Wedding in Manuel Antonio
Costa Rica
Why choose Manuel Antonio for your wedding?
Manuel Antonio on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast is the only place in the world where rainforest meets the Pacific in a marine national park, and the weddings hosted here are genuinely different from anything else available in Central America. The narrow coastal strip between Quepos town and the national park hosts around twenty hotels scattered across steep rainforest slopes, often with terraces and pools that float over the jungle. Monkeys, sloths, toucans and iguanas frequent hotel gardens.
The journey is longer than to Guanacaste: fly to San José (no direct from London, 14 to 17 hours via connection; 5 to 6 hours direct from major US East Coast hubs; 25 hours from Sydney), then a 3-hour drive south or 25 minutes on SANSA Airlines domestic flights. No visa required. The best wedding season is December to April (dry season), but Manuel Antonio sits further south than Guanacaste and has higher humidity year-round. May to November is rainy and not recommended, although afternoon showers are often brief and dramatic.
Weddings in Manuel Antonio - style, venues and atmosphere
Manuel Antonio's wedding scene is defined by jungle hotels with ocean views rather than beach resorts. Tulemar Resort, Arenas del Mar, Hotel Sí Como No, Gaia Hotel & Reserve and Tres Banderas are the most established options, all with ceremony locations among the canopy or on cliff terraces overlooking Manuel Antonio's famous monkey-park beach. Wedding packages range from EUR 175 per guest in the mid-segment to EUR 360 per guest at Tulemar's private villa estate. Hotels are small (40 to 100 rooms), capping guest lists at around 50 to 80.
The most distinctive wedding venue is El Avión, an old Fairchild C-123 transport plane from the Iran-Contra affair converted into a restaurant and bar with sweeping Pacific views. Private hire for an intimate ceremony and cocktail reception from EUR 2,100 for 30 guests, often timed around a 17:30 sunset. Hotel Mariposas offers weddings in a private botanical garden housing more than 200 butterfly species.
Symbolic ceremonies dominate; legal marriage requires registration with a Costa Rican lawyer 30 days ahead. Local photographers such as John Williamson and Jennifer Harter specialise in rainforest weddings with dramatic lighting. Nature experiences are part of the package: the national park (3 kilometres from the hotels) offers near-guaranteed monkey sightings within the first hour.
Insider tips for Manuel Antonio
- Tulemar Resort has 33 private villas scattered through the rainforest and can be booked as full buy-out for wedding groups of 80 to 120; from EUR 26,500 per week.
- Manuel Antonio Beach does not open until 07:00 and closes at 16:00; plan ceremonies on your hotel's private terrace instead.
- Sunset falls reliably around 17:30 year-round at this latitude; plan ceremonies at 17:00 for the best golden-hour light.
- Quepos has a unique fish market and harbour; arrange a fresh-tuna dinner for 25 guests from local restaurant Ronnys Place for EUR 760.
- A San José to Quepos domestic flight costs EUR 115 one-way and saves 3 hours of road travel; appealing for elderly relatives.
Highlights in Manuel Antonio
- Rainforest meets beach
- Wildlife
- Boutique venues
- National park
Who is Manuel Antonio for?
Nature-loving couples wanting intimate wedding
Wedding costs in Manuel Antonio
80 000 - 250 000 kr
Our tips
Best Dec-April. Parador Resort and Si Como No popular. Monkeys as guests!
Practical info for Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
Our recommendation for Manuel Antonio
We recommend Manuel Antonio for couples wanting a genuinely different wedding with rainforest, wildlife and the Pacific's dramatic cliff coast as backdrop. It is not the right choice for large guest lists (max 80) or couples prioritising a beach ceremony.
Request a quoteEditorial team, Wedding Abroad · Last updated May 2026