Arenal is located about three and a half hours inland of Tamarindo and 2 hours north of San Jose, the capital city. It is known for its very active volcano, Volcano Arenal, its man-made lake, Lake Arenal, and nearby town of La Fortuna. Arenal weddings offer lush, tropical foliage and gorgeous volcano views!
Arenal is accessible by both airports, Liberia’s Daniel Oduber Quiros International Aiport (airport code: LIR) and San Jose’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (airport code: SJO). From Liberia it is about two and a half hours by car and from San Jose, two hours by car. Keep in mind that not ALL roads are 100% in Costa Rica, but the roads to Arenal are in great condition. Domestic flights are also available into La Fortuna, about 15 minutes from Arenal.
Activities in Arenal and the surrounding towns are endless. Canyoning, white water rafting, hiking to waterfalls or up the volcano, relaxing in natural or luxurious hot springs, horseback riding, canopy tours/ziplining, cave tour, and horseback riding, just to name a few. You can find shopping and nightlife in La Fortuna. Shopping includes local farmer’s markets and handmade local goods.
We recommend staying at a hotel with a view, as it is a very active volcano and views at night can be spectacular.
Rain and clouds in Arenal can come and go in an instant. Like the west coast of Tamarindo, you will find that the heavier rainfall is during rainy season, May to mid-November, while the drier season is from mid-November to May. If planning a wedding here, we always keep the weather in mind and are prepared with back up plans.
There are a variety of wedding options and combinations for ceremony and reception locations. Below you can see some photos and ideas of what is available for a Costa Rica volcano wedding.
Hotel
Hotels are the way to go in Arenal for a Costa Rica volcano wedding. They have the best locations with the volcano and lush rainforests as a backdrop. The hotels can accommodate you for both your ceremony and reception needs. You and your guests can stay at the hotel and enjoy a variety of on property activities, which can include: hot springs, hiking, butterfly farms and much more.
Contact us for more information for a Costa Rica jungle wedding!