Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo
Four Seasons4.71,718 reviews$$$$
via Google
Two beaches on a private peninsula with rainforest ceremony sites and the country's deepest luxury wedding bench.
See weddings at the resortWhy it fits you
It fits your adventurous, tropical, boho feel, and the guest travel side stays manageable. You can also have a legal ceremony there, with November and December standing out as the best months.
Budget snapshot
$10K-$35K estimate
Based on Costa Rica average ($10K-$35K) for a 30-80 guest wedding
What drives this estimate
- Guest count: a 30-80 guest party - more guests means more catering and room nights
- Resort tier: mid properties; all-inclusive vs à la carte swings this the most
- Season: peak months (November) cost more than shoulder season
Best timing
Best
NovemberDecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarchApril
Avoid
MayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctober
Weather: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (2019-2023 averages). Updated 2026-04-15.
Your Winter window in Costa Rica, month by month
December
72-88°F
1 rain days
no storm riskJanuary
73-90°F
1 rain days
no storm riskFebruary
73-92°F
0 rain days
no storm riskYour guests (Mixed US guests)
Flight time
~5.3h
Avg flight cost
~$400
Hotel/night
~$200
Guest burden
7/10
easy for guests
Visa
No visa required
Legal requirements
Legal ceremony availableCosta Rica allows foreign nationals to legally marry. The ceremony must be performed by a licensed notary public or authorized religious celebrant. You need apostilled copies of birth certificates and, if previously married, proof of divorce. Two witnesses are required to sign the marriage deed. No blood test or residency requirement. Most wedding planners handle all document requirements and notary coordination.
Marriage laws and document requirements change. Confirm with your planner or the country's consulate before you book.
Your planning timeline
- Step 112 mo
Lock your destination + book a planner
- Confirm destination and rough date
- Book a local wedding planner
- Set the guest list and budget
- Step 210 mo
Save-the-dates + start your room block
- Send save-the-dates (guests need lead time to book travel)
- Start a hotel room block for group rates
- Step 38 mo
Legal paperwork
- Research marriage requirements at your destination
- Decide: legal ceremony abroad vs legal at home
- Step 46 mo
Book your core vendors
- Photographer, florist, officiant
- Tasting / menu planning
- Step 54 mo
Details + guest logistics
- Invitations
- Welcome bags, transfers, excursions
- Step 62 mo
Confirm everything
- Final headcount to resort/vendors
- Confirm legal documents and travel insurance
- Step 71 mo
Final month
- Pack documents (apostilles/passports)
- Reconfirm vendors and timeline
Where couples stay in Costa Rica
A feel for the resort scene - nothing to book yet. Most couples pick their resort with their planner's help, about 10 months out.
The five-star shortlist
The flagship properties for a luxury Costa Rica wedding. Each link goes to the resort's own wedding pages, not a booking site.
Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Ritz-Carlton Reserve4.7126 reviews
via Google
Opened 2025 on Peninsula Papagayo; cliffside ocean-view venues and Reserve-level privacy for smaller celebrations.
See weddings at the resortWaldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique
Waldorf Astoria (Hilton)4.3351 reviews
via Google
188 rooms above Playa Penca, Guanacaste, ceremonial pavilion for 100 guests, event lawn, beach ceremonies, ballrooms to 382.
See weddings at the resortNekajui Peninsula Papagayo, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Ritz-Carlton Reserve (Marriott)4.7126 reviews
via Google
108 rooms, suites, tented suites and villa on clifftop Peninsula Papagayo site, ocean-view venues including La Casona lawn.
See weddings at the resortGroup rates, comp nights + perks at these properties
Five-star resorts negotiate wedding room blocks privately; the real numbers never show up on booking sites. Tell us your month and guest count, we'll confirm your dates and send rate and perk proposals from 2-3 properties within 48 hours, free. Resorts pay us a commission; you and your guests never do.
Get group-rate proposalsMore couple favorites
Andaz Costa Rica Resort
Luxury4.71,353 reviews
via Google
Hyatt's stunning clifftop resort with panoramic ocean views and a dedicated wedding team.
View resortVetted vendors in Costa Rica
Request an intro and they reach out to you - free, no obligation.
Wedding Planner
Aisle + Away Travel Co.
Boutique destination wedding travel agency specializing in beach weddings across Mexico and the Caribbean. Aisle + Away handles resort selection, group room blocks, guest travel logistics, and white-glove day-of coordination, turning the complexity of a destination wedding into something couples and their guests actually enjoy.
Request introPhotographer
Adri and Lucas Photography
Wedding photography in Costa Rica and surrounding areas. Available for elopements, intimate ceremonies, and large celebrations.
Request introWedding Planner
Amore Paraiso - Weddings & Events - Costa Rica
Costa Rica-based wedding coordinator specializing in destination celebrations. Local expertise, international couples welcome.
Request introPhotographer
Bidrop Images - Photography video in Costa Rica
Destination wedding photographer based in Costa Rica. Natural light, candid moments, and the beauty of the location woven into every image.
Request introWedding Planner
Bliss Weddings & Events - Costa Rica
Full-service destination wedding planning in Costa Rica. Coordinating ceremonies, vendors, and logistics so couples can enjoy every moment.
Request introWedding Planner
Blue Butterfly Events Costa Rica
Costa Rica-based wedding coordinator specializing in destination celebrations. Local expertise, international couples welcome.
Request introThis is a sample. Yours gets built around your answers.
6 quick questions and your plan appears instantly, built around wherever you're dreaming of. Free.
Build my plan