Adults-Only Resorts & Hotels

A brilliant sunset, a spectacular view, a someone special by your side—it’s the siren call (and abiding allure) of the Costa Rica adults-only resort experience.

Welcome to your much-needed, well-deserved break from the daily grind, in a kid-free environment designed specifically for a grown-up getaway, from a romantic retreat to a trip with your best friends.

Whether you’re seeking out the best all-inclusive in Costa Rica for adults or simply looking for a kids-free hotel where you can escape for some quiet time, Costa Rica is a perfect choice for honeymoons, bachelor and bachelorette parties, anniversaries, girls’ getaways, and romantic weekends—for any celebration of the adult persuasion.

Guide to Adult Only Vacation in Costa Rica

The Costa Rica’s Adults-Only Scene
Guest Privacy and Experience
Podcast: Adults-Only Costa Rica
Top Three Adults-Only Hotels in Costa Rica
The Best All-Inclusives in Costa Rica for Adults
Other All-Inclusive, Adults-Only Hotels
Romance 101: Go Boutique or Stay Resort
Most Romantic Hotels in Costa Rica
Why Costa Rica is Great for Honeymooners
Getting Married in Costa Rica

Beach or volcano, adventure or relaxation—Costa Rica adults-only locales have it. The eclectic hotels & resorts in this guide are ideal for couples, friends, and groups looking to vacation in a sophisticated atmosphere.

… By now, you’re sold on the idea of the Costa Rica adults-only experience, but you’re getting more and more overwhelmed by the possibilities. (Google is not your friend in this.) So, the question is—how to decide, when you’re thousands of miles away from it all?

The answer: With a little help from your friends. Our independent Travel Consultants have feet on the ground. They’ve personally visited all the options in this guide—and they know the strengths and weaknesses for each one of the top Costa Rica adults-only resorts and hotels. Because one size does not fit all.

And now, we share this knowledge with you, so that you can make a better decision for your own Costa Rica adults-only vacation.

On the Rise: Costa Rica’s Adults-Only Scene

Over the past decade, new adults-only resorts and hotels have opened around Costa Rica. The concept of catering to travelers who want a completely calming experience—uninterrupted by the joyful screams of a five-year-old… two feet from your pool chair—proved to be a great success.

Who knew?

As more hotels adopt the serenity-now, adults-only vacation philosophy, the options have diversified and the offer has sweetened. Today, Costa Rica’s adults-only resort game is strong.

Discover which resort or hotel is best for you—and dial in on the topics that most interest child-free travelers: the perfect romantic escape, activities and tours for those who want to take it easy, and our Travel Consultants’ top picks for the best all-inclusive and adult-only hotels in Costa Rica. Make the right decision for your vacation.

Note: Our top Costa Rica adults-only resorts implement a minimum age policy, usually ranging from 12 to 16 years old. This guarantees an exceptional getaway without small children distracting from the stellar surroundings and enchanting ambiance.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Check out our guides to the best all-inclusive resorts and luxury resorts and five-star hotels, many of which have adult-only sections and offer plenty of amenities. Or,

Adults-Only Costa Rica: Focused on Guest Privacy and Experience

It’s no secret that Costa Rica’s epic adventures and legendary sights attract families—lots and lots of families.

It’s no surprise, then, that vacationers sans tiny travelers often seek out the Costa Rica adults-only resort experience, not only for its hotel design and quieter ambiance, but also for its conscientious staff and the curated amenities that build an intimate atmosphere focused on guest privacy and experience.

Bottom line: The best adult-only resorts and all-inclusives have under 30 rooms—and most have fewer. This allows them to focus on providing excellent, individualized services to you, their guests. For couples, this may mean a romantic private dinner or a sensual couple’s massage. For friends and family getaways, this could be a catered feast, a private tour, or anything else you can dream up. Staff—and your Travel Consultant—are happy to help you arrange something special.

Disconnect in the jungle or indulge in beachy nightlife. Get to know other guests at the swim-up bar or snuggle up in your own private plunge pool. Thoughtfully designed, Costa Rica’s adults-only hotels, resorts and luxury properties allow you to be as social or as secluded as you wish.

If adventure is more your style, arrange to fly high through the trees while zip-lining. Take an exhilarating ride down frothing rapids while whitewater rafting. Learn to hang-ten with your honey (and a surf instructor). Explore the world beneath the waves on a snorkeling tour or even get PADI-certified and go scuba diving! Costa Rica offers all types of adventures, big and small—whatever your travel style!

Inquire About Adults-Only Activities

Listen! The Experts Discuss the Adults-Only Resort Scene in Costa Rica

Are you hip to the Frog Pod? That’s right—we podcast! Check out this episode, in which Travel Consultants Luke Angus and Victoria Rosado talk all things adult-only in Costa Rica!

It’s a topic we obviously enjoy, and we’re happy to discuss everything you need to know for how best to escape the kids (we’re parents; we get it!), find some real peace and quiet, and be treated to high-end luxury in little-known boutique hotels and resorts that cater to a curated adults-only experience.

Top Three Adults-Only Hotels in Costa Rica

If you’re in a superlative way of mind, we’ll kick off our favorites with the best adults-only resorts and hotels in Costa Rica.

So, what’s in a top three? For us, it’s our combined experiences and guests’ rave reviews—an amalgam of our Travel Consultants’ opinions and happy travelers’ thoughts on each, whether they were here on their honeymoon or sneaking away for a parents-only getaway.

Casa Chameleon, Sugar Beach in Guanacaste

This boutique hotel features 21 private villas with the most spectacular views of the Guanacaste coast and personal salt water infinity plunge pools.

Guests love the pool and the swim-up bar (vital for when the kids aren’t around), and the food is to die for. Casa chameleon is our go-to hideaway for a kids-free long weekend getaway.

Nayara Springs, La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano

Located in the Arenal Volcano area, this boutique hotel could well be the best honeymoon spot in Costa Rica. It radiates class and exclusivity in 35 private villas, each with its own plunge pool.

The spa here is outstanding, as is the restaurant. Arenal may be the adventure capital of Costa Rica, but Nayara Springs invites you to side-step the younger set, unwind, and get away from it all.

Kura Boutique Villas, Uvita near Marino Ballena National Park

Another adults-only hotel perfect for an escape, Kura knows how to mix the best of Costa Rica with service, décor, and an infinity pool, all perfect to enjoy some quiet time together.

Note that Kura has incredible views but is a bit away from the beach: perched atop a hill, and surrounded by trees and vegetation, making it ideal for when you want to forget about the noises of everyday life.

The Best All-Inclusives in Costa Rica for Adults

When you think of adult-only in Costa Rica, think more about being free from children running around everywhere, rather than the Jamaica-style, clothes-off, total-Hedonism scene.

We mention it, in case you’re after that kind of vacation. Even if you are, you can still find your happy place here in Costa Rica. After all, this is a world-class destination for those in search of romance, privacy, and high-end dining without children around. Hedonism optional.

Costa Rica offers a select set of all-inclusive hotels. And that means that looking for the best all-inclusive in Costa Rica for adults turns up a shorter list than you might expect. It also means that each resort has its own unique atmosphere—something you must take into account, when making your choice.

Of the handful of all-inclusive resorts in Costa Rica, there are two that are adult-only: Secrets Papagayo and the Occidental Grand Papagayo are close to each other, on the Papagayo Bay crescent in Guanacaste, with easy access to Liberia International Airport.

Secrets Papagayo, near Arenillas Beach in Guanacaste

Secrets is the more exclusive, designed for that ultra-high-end, all-inclusive romantic escape. You’d definitely consider Secrets more for a honeymoon or special getaway with your better half.

Occidental Grand Papagayo, near Panama Beach in Guanacaste

The Occidental is also good for romance and honeymoons, but we would also recommend this place for groups of friends to come and hang out. It’s much more about entertainment than romance.

Explore Costa Rica’s Best All-Inclusive Resorts

Other All-Inclusive Hotel Options for Adults

Here’s where we slide in with the honorable mentions: one an all-inclusive resort with an adults-only section and the other a meal-inclusive, adult-only boutique option.

The Westin Resort and Spa, Conchal Beach in Guanacaste

The Westin, located about an hour south of the Papagayo Gulf, isn’t a full-on Costa Rica adults-only resort—but it does offer adult-only options. The Royal Beach service at the Westin is adult-only, with access to an adult-only pool area and club. You’ll still see children in other parts of the hotel, but if that doesn’t bother you, then the Westin is a great option.

Here’s the best bit: The Westin is situated on one of the best beaches in Costa Rica. Many wouldn’t even hedge their opinion: they’d say that Conchal Beach is the best beach in Costa Rica.

Boutique or Resorts: What’s Best for Adult-Only Romance?

It’s the age-old question in the travel: What’s better, a boutique hotel or an all-inclusive resort?

The answer is that it depends on what you want from your getaway to Costa Rica. Is it an all-inclusive, adults-only, no-holds-barred honeymoon or a secluded, every-detail-matters, private escapade to an extremely boutique hotel with a highly-curated experience?

If you are unsure, this is how we see it:

The All-Inclusive Experience: Worry-Free Vacations

All-inclusive and resort proponents say a true vacation is about relaxing and chilling out—about doing nothing but finding a suitable pool lounger to park on every day.

They say that the true pleasure of a vacation comes from emptying your mind and blissing out in a tropical place, without worry about where to eat or how to order a beer in a foreign language.

We say there’s merit to this argument. If you’re on your honeymoon, why not dedicate all your precious time to each other rather than worry about day-to-day stuff? Just relax right now and have someone else look after every aspect of your being! That’s the beauty of the best all-inclusive in Costa Rica for adults.

Boutique Options for the More Independent Traveler

On the other hand, those on the boutique side see things differently.

To them, travel is more about the whole experience than the momentary relaxation. The idea is to get out of your comfort zone (even if just a bit) and share in an authentic experience, together.

It’s about learning and exploring together—about making some memories outside the swimming pool. By staying in a smaller, boutique hotel—in a place that doesn’t offer all food and drink on tap—you’re encouraged to get out more. Also, smaller places—and specifically, Costa Rica’s adults-only boutique hotels—are often far more intimate and private.

The Solution: Enjoy the Best of Both Worlds

Over the years, travelers have taught us that there is no right answer. No one way of vacationing is any better or worse than any other. Those who enjoy all-inclusive resorts are not inauthentic and there’s nothing wrong with a little boutique independence, either.

The only thing matters is what you love. That’s the meaning of pura vida! There’s room in this world for all sorts—and a romantic retreat for every one of those sorts—so here’s a thought: If you’re undecided, why not combine both types of vacation? Costa Rica is perfect for that! You can split your honeymoon, celebration, or romantic getaway between a few days boutique and a few days resort.

During the boutique part, you’ll be in the rainforest, exploring the outdoors, getting active, and trying out different restaurants, foods and experiences. Stay in a very nice, intimate hotel—we’ll help you decide which one.

And then afterward, hop over to the beach for some all-inclusive rest and relaxation with nothing to decide apart from beachside or poolside. It’s the essence of—dare we say, the best-of-both-worlds of—a Costa Rican vacation.

Costa Rica is the kind of place where you can have your cake and eat it, too. Here, everything is best, as long as it’s exactly what you want!

Most Romantic Hotels in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a romantic paradise. Swaying palms, green mountains, volcanic hot springs, and tropical sunsets bring out the lover in us all. Not to mention, that sultry Latin vibe… You know the type: warm nights bathed in moonlight and the seductive sounds of salsa music.

Whether you’re looking for a Costa Rica adults-only resort honeymoon or a personalized experience that specializes in intimacy, there is something in every flavor, for travelers of every sort.

Here are our favorite hotels that keep perfectly in step with the romance of Costa Rica:

Nayara Tents near La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano

The most romantic hotel in Costa Rica right now, Nayara Tents offers a perfect mixture of high-end, boutique luxury with absolute privacy. Guests here stay in their own private, exquisite luxurious villa-like tent with a personal plunge pool. It’s the perfect place to get away from everything and connect with the surrounding rainforest—and each other.

Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel, near San Ramon

Although not adult-only, Villa Blanca doesn’t lack for romance of any kind. About an hour out of San Jose, in the cloud forest of San Ramon, Villa Blanca is where couples come to hike, birdwatch, and get closer to nature. There’s also something super romantic about cuddling up together as the temperature drops and the mist rolls in.

Playa Cativo, near Golfito, Dulce (Sweet) Gulf on the Osa Peninsula

Osa Peninsula is not that popular and visited destination in Costa Rica, due to its remoteness. It is frequently called the most beautiful one and definitely perfect for couples looking for privacy and romance. Our favorite is Playa Cativo. This beachfront jungle lodge might not be adult-only, but it focuses on quality of service and catering to couples. You won’t miss out on a thing.

Villa Caletas, near Jaco Beach on Central Pacific

A perpetual favorite for romance in Costa Rica, Villa Caletas is located at the beach but only an hour from SJO airport. Villa Caletas sits over the Pacific Ocean with one of the best infinity pools you’ll ever swim in, and offers a luxurious, high-end experience to everyone who visits. Here, it’s all about classic, old-world class and charm.

Contact Luke to Start Planning a Romantic Escape

Why Costa Rica is Great for Honeymooners

Costa Rica is one of the best destinations for honeymooners.

That’s not hype. Living here and working with travelers has taught us that there’s no other country that comes even close to being as perfect a honeymoon destination. Trust us—we’ve honeymooned here and elsewhere, and we’ve planned hundreds of best-of-the-best, couldn’t-have-happened-anywhere else honeymoons.

Whether you want a Costa Rica all-inclusive adults-only honeymoon or a family gathering at a boutique hotel, this is the perfect backdrop for your celebratory trip.

Beautiful Landscapes Full of Flora and Fauna

One factor in Costa Rica’s favor is the sheer physical beauty of this country. One thing we hear from clients, once they’re home from their honeymoon, is that Costa Rica is the most beautiful country they’ve ever seen.

They’re not wrong. We’re still blown away by the mountains, jungles, and beaches here. Misty cloud forests rising into the sky and palm-fringed beaches make for perfect postcards and a romantic dream come true.

Tropical Weather: Good for All Tastes

The tropical climate is another perk, as it’s never cold and is almost always swimsuit weather. And, there’s nothing more romantic than warm weather and the sun caressing your skin. Especially if your villa comes equipped with a private plunge pool…

If you want to search for a cooler place, go higher into the mountains, where the wind and mist appear and fireplaces crackle. The lush vegetation changes but it still follows you everywhere.

Opportunities for Outdoor Adventures

Costa Rica has so much to do. After all, there’s no rule that couples need to take it easy, when on their honeymoon. Doesn’t the idea of whitewater rafting, zip lining, kayaking, and rappelling with your life partner thrill you? There’s daring and adventure and bonding to be found when you jump into the abyss, together.

World-Class Relaxation

And then there’s always the great relaxation time afterward! Soak together in thermal hot springs or enjoy world-class spa services to rejuvenate skin and soothe sore muscles.

Anyone thinking of a tropical honeymoon should put Costa Rica on their list. Because, while it’s not the only place in the world to offer great weather, scenery, activities, and hotels, it is one of the only places that offers all this diversity in one compact locale. And if you’re coming from North America, it’s not too far to travel, either.

Thinking about honeymooning in Costa Rica? Our travel consultants will share top tips, romantic hotels’ special features, and some unique experiences that honeymooners—and romantic travelers, in general—won’t want to miss.

See our Honeymoon Packages

Getting Married in Costa Rica: A Dream Wedding Come True

If a Costa Rican honeymoon is exceptional, then what about a wedding here?

It’s true—we often get asked about getting married in Costa Rica. And, why not? For all the reasons Costa Rica is perfect for a honeymoon, it’s also a wonderful place to make a forever promise to the person you love most. Imagine saying “I do” barefoot on a tropical beach or in front of a towering volcano.

From large and lavish weddings where you invite all your family and friends, to intimate affairs for the two of you, getting married in Costa Rica will always be a cherished memory. It’s a perfect way to start a new life chapter.

And it’s not difficult to do, either.

Coordinating a Hotel Wedding in Costa Rica

You may fear that getting married in Costa Rica is a complicated nightmare, but if you prepare well and follow the requisites, it’s no more difficult than showing up in that Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas.

Many hotels of the romantic persuasion—and most of the larger resorts—offer wedding packages. They usually have an on-site wedding coordinator to help you with everything. You deal with them and they make it happen.

If you’d rather have someone else do the planning and discussions for you, that’s also possible. We can help arranging everything—you won’t have to lift a finger!

In-Country Legal Support

Getting married in Costa Rica is a case of signing a legal document: all you need is a lawyer. In addition, you need to provide an ID and proof that you’re not married to someone else, and that’s about it.

There are some other details that you can run through with a wedding expert in Costa Rica. Luckily, we can help you with that too!

Any religious or other ceremony you might want is also incidental and it can be arranged to your taste.

Bringing Guests to Costa Rica

If you want many guests to attend your wedding, there are more logistics involved. To fit everyone, you’ll need to choose a larger hotel, or at least to be in an area with lots of smaller hotels.

There’s also need for transportation, catering, and entertainment, if you want it. You’ll have to choose if you want the Costa Rica adults-only experience, a family-friendly location, or a combination of both.

That’s where you might need a travel agency like us to help you.

If you’re serious about getting married in Costa Rica, please let us know and we’ll be delighted to help. We can offer great advice on the best hotels to get married in the best areas, depending on what you’re looking for.

We can also introduce you to your wedding coordinator and work with them to get your travel plans perfect.

Having your dream wedding in Costa Rica doesn’t have to be difficult. Let experts provide you with support and advice as you plan the most important day of your life!

Share Your Wedding Plans with Us