Hey all, I'm planning my honeymoon in Costa Rica for the first in June and looking to do about 8 nights. I'm slightly nervous of booking during the wet season, but the wedding is set! I'm fully aware that one should expect afternoon showers, but how wet is it really? Can we still expect to soak in some rays on the beach? Would there be much difference in planning the beach portion of the trip on the North coast versus Manuel Antonio? As of now, I've put together an itinerary where we fly into Liberia, spend 3 nights in the Guanacaste area, then set off for Arenal or Monteverde for 2 or 3 nights, then to the Peace Lodge at the La Paz waterfall Gardens for the last 2 nights. We would then fly out of SJO. What do you guys think? We plan on several activities such as canopy tours, river rafting, hiking and such, as well as some quality relaxing and "honeymooning." Your thoughts and recommendations would be appreciated.

With your short timeframe, I wouldn't go to Monteverde. Arenal is awesome; I would definitely put that on the to do list. Are you sure the Peace Lodge will be back up and running by June? Not sure since they had earthquake damage. We've done MA in July and gotten afternoon showers each day, but nothing that stopped us from doing what we wanted. In CR, the birds and monkeys usually get you up by 5:30, so you get an early start. We would do all our activities, come back to the room in the afternoon to relax and enjoy the showers, and then it would be clear again by dinnertime. Check out www.cost-rica-guide.com for rainfall patterns during specific months. Mouse over the map to see it for each area and month.

I appreciate the input. Peace lodge says they will re-open in 3 months, as they claim to have had no structural damage.

Never been to CR before- would you say that MA would be a better spot than the Guanacaste beach areas? I don't surf, but would like picturesque beaches, a bit secluded... Basically just looking to experience the best of CR: beaches, forest, etc.

Not sure about Peace Lodge--the building may be fixed, but the surrounding countryside was really devastated. Maybe safer to go with Xandari or something like that.

I hope the Peace Lodge is open in 3 months. It's a beautiful place and very "honeymoonish" in my book. I haven't been to Guanacaste yet, but the beach inside MA national park is one of the prettiest I've ever seen. There were a lot of people touring the park when we were there, but not a lot at the beach. It really is gorgeous. A lot of the beaches in CR and not what you would consider traditionally pretty, but this one is. I wouldn't use the term secluded to describe it though.

We went the first 2 weeks of June ('08) and had very little rain. It rained some at night and a few times late in the afternoon but that was about all. If you go to Manuel Antonio I would suggest you look at a one bedroom villa at Buena Vista Villas....private beach, lots of animals, and great accomodations. Enjoy!

Thanks for all your input!

RAC (and others)- have you seen this damage or is there some report on the actual devastation? Peace Lodge has some photos on their website of the damage, and showed some landslides and such, but nothing looked all thaaat bad... but perhaps they're just downplaying the damage as to not turn away tourists, eh? Does anybody know? Should I nix La Paz from this trip and head elsewhere?

In several places the roads were destroyed. I'm sure they are working on them but even so things only move so quickly in CR.

MA is lovely but not what I would term secluded. June you may get early morning or late afternoon showers, they are often very brief.

The pics online show railings ripped away, roads destroyed, landslide destruction, not so much the buildings at the Peace Lodge, but the roads and garden area surrounding it. tully is right, and I imagine the repairs will be a little slow-going. I just don't think you can predict when they'll open up, but if they're open, I would definitely have it on my to do list. A cozy bed, fireplace, waterfall shower, and beautiful view are hard to beat for a honeymoon.

Guanacaste gets least rain

for romantic honeymoon

www.hotellosaltosdeeros.com

or

www.hotelpuntaislita.com

rent a car tour out from there

www.thespringscostarica.com

Arenal for a night or 2...

Congrats,have fun,

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Hi Joel, my gf and I are doing the same thing-- but opposite-- for our honeymoon in mid-June. Flying into San Jose and staying at Xandari for one night, then Arenal for three, then Samara (in Guanacaste) for the last four and flying out of Liberia. I've been having "buyers remorse" and worrying that I am missing out on a better beach experience by staying in Guancaste because it's supposed to be drier instead of doing MA. We'd love to do both but don't want to be driving the whole time! Anyway, I think for now we're staying with the original plan. Let me know what you decide!

Instead of Samara, I will go to Malpais/Sta. Teresa. It is quite dry mid June to end of and is called El Veranillo de San Juan.
There you can enjoy the romantic beaches of Hermosas and Manzanillo, do some canopy, explore Montezuma and the waterfalls (a bit like Samara with a proper village), hike in the Cabo Blanco Absolute reserve, wattch the amazing sunset. You have wonderful villas for rent - check out http://www.malpais-beach-rentals.com and http://www.nicoyazoom.com for hotels - I would recommend Tropico Latino right on the beach perfect for honeymoon.

I would definitly stay away from the Tamarindo area....Go to the Nicoya Peninsula.....next to Samara beach is Carillo which is totally deserted during the week especially. You can find some more deserted beaches by driving past Carillo (south) a bit to Islita....(during low tide)....also the Domenical area is gorgous and more remote. I too would skip Monteverde and head to the beach after Arenal. The rains are nice and even welcoming in June....I've been there in November with 14" rain in one day and believe it or not it was the most magical vacation we ever had in Costa Rica. June is much different. Good Luck and have fun!

I've been to CR in the rainy season and thought the rain was fine (mostly afternoon showers that would clear up quickly) in Manuel Antonio, Arenal, and Montezuma. We were in Monteverde in May, though, and although it was beautiful, the rain was more of an issue--if I ever go back there, it won't be during the rainy season. Good luck!