Idyllic Ocean View Wedding Location

You're standing in front of breathtaking 90-degree ocean views, saying your vows and “I Do” to the person you love at your beach wedding. Your guests enjoy a view of the ocean and the gentle breeze from the palm and mangrove trees behind them, creating a dynamic atmosphere in an intimate setting. Yes, this can be your reality at Punta Islita, an Autograph Collection Marriott Property in Punta Islita, Costa Rica.

Punta Islita is an intimate hotel in the Guanacaste area of Costa Rica, perfect for a wedding. The hotel sits in a stunning alcove where you have amazing 90-degree views of the ocean and are surrounded by the beautiful jungle area.

Punta Islita is just over 2.5 hours from Liberia (LIR) airport. From the airport, you have several options: you can rent a car from companies like Hertz, Eurocar, Avis, and Dollar. It is advisable to book your car before arriving in Costa Rica as you might not get a car or the car you want if you wait.

If you would prefer not to worry about driving, there are shuttles that can be arranged through the resort or on your own. The drive offers some stunning ocean views along the way, making it a picturesque journey for those heading to a wedding at this beautiful destination. One thing to note is that at the end of the drive, you will come to a dirt road. This road goes for about 20 minutes. The dirt road is not bad; however, I have not tried to navigate it during the rainy season. Once you leave the dirt road and enter Punta Islita, it is a short walk to check-in and amazing ocean views.

Punta Islita consists of 56 rooms and 20 villas, offering a variety of accommodations to suit different preferences. There are several room categories, including Ocean View with a Plunge Pool, Ocean View with a hot tub, and Mountain View rooms. Some of the rooms are remodeled and updated with modern features. A few, while not updated, have beautiful Costa Rican wood features and some include interesting features such as rock showers.

The resort is very serene and peaceful; it is not a party resort nor is it loud and crowded, so if that is your vibe, this might not be the right location for your destination wedding.

Punta Islita has a lot to offer your guests, making it an ideal location for a wedding. The resort has two pools, including the adults-only infinity pool and the beach club pool. They feature wonderful dishes at Alma's open-air restaurant, which is open for breakfast and dinner, and delightful lunchtime bites at Aura, the beach club restaurant. Their bars offer a large variety of drinks, both with and without alcohol. The Coconut Lemonade, topped with a shaving of local dark chocolate, is particularly refreshing and delicious.

Punta Islita Spa, Nanku, is a small and relaxing spa designed with a Costa Rican influence. The spa offers standard services such as wonderful couples massages, facials, body treatments, pedicures, and manicures. They also offer amazing local features such as a massage with a jade stone or an incredible Medical Sea Mud experience that features Costa Rican seawater and local volcanic mud.

Your guests can immerse themselves in many cultural activities such as cooking classes, Mazamorra class, or Blue Zone Circuit tour. Punta Islita is one of five Blue Zones, a region of the world where people live longer than average and have good health, with a high number of centenarians. Guests can also explore local art galleries, participate in traditional dance workshops, or visit nearby historical sites. The rich cultural heritage and vibrant community make Punta Islita a unique and enriching destination. Whether it's learning to prepare local cuisine or understanding the secrets of longevity from the Blue Zone, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Your guests can choose from a host of activities, including morning and evening hikes, sloth and monkey tours. For the more adventurous, there are options for horseback riding, zip-lining, or ocean kayaking. They can also explore the lush jungle trails, take guided bird-watching tours, or enjoy a leisurely bike ride through the scenic landscapes. Water enthusiasts might prefer snorkeling or paddleboarding in the crystal-clear waters. With such a diverse range of activities, there is something to suit every interest and fitness level, ensuring an unforgettable experience for all.

The resort offers a few incredible spaces to celebrate your wedding. The first is the Infinity pool deck with amazing views of the ocean. This area can be used for a fun welcome party, a small intimate wedding ceremony and dinner, or a fun sunset cocktail party.

The second area is Punta Islita’s private viewpoint. Talk about stunning views! This area offers 180-degree ocean views. You could use this area for almost anything you can imagine. The wonderful thing about this area is it is completely private, which does mean you will need to bring in lights, generators, and all the equipment needed to make your event spectacular. We hosted a casual yet colorful welcome dinner in this spot, where the guests could watch the sunset in stunning hues of pinks, orange, and red.

The third area at Punta Islita to hold your celebration is the beach. This is the perfect spot for a stunning beach wedding ceremony, where you can exchange your vows amidst the beauty of the ocean and mountains. The ocean is visible to all guests and is a combination of spectacular views, ocean breezes, and stunning mountain landscapes.

The fourth area is the beach club lawn and beach area. You can hold any party you want in this area. We held our client's cocktail hour and reception in this area, creating a dramatic lighted space for dinner and dancing. The party was going so strong we might have even extended it to a late-night pool party.

You might think your budget has to be over the top to hold an event at Punta Islita, but that is not the case. For our client, we did the following for 62 guests:

• A welcome party at Punta Islita’s infinity pool with a taco bar, bar, and live music.

• A morning half-day boat ride with snorkeling, whale watching, and a cooler full of drinks; we chartered the boats, which pulled up right into the bay for our guests.

• A casual wedding rehearsal dinner at Punta Islita's private view area with a barbecue, stunning flowers, lights, live music, and a lounge area.

• A beachfront beach wedding ceremony with stunning flowers.

• A wedding dinner under dramatic lights on top of a beautiful wood floor we had built at Punta Islita beach club.

  
  
  
  

The cost was $110,000 for all of the above events, including our planning fee and welcome bags for each guest, not including the guests' travel, accommodations, or stay.

For 100 guests for a rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, and reception, I suggest a starting price point of $50,000 on the low end.

I would highly recommend Punta Islita for your wedding; it is an amazing spot and one I am eager to plan another wedding at. The combination of natural beauty, serene atmosphere, and exceptional service makes it a perfect choice for a memorable destination wedding.