Getting hitched in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica: top wedding & honeymoon destination

The setting: Romantic tropical beach, palm trees, balmy breezes, beautiful sunsets, candlelit dinners, lush rainforest. What could be a better backdrop for your destination wedding and honeymoon?

Many brides and grooms these days favor a fun, exotic destination wedding with the built-in sunny honeymoon. For destination weddings, Costa Rica is one of the most popular places in the world due to its warm tropical weather, natural scenic beauty, first-class services, affordability and ease of travel. Combining your wedding and honeymoon in one romantic destination also makes good economic sense.

Beach weddings are the most popular in Costa Rica. Named one of the top 25 beaches in the world for 2014, Manuel Antonio is a top destination for Costa Rica weddings and honeymoons. Located on the Central Pacific Coast, Manuel Antonio is only 20 minutes by domestic flight from the capital city of San Jose, or a couple of hours by car. With endless green and blue ocean, beach and jungle views in every direction you look, who needs wedding decorations?

For your wedding party, or on your honeymoon, there are plenty of things to do in Manuel Antonio: canopy zip-lining, snorkeling and scuba diving, sailing, boating to see dolphins and whales, whitewater rafting, waterfall rappelling, mountain biking, horseback riding, surfing, sea kayaking, and hiking in the Manuel Antonio National Park.

The elegant Shana Hotel & Residence in Manuel Antonio sets an ideal stage for a Costa Rica destination wedding. Like many Manuel Antonio Costa Rica hotels, Shana Hotel perches on the rainforest mountainside looking out over the spectacular Pacific Ocean – think: romantic surroundings with sunset views. The boutique hotel features contemporary design, 27 first-class rooms and suites, an ocean-view restaurant with international and local cuisine, spa services, and exceptional hotel amenities. Shana Hotel is a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice® 2014 Winner. A walking trail by the hotel leads you 10 minutes to the protected cove of white-sand Biesanz Beach – one of the prettiest in the area.

There are many settings for weddings at Shana Hotel in Manuel Antonio; contact Shana Hotel to find out more.

Article by Shannon Farley