If you dream of a destination wedding in an exotic locale lush with greenery, lined with pastoral beaches, alive with culture and infused with excellent cuisine, then Costa Rica with its diversity of experiences is exactly what you are looking for.
To start with, one doesn’t go to Costa Rica to visit a particular city, but instead chooses a mindset and then manifests around it. “Pura Vida” or pure life is its national motto and it reflects in the vibe of the locals, diverse wildlife, untouched landscapes and the almost empyreal feeling that what happens in Costa Rica is exactly meant to happen at that moment. Perhaps it’s the beauty of the volcanoes, rain and cloud forests, rivers, oceans and islands with their unfettered connection to Mother Earth, or perhaps it is the respect that Costa Ricans –Ticos as they are known—give to their natural environment, but the ether in this country is raw and elegant, primal and refined all at the same time. In fact, no other country in the world has this much biodiversity and Ticos are so committed to its preservation that 25% of the country has been allocated as a protected reserve, and the country is on track to be the world’s first carbon-neutral nation by 2021. It is a proud country rich in heritage that offers newlyweds a variety of life changing experiences.
Costa Rica has 800 miles of coastline with the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The coastline offers sandy beaches and soaring cliffs with both resort type tourist enclaves as well as smaller fishing villages. In between the two coastlines, the terrain morphs between hills, valleys, forests, mountains, volcanoes, wetlands and plains. In fact, due to the small size of the country and the enormous amount of adventures to experience, there is no real “center” of the city, although San José, the capital, does come close. The best way to choose a place to visit in Costa Rica is to choose an experience and then find the amenities that will make it happen around it.
For those looking for a luxurious retreat with many nightlife and dining options, Herradura Bay, located on the Pacific side of the country, is known as the Fishing Capital of Costa Rica and is one of the top tourist destinations with an abundance of restaurants, bars and hotels in nearby Jaco. Located in Herradura Bay is the Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort, a luxury property nestled between Herradura beach, the marina and a strip of rainforest that serves as a perfect launching pad for all of your wedding revelries.
An Oasis in the Bay
The Los Suenos Marriott bills itself as an “oasis” in Herradura Bay, and that it is, offering both its own experiences and easy-access to the adventures of Costa Rica. One of the handful of large resort properties in the country, the Los Suenos Marriott is styled in beautiful colonial Spanish architecture with a large pool complex, adjoining beach, Sibo Rainforest Spa & Retreat and 18-holf golf course designed by Ted Robinson. Among the five restaurants, open-air Zoe with its Mediterranean cuisine and the Costa-Rican cuisine Hacienda Kitchen are standouts. Guests will enjoy the panoramic views of either the beach or the rainforest visible from the open air architecture of the property.
The Los Suenos Marriott offers unique arrangements for weddings. Couples can choose from a private beach ceremony to a formal ballroom affair for up to 400 guests. Their chefs specialize in South Asian cuisine, but trust us when we say, couples will find themselves leaning towards many Costa Rican offerings that have similar spice and flavor complexity. Be sure to try casado, a word that means “marriage” and is literally a dish of many foods whose flavors “marry” well together. And for vegetarians, try some of the local offerings like chayote, rambutan and mangosteen. Marriott Certified Wedding Planners, on property, can help choosing wedding catering as well as other vendors such a photographers, cake designers, hair and makeup, florists and decorators.
By Day… Your Own Private Island
From the Los Suenos Marriott, take a catamaran group tour to Isla Tortuga for a getaway to your own private island. Named for its turtle-like shape by the native Indians, Isla Tortuga is a quiet escape nestled in white sand beaches, soft waves and colorful flora and fauna. Spend the day doing nothing but sunbathing, hiking, snorkeling or watersports. Locals provide coconut water, spiked or natural, and a gift shop for trinkets. When on the island, be sure to say hi to Filomena, the Peccary Pig of Tortuga Island who was abandoned by her pack because of a bad leg, found her way to the beach and now enjoys belly rubs by all who visit!
A perfect group adventure for the wedding party is a day cruise by Costa Cat Cruises operated by Captain Jim Kitchell onboard a gorgeous catamaran that the captain built himself. The cruise leaves from the Los Suenos Marina, adjoining the Los Suenos Marriott ands costs about $125 pp and includes breakfast, beach-side barbeque lunch, snorkeling and alcoholic drinks. Contact the bilingual crew for group rates for the wedding party or special requests including decor and menu options. They are very accommodating.
By Night… The Party Ends in Jaco
Gather up your guests and head to Jaco, (15 minutes by car from the Los Suenos Marriott), the nightlife center of Costa Rica. Here you will find clubs, live music venues, restaurants and bars. Green Room Cafe with its local ingredient Continental cuisine and indoor/outdoor seating offers live music seven nights a week, while gambling can be found at the beachfront Hotel Cocal and Casino. Club Wave (Pastor Diaz Ave, Puntarenas Province, Jaco) stays grooving till at least 5am while Le Loft and Mancave (same owners) are also popular options. Dress to impress and expect a cover charge or bottle service. And oh… prostitution is legal in Costa Rica so inform your single guests to know what to expect in case they choose to hook up with a particularly friendly local.
City Life
If you prefer a more city-centered location, San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica and consists of Victorian mansions, city buildings, bustling markets and tranquil parks. Rather than being a destination city, San Jose serves more as a hub for all of the activities around Costa Rica, however, a walking tour may well be worth your while. The 16th century hacienda-styled Costa Rica Marriott San Jose Hotel sits within a 30-acre coffee plantation and is considered one of the top 10 venues to be married in San Jose. Walk the property to experience the coffee plants up close and end your journey at on-property Casa del Café to try some of the local brews. Although Costa Rican cuisine abounds on the property, delicious Peruvian food can be found at La Isabela. The hotel itself has sweeping views and is tastefully furnished with local antiques and colonial furniture. The Costa Rica Marriott has a large ballroom for up to 550 people with an outdoor courtyard for pre-function and a small onsite chapel for a small ceremony and photographs. The property lends itself to stunning photographs and guests will be transported back to the golden days of hacienda living. For an extra special touch, the on-property Marriott Certified Weddings Specialist can also arrange fireworks.
Coffee and Friends
No trip to Costa Rica would be complete without a visit to an authentic coffee plantation. Café Britt, the coffee brand synonymous with Costa Rican coffee, offers Coffee Tours at its working sustainable coffee farm, Doka Estate, located about 20 minutes from the main city of San Jose in Alajuela. A half-day tour educates you from coffee seedlings to the final roast. Did you know that the lighter the roast, the more caffeine in the brew? You’ll learn that and more details about coffee at this fascinating and picturesque tour. Rates start at $34pp and can include a delicious lunch at the farm. TAM Costa Rica, a full-service tour company with desk locations at both Marriott properties, can help you book tours and arrange for travel and tour guides for your group including helicopter rides, shuttles and private cars. Their tour operators are bilingual, friendly and knowledgeable in the history and stories surrounding Costa Rica and its adventures including the popular Arenal Volcano National Park and Tabacon Hot Springs.
Rainforest, Wildlife and Waterfalls
A must-do on your Costa Rican adventure is a trip to La Paz Waterfall Garden, $44pp, a nature preserve located within the rainforest. Visitors will wander through the rainforest, a cloudforest and be able to easily hike down to five spectacular waterfalls, an experience worth every wet moment. A wildlife preserve gives visitors the opportunity to see Costa Rican wildlife up close like toucans, sloths, hummingbirds, capuchin (white-faced) monkeys, black-handed spider monkeys, jaguars, pumas, frogs, snakes, ocelots, margays and more. The butterfly sanctuary is like being in the realm of fairies with many of the motley colored insects landing on your arms and head making you their own private airport! After that, a trek down wooden stairs and trails built into the hillside lead down to the waterfalls that look like something out of the Garden of Eden. There are a number of restaurants on the property as well as accommodations at the Peace Lodge. La Paz also offers wedding packages for very small parties, and arrangements can be made for an unforgettable bridal photoshoot.
Simply Samara
Finally, if the simplicity of palm trees, sandy beach life and living like a Tico is what you are craving, find your way west to Samara, located in Guanacaste province on the Pacific coast. Here you will find a close community of expats that are more than willing to tell you an inspiring story or share worldly advice. Everything here is pretty relaxed and Samara serves as a perfect honeymoon destination for couples looking for a more tranquil experience after a grand destination wedding. The main street juts out from the beach and is home to rustic restaurants, organic offerings, small hotels, little boutiques and tour/adventure shops. Start with delicious drinks with local and Italian-inspired cuisine at Gusto Beach, on the sand at Playa Samara. For dinner, try the highly rated Costa Rican cum French European cuisine at Samara Pacific Lodge Restaurant, and end the night at Frank’s Place, on the main street, where you’ll meet the most interesting group of friendly residents ever, including the owner Frank, while listening to live music (most nights). Don’t worry about the addresses since everything just happens to be right there in front of you when you need it. Literally. And that’s the magic of Costa Rica.
Wedding Resources:
Non-Denominational Officiant
Indian Community in Costa Rica
Mosque and Islamic Center: Centro Cultural Musulman De Costa Rica. Mezquita De Omar
Montelimar Guadalupe San José, San José, San José Apdo 608-2050
(506)-2261980 / (506)2865725
abduflo@ice.co.cr
