Highlights
- Start your honeymoon with lunch and drinks served aboard a catamaran
- Go snorkeling around a volcanic archipelago while looking for tropical fish
- Enjoy a romantic horseback ride on the beach—at sunset
- Paddle around islands in a kayak and then join a coffee tasting
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Tamarindo, Catamaran Tour | Tamarindo |
| Day 2 | Snorkeling in the Catalina Islands, Romantic Dinner for Two | Tamarindo |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Nosara, Snorkeling & Horseback Riding | Nosara |
| Day 4 | Kayaking Tour, Indigenous Village & Coffee Plantation Tour | Nosara |
| Day 5 | Drive to Liberia, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Tamarindo, Catamaran Tour
Welcome to Costa Rica! With an impressive number of biological reserves and national parks that comprise a quarter of the country's area, there are few better locales for a tropical getaway. You and your special someone can relax on beaches, explore rainforests, and enjoy plenty of aqua activities ranging from snorkeling to sailing.
This romantic getaway focuses on the Guanacaste province in the northwest of Costa Rica, which is known for its stunning coast and offshore islands. Upon arrival at the airport in the city of Liberia, a driver will pick you up for the two-hour ride west to the coast and popular surf town of Tamarindo. Here, you'll check into the hotel where you'll spend the next two nights. There's no time to waste, as you'll immediately head over to the pier, where you'll embark on an unforgettable catamaran ride.
Once on the water, enjoy a scenic four-hour ride along Costa Rica's Gold Coast, which is famous for its white-sand beaches, secluded bays, and tropical jungles. Kick back, relax, and keep an eye out for exotic wildlife like dolphins, sea turtles, and flying fish as the crew serves up tropical drinks. After stopping in a secluded bay for a barbecue lunch and some snorkeling, you'll return to Tamarindo, where you'll have the rest of the night free.
Day 2: Snorkeling in the Catalina Islands, Romantic Dinner for Two
In the morning, your driver will pick you and your partner up for a short ride up the coast to Playa Flamingo. Once there, you'll board a dive boat and head out on a half-day snorkeling tour. Your destination is the Catalina Islands, a volcanic archipelago located in Flamingo Bay.
When you arrive, put on your mask, dive in, and explore the colorful coral reefs around these islands. Species to keep an eye out for include giant mantas, devil rays, sea turtles, parrotfish, moray eels, and many more. In the right season (July to September), you can even spot humpback whales.
At the end of the day, you'll return to Tamarindo, where a romantic dinner right on the beach will be waiting. Indulge in a gourmet meal with your feet in the sand as you listen to the sounds of waves gently lapping at the shore. Helping to set the mood will be the constellations of gleaming stars shining down from the Pacific sky. After the meal, you'll retire to your hotel.
Day 3: Transfer to Nosara, Snorkeling & Horseback Riding
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
After a leisurely breakfast, hop in the car for a two-hour drive south to the village of Nosara. Sitting on the coast of the lovely Nicoya Peninsula, Nosara is one of the best locales for wellness, yoga, and surfing in the country. There are also some world-class dive sites just offshore. See for yourself when, after checking into your luxury ecolodge, you'll head out for a three-hour snorkeling tour.
It begins with a boat transfer to Playa Rosada, whose name derives from its long stretch of sand that shines pink in the sunlight—a result of crushed seashells mixed in with the sand. The forest fronting the beach is full of wildlife, and you might just see howler monkeys in the trees. After strolling the beach, you'll hop back in the boat and transfer to a small offshore reef where you'll snorkel amid corals and tropical fish.
Afterward, saddle up for a two-hour sunset horseback ride along unspoiled tropical beaches near Nosara. During the excursion, you'll ride along jungle trails and cross a river to reach Playa Pelada, where you'll trot along white sands as the waves crash nearby. Return to your ecolodge in time for dinner.
Day 4: Kayaking Tour, Indigenous Village & Coffee Plantation Tour
A driver will pick you up at your ecolodge this morning and transfer you to a spot on the coast. From here, you'll get in a kayak (or grab a standup paddleboard) for a three-hour tour. Along with your guide, you'll paddle out over lagoons to stunning Isla Chora. Once there, you can snorkel around the island's reefs, spot sea turtles, and enjoy snacks and beverages on the beach before paddling back.
From the beach, you'll transfer inland to a local village home to the Matambú Indigenous tribe, who have inhabited the Guanacaste region since pre-colonial times. After learning about their history and culture, your guide will take you to a coffee plantation. Here you'll learn about the region's prized coffee, from the planting to the harvesting to the roasting. Of course, the tour includes a coffee tasting paired with snacks. At the end of the experience, you'll return to your ecolodge.
Day 5: Drive to Liberia, Depart
After breakfast, you'll pick up a rental car and enjoy a romantic road trip on a three-hour drive from Nosara back to Liberia. Along the way, you'll pass through Nicoya, which was founded back in 1523 as Costa Rica's first colonial town. If there's time, feel free to stop and admire some historical landmarks, like Nicoya's whitewashed chapel. It dates to 1644 and is the oldest church in the country.
Continue on the road to Liberia, perhaps stopping at a roadside eatery for lunch. These smaller restaurants are called "sodas" and can be found throughout the country. They typically have set menus (often a selection of chicken, beef, or pork), and the food is made from scratch. Upon arrival at Liberia Airport, you'll drop off the rental car and catch your connecting flight home. Safe travels!
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