Guanacaste

The weather

Guanacaste has the largest percentage of sunny and breezy days in the country. The mornings and evenings usually enjoy very pleasant temperatures, while the middle of the days are usually hot, which works great for spending time doing water activities.

By default, this area has the least amount of rain, which means more chances for a beach wedding under clear skies. This is a huge positive factor specific to this area that con not be overlooked, in comparison to all areas in the country which have much more rain than Guanacaste.

The culture

The specific geography of Guanacaste, large savannas and rolling hills, also gives this area a very warm and colorful culture that includes a blend of rich native traditions as well as old Spanish colonial influence.

You will see this best if you attend one of the local "Fiestas", that most towns have once a year. There you will see and experience the colorful food and culture that exists in this region.

The beaches

In current times, the beaches of Guanacaste have been taking the center stage in all things related to destination weddings, and no wonder. The friendly terrain and culture have naturally set the stage for absolutely gorgeous destination weddings.

The vibes

Surfers and fishermen have also frequented this are for many decades due to world class surfing and fishing conditions. They too are part of the history of this area and are also contributors of the friendly beach vibe this area enjoys on any regular day.

When it comes to wedding venues in Costa Rica, Guanacaste is the absolute first place, we suggest you start looking.

Central Pacific

The middle ground.

THE WEATHEr

This area is located in the Central part of the pacific coast of Costa Rica. Herradura and Jaco are the main towns that host all of the venues we discuss. While Guanacaste to the north is much drier and breezier, and Manuel Antonio to the south gets a lot more rain, this area lands almost dead in the middle. This applies to aspects such as the weather, and the wild life. In many ways, this gives this area a little bit of both worlds, meaning you do get to see a lot of wild life, such as monkeys and scarlet macaws and you also get less rain that Manuel Antonio.

Logistics

This area is located less than 2 hours from the main international airport in the country, which means that getting your guests to this location is not too difficult. Being close to the capital, also means you can have an easier time arranging more services that can allow you to host a large wedding.

All the venues below are pretty unique and we highly suggest you have a look!

Manuel Antonio

The wild life Costa Rica is known for.

THE WEATHER

The high rainfall throughout the year, especially during the wet season months, is a key player to the lush vegetation and super rich biodiversity found in this area. The dry season months December-April, offer much better chances of clear skies. We highly suggest you find an experienced local wedding planner who can help you navigate the complexities of having a destination wedding in a tropical rain forest.

THE wildlife, the beaches & the culture

The abundance of wild life is where this region finds its outstanding position in the map. Almost

every single time we shoot weddings at all the locations below, within minutes we get to see scarlet macaws and different kinds of monkeys in just about every corner. The forest areas are lush and very much filled with native wildlife. This alone gives an absolutely unique and incredible experience to couples and weddings guests alike that is very much fulfilling and beautiful. Also, the venues below are located up in the hills with stunning views to gorgeous beaches. In so many ways, this area often feels like being in a living postcard, where you see beautiful views, beaches and animals in every turn.

The diverse and numerous wild life, is a dominant feature of the vibes, the culture and the charm of this area.

A wedding planner

Getting a wedding planner is what we consider the key to success in this area. Pound for pound, that is the single best investment you can make towards a successful wedding in the tropics of Manuel Antonio.

Arenal Volcano

Hot springs, volcanoes and waterfalls

the volcano and the rainforest

This area is best known for the Arenal Volcano. A huge and gorgeous volcano located in some of the most lush rain forests in all of Costa Rica. It rains a ton here and that is part of the charm.

Hot springs and weddings: there is something amazing about going to a place where you can enjoy natural hot springs, in the rainforest with a view of the Volcano. So much so, that historically, Arenal is the place in Costa Rica that has the most tourist visits. This last fact would not seem obvious, as the area in general is not overly developed and it retains a beautiful and healthy local population. Animal and plant farming is also very relevant, so over all, you do get to experience a lot of nature and a lot of culture, which is an absolute bonus of coming to this area. All of the above means you have an overall memorable experience for your spouse and for your guests if you have a wedding here. Even if you Elope, this place is a very memorable and exciting place to do it.

Check out our dear friend Tai, from Blue Butterfly Events, for wedding planning in Arenal. Tui lives in the area and she is most probably the most experienced wedding planner in this area. Arenal is and has been for many years her home and place of choice to work.