If you're planning a honeymoon in Costa Rica, Manuel Antonio is a beautiful place to start your life together: rainforest that runs down to the beach, monkeys and scarlet macaws in the trees, and the sun going down over the Pacific. Where you stay shapes the whole trip, so this guide covers what couples ask us about most: which room, which days, and how to fit it all in without rushing.
We're not a chain hotel. We're a family. Gary and Catalina Rogers opened Las Cascadas in 1994, and we still run it with only eleven rooms and suites, so you'll be the couple we look forward to welcoming, not a reservation number.
Where to stay: choosing your room
Every room here is different, and the right one depends on what kind of couple you are. These are the ones honeymooners ask about.
- Tree Top Honeymoon Dome: a dome at the very top of the property, on a large open air deck facing the Tarrazu mountains, built for two. The king bed sits under a hand painted sky, with scarlet macaws crossing the ceiling mural.
- Toucan Suite: our penthouse for two, with a private waterfall in the living room, a terrace the toucans visit at breakfast, and the ocean past the marina.
- The Nest: our cutest and most intimate room, small on purpose, with one double bed and an ocean view terrace over the treetops.
- The Lux: a bright, open suite with a king bed, ideal for a couple. Its big covered rooftop terrace is shared with the unit next door.
- Tree Top Canopy: tucked into the jungle with wildlife all around, for couples who like a little adventure.
One honest note. The hotel is built up a hillside, and several of the most romantic rooms are near the top, so the walk up is steep, and the Dome is the highest of all. Tell us your arrival time and we'll carry your bags up. If stairs are not your thing, the Garden View Room is our easiest way in, with a large canopy king bed.
Not sure which to choose? Tell us your dates and what matters to you, and we'll recommend the best fit. We know every one of our rooms personally.
Our two honeymoon packages
If you'd rather arrive to a plan than to a list of phone numbers, we put together two honeymoon packages. Both are booked direct, both can be changed, and we book the guide, the transfers and the dinner for you.
- Honeymoon Jungle, three nights: champagne in your room when you arrive, a guided day in Manuel Antonio National Park, a candlelit dinner, a zip line canopy tour and a sunset catamaran, with daily breakfast and airport transfers included.
- Honeymoon Toucan, four nights at a slower pace: the same welcome, park tour and candlelit dinner, plus a full day at the adventure park with hanging bridges and zip lines, an in-room massage, and a sunset catamaran with snorkeling and an open bar. Daily breakfast and airport transfers are included.
You can move the days around, swap an activity or add nights at our best direct rate.
A simple honeymoon plan
Here is an easy shape for a honeymoon that has a bit of everything without feeling rushed. It follows the four nights of the longer package, but it works just as well if you book each part yourself.
Arrival day: slow down
Land, settle in and leave the plans for tomorrow. Our pool and bar are the place to start, and most days the monkeys and scarlet macaws come through the pool area without anyone arranging it. Watch the jungle light up at golden hour with a cocktail in hand and you'll wonder why a giant resort ever sounded romantic. For the sunset itself, Playa Nahomy is a 6 minute walk from the hotel. Then come back for dinner at Coconuts by The Falls, our restaurant.
The national park
Manuel Antonio National Park is a 10 minute drive from the hotel, and it's best seen with a guide: on the guided park tour, 2 hrs long, a local naturalist helps you spot sloths, monkeys and toucans. Entry is capped each day and tickets are bought online in advance, so plan ahead; our guide to park tickets explains how. Spend the afternoon on the beach or by the pool, and keep the evening for a candlelit dinner.
Adventure, then a massage
For a day with some adrenaline, the 10 in 1 Adventure Park puts zip lines, a free fall into a waterfall pool, a Tarzan swing and a via ferrata into one morning up in the mountains. If you'd rather go gently, the horseback riding tour moves at an old Costa Rica pace through the hills to a waterfall. Either way, finish with an in-house massage. The hammock terrace up on the hillside is a lovely spot for one, and reception arranges it.
A sunset on the water
Save the sunset catamaran for your last full day: 4 hrs along the Manuel Antonio coast, snorkeling in hidden coves, lunch on board and the sun going down over the Pacific. It's a lovely way to end the trip.
Staying longer? The night mangrove tour shows you the mangroves after dark, with caimans, owls and fireflies, and the Villa Vanilla spice tour is a hands-on morning on a working spice farm that holds up even in the rain.
Getting here, and when to come
Most guests fly into Juan Santamaria International near San Jose, a 2.5 hr drive from us. You can also take a short SANSA flight to Quepos airport, a 15 min drive from the hotel. We arrange airport transfers from either, so you can go straight from the plane to the pool, and where we are and how to get here has the details.
The dry season and the green season each have something for couples. Our guide to the best time to visit Manuel Antonio explains the difference, and if you're coming in the wetter months, our rainy season guide makes the case for it.
Questions couples ask us
Is Manuel Antonio a good place for a honeymoon?
Yes, if you want beaches, rainforest and wildlife close together. The national park is a 10 minute drive from the hotel, and the marina, with its restaurants, is a 5 minute walk.
Which room is the most romantic?
The Tree Top Honeymoon Dome was built for two, and the Toucan Suite is our penthouse for honeymoons and special occasions. The Nest is the coziest of all.
How many nights should we stay?
Our two honeymoon packages are three and four nights, and you can add more. Four nights fits the park, a day of adventure and a sunset sail without rushing.
Do we need a car?
No. Most of our tours include pickup, the marina is a 5 minute walk away, and we can book a private driver or a shuttle for anything else.
Can you plan it for us?
Yes. Message the concierge team on WhatsApp, day or night, and we'll book your tours at the same price as booking direct, plus the transfers and a table for dinner.
A family that loves a love story
We've hosted proposals, anniversaries and first trips as husband and wife. Our family started this hotel in 1994, when Manuel Antonio was still a quiet corner of Costa Rica, and we grew up here. We know this place in a way no franchise hotel ever could, and we put that into every couple's stay. If you're planning your honeymoon in Manuel Antonio, we'd love to help you plan it.
