood and a beachfront bonfire. Nothing says “just married” like dancing under the stars with the waves crashing nearby.
Best for: Waterfall, Rainforest, Beach, Coast
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Stargazing, Swimming, Boating, Kayaking
La Fortuna Waterfall, Costa Rica
For a waterfall elopement that actually feels like stepping into a jungle paradise, La Fortuna is it. This 200-foot cascade crashes into a stunning turquoise pool, surrounded by thick rainforest and wildlife. Warning: it’s a bit of a trek… down 500 steps… but the views and the chance to cool off with a swim make it more than worth it. Plus, you’ll be right next to Arenal Volcano, meaning you can round out your day with a soak in the nearby hot springs, a horseback ride, or even a zip-line adventure through the jungle.
Best for: Rainforest, River and Waterfall
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Swimming
Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
This is as wild and off-the-beaten-path as Costa Rica gets. The Osa Peninsula is home to Corcovado National Park, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, where you can tick so many things off your bucket list: hike past waterfalls, spot rare wildlife, and stumble upon beaches that feel completely untouched. Eloping here means trading crowds for raw, unfiltered nature, where scarlet macaws fly overhead and jaguar tracks are still spotted in the sand. After your ceremony, take a boat ride through Golfo Dulce, one of the only tropical fjords in the world, and snorkel at Isla del Caño, a tiny island with some of the best coral reefs in the country.
Best for: Beach, Forest, Waterfalls and Coast
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Safari/Birdwatching
Marino Ballena National Park, Costa Rica
This is one of the most unique elopement spots in Costa Rica, and it’s all thanks to the natural whale tail-shaped sandbar stretching out into the Pacific. Between tropical beaches, dense jungle, and coral reefs teeming with marine life, the scenery here is straight out of your travel daydreams. The park is also one of the best places in Costa Rica for spotting humpback whales, so you might just get a special guest appearance during your ceremony. At low tide, you can walk along the famous sandbar and feel like you’re standing in the middle of the ocean – a dream setting to say “I do.”
Best for: Beach, Coast and Rainforest
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking and Boating
Cahuita, Costa Rica
Cahuita moves at its own pace, and that’s exactly the point. This isn’t the place for mega resorts or packed beaches – it’s where you swap shoes for sandy feet, let the sound of the waves set the mood, and take your time soaking it all in. The town itself has a strong Afro-Caribbean influence, so expect reggae playing from beachside bars, fresh seafood straight off the boat, and a laid-back energy that makes it impossible to stress about anything. Sipping on fresh coconut water and rum punch post-elopement certainly sounds good to me!
Best for: Forest, Beach and Coast
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Boating
Parque Nacional Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Tortuguero is where the jungle meets the sea, with winding canals, dense rainforest, and black sand beaches where sea turtles nest under the stars. There are no roads here (just boats and footpaths) so the whole place just feels like a hidden world of untouched nature. Take a canoe through the waterways at sunrise, spotting sloths, caimans, and bright green parrots as you glide through the mangroves. Then, find a secluded stretch of beach where you can say your vows with the sound of the waves and the occasional monkey call in the background. If you visit between July and October, you can even see baby turtles making their way to the ocean for the first time.
Best for: Coast, Rainforest and Rivers
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Boating, Safari
Nosara, Costa Rica
Nosara has a way of making you slow down and enjoy every second, which is exactly what an elopement here should feel like. Tucked away on the Nicoya Peninsula, this small beach town is known for its yoga retreats, world-class surf, and untouched stretches of sand where you can get married with just the sound of the waves. Stay in a jungle treehouse, swap wedding heels for bare feet, and end your day with fresh seafood and cocktails as the sky turns neon pink. Between the beaches, hiking trails, and incredible wildlife (howler monkeys in the treetops and sea turtles nesting at night), Nosara gives you that perfect mix of adventure and total relaxation.
Best for: Beach, Forest and Coast
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Boating, Glamping
Braulio Carillo National Park, Costa Rica
Some parks have trails, but Braulio Carrillo lets you fly. The Rainforest Aerial Tram carries you high over the jungle, giving you unreal views of untouched cloud forest and hidden waterfalls. If you want an elopement that literally takes you to new heights, this is the place. Fair warning: you might get wet, but if you’re down for a little rain on your wedding day, you’ll be rewarded with one of Costa Rica’s most immersive jungle experiences.
Best for: Rivers, Waterfalls and Forest
Best months to get married here: Year Round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Costa Rica has a special kind of magic all its own. The small size makes it a perfect place to elope, because you can see so much of what it has to offer over just one dream vacation (though I promise, you’re going to want to come back.) If you’re feeling overwhelmed by options though or don’t feel like this is quite what you’re looking for, I’ve got you covered. You can click here to go to my searchable location database! It’s got 600+ elopement spots that you can sort through by season, activity, and even type of scenery.
I would be so excited to get to photograph your elopement day—whether in Costa Rica or anywhere else in the world. I provide my clients with everything from bespoke location suggestions, to custom itinerary planning, to in-depth planning guides and packing lists, to permit help, and so much more. When you choose me as your elopement photographer, you’re choosing an experience designer who will craft an out-of-this-world day that you’ll remember forever.
