Best Wedding Venues in Tamarindo & Guanacaste, Costa Rica
– with real Weddings
If you’re picturing a classic beach wedding in Costa Rica, golden sand, ocean sunsets, warm salt air, Tamarindo or the surrounding Guanacaste coast is likely what you’re imagining. This is the driest, sunniest region in the country, and it’s home to some of Costa Rica’s most iconic wedding backdrops.
Guanacaste offers everything from oceanfront beach clubs to boutique resorts to private villas just steps from the sand. Whether you’re planning a full weekend celebration with a hundred-plus guests or an intimate ceremony with just a few people you love most, there’s a venue here perfect for it.
Below are some of the venues in the region where I’ve photographed. I’ve included links to real weddings, so you can get a better sense of what each place is actually like and how couples have made the space their own.
Pangas Beach Club
Pangas Beach Club is located right on Tamarindo Beach, with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Tamarindo estuary on the other. The venue has a relaxed, open-air setting with plenty of tropical greenery, making it a natural fit for couples who want a beach wedding without a formal resort feel.
One of the most recognizable ceremony spots is beneath the large Matapalo tree, where couples can exchange vows surrounded by tropical foliage with the beach just beyond. From there, the celebration can move into cocktails and dinner at the beach club, with the Pacific sunset creating an especially beautiful backdrop as the evening gets underway.
I’ve photographed several weddings at Pangas, and I love seeing how differently each couple uses the space. Some celebrations are intimate and understated, while others turn the beach club into a lively party filled with color, dancing, and personality.
Sueno del Mar
Sueno del Mar is a small beachfront boutique hotel in Tamarindo, making it a beautiful choice for couples planning an intimate celebration. The property combines a relaxed setting with simple elegance, with lush gardens and the beach providing tropical backdrops throughout the day.
The beachfront ceremony is especially beautiful around sunset when vibrant colors light up the sky. I’ve photographed several weddings here, and I love how naturally the beach, gardens, and warm evening light come together to create an intimate setting for the celebration.
Las Catalinas
Las Catalinas offers a completely different feel from the more traditional Tamarindo beach-wedding experience. This vibrant, car-free coastal community is tucked into the hills of northern Costa Rica, with beautiful architecture, winding streets, tropical landscapes, and sweeping Pacific views. The setting gives couples more than just a beach backdrop, with plenty of character throughout the town and coastline.
The combination of the coastal scenery and the town’s architecture makes Las Catalinas especially versatile for a wedding day. Ceremonies can take advantage of the ocean views, while nearby streets, gardens, and terraces offer a change of scenery for portraits and celebrations. As the sun goes down, the warm evening light and outdoor spaces create a beautiful setting for dinner and dancing.
Real Weddings at Las Catalinas
Andaz
Andaz Peninsula Papagayo gives couples plenty of flexibility when it comes to planning their celebration, with romantic outdoor settings like El Jardín, Casa de Playa, and the Marina Esplanade, as well as elegant indoor options for more intimate gatherings or larger receptions. For a destination wedding, I love that there are so many ways to enjoy the property with your guests beyond the wedding itself. You can spend time together on the water, relax at the spa, explore the peninsula, or gather for dinner by the beach, giving everyone a chance to experience Costa Rica together.
Reserva Conchal
Reserva Conchal is home to both W Costa Rica and The Westin Reserva Conchal, so couples have two different ways to experience the same beautiful stretch of Guanacaste. Both make it easy for guests to stay, celebrate, and enjoy the area without having to leave the property.
W Costa Rica has a more modern, design-focused feel, with bold architecture woven into the tropical landscape. I’ve photographed an elopement here and loved how much personality the property has, from the unusual architecture of the spa to the gardens and the natural surroundings. There are also some beautiful pockets of jungle throughout the property that make the setting feel very Costa Rican.
The Westin Reserva Conchal is an all-inclusive beach resort with a relaxed Pura Vida vibe, surrounded by tropical landscape and the beaches of Reserva Conchal. It’s a great option for couples who want their wedding to be part of a larger getaway, with their guests able to settle in, enjoy the resort, and spend a few days together before and after the celebration.
Real Weddings at Reserva Conchal
Hacienda Pinilla
Hacienda Pinilla is a private coastal community just outside Tamarindo, with a mix of beaches, tropical landscapes, and residential and resort properties spread across the area. The community also has its own chapel, making it an option for couples who want a more traditional ceremony setting while still being surrounded by the natural beauty of Guanacaste.
Real Weddings at Hacienda Pinilla
Cala Luna
Cala Luna is a boutique resort near Playa Langosta, just south of Tamarindo, surrounded by lush tropical gardens and close to the beach. Its smaller scale gives weddings a more intimate feel, while its tropical surroundings create a beautiful backdrop for couples who want their celebration to feel relaxed and understated. It’s also close enough to Tamarindo that guests can easily enjoy the restaurants, shops, and beaches of town during their stay.
Real Weddings at Cala Luna
Kind Words from Guanacaste Couples
“We love Megan!! We are so grateful to have had her shoot for our wedding Tamarindo in March.
From the start, she took the time to get to know us and our big day prior to – even down to the little details that hadn’t even occurred to us. My husband and I were/are pretty clueless when it came to photography, but we knew we loved Megan’s shots and how she is able to capture the beauty of love and nature together. She did an awesome job of explaining and guiding us in choosing what we did and didn’t want so we would have a little of everything. We are so grateful for that! She is so sweet and easy to work with, never over-bearing and really just fit right in with our group! Needless to say, our photos turned out BEAUTIFUL- I was (and still am) blown away with how amazing they turned out. They truly exceeded our already high expectations. I never get bored of looking through them reliving our big day. It was absolutely perfect, and we thank Megan for capturing it all for us!”
“Megan is such a great photographer, all her pictures came out beautiful and its got such a nice vibe to it. She was very good at capturing the heartfelt moments. It made our wedding day photos a joy to look at. She was also just such a nice person to work with, very accommodating and considerate. The whole team came together to make our day super special. Thank you again Megan!”
Planning a Wedding in Tamarindo or Guanacaste?
Whether you’ve already chosen your venue or you’re still exploring your options, I’d love to help capture your wedding in a way that feels natural, joyful, and true to your day.
If you’re planning a destination wedding in Tamarindo or Guanacaste, I’d love to hear what you’re envisioning.
