Costa RIca Travel Planner - (Page 9)

Romantico U nd ou b t ed l y , y ou w on' t h a v e t o w or k h a r d t o sel l C ost a R i c a t o c l i ent s l ooki ng f or a per f ec t h oney m oon r ec om m end a t i on. I t ' s b ec om e a t op d est i na t i on f or a l l ki nd s of t r a v el er s, b u t f or r om a nt i c s i n g ener a l , a nd h oney m ooner s a nd w ed d i ng pa r t ner s i n pa r t i c u l a r , t h e d r a w is choice intimate places to stay and play. Here, they ll find secluded j u ng l e l od g es set a g a i nst l u sh f ol i a g e a nd pi c t u r esq u e w a t er f a l l s, w i t h ex ot i c w i l d l i f e a nd t op- not c h a d v ent u r es, or u psc a l e b ea c h r esor t s pr ov i d i ng r om a nt i c su nset s, sy b a r i t i c spa s, a nd a r a ng e of l ei sure activities by the beautiful seashore. Let s get specific and look a t a sa m pl i ng of i d y l l i c h ot el s f or l ov eb i r d s. Hotel Punta Islita ( h ot el pu nt a i sl i t a .c om ) i s per c h ed h i g h on a hill above the Pacific on the secluded northwest side of the Nicoya Peninsula in the Guanacaste province. Among the resort s 4 0 a c c om m od a t i ons- su i t es, b u ng a l ow s a nd v i l l a s spr ea d ov er 8 0 a c r es- t h e t ops i n r om a nt i c l od g i ng s a r e t h e su i t es w i t h h a nd c r a f t ed c a nopy b ed s, a nd ou t d oor w h i r l pool s on pr i v a t e d ec ks w i t h oc ea n v i ew s. H oney m oon pa c ka g es f ea t u r e a c a nd l el i t d i nner w i t h a l i v e ser ena t a ( b ol er o ser ena d e) , a 60- m i nu t e c ou pl e' s m a ssa g e i n t h e C a sa S p a , t h e t h r i l l s of c a nopy z i pl i ni ng a nd h or seb a c k r i d i ng . S et on a 2 7 - a c r e t er r a i n, c om pl et e w i t h t w o r i v er s a nd i t s ow n pr i v a t e t h er m a l spr i ng s, Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa (hotelarenalkioro.com) offers unsurpassed views of the Arenal Volc a no f r om i t s r oom s, g r ou nd s, pool a nd r est a u r a nt . C ou pl e su i t es h a v e l a r g e pi c t u r e w i nd ow s, a pr i v a t e b a l c ony w i t h a pr i v a t e j a c u z z i tub, and king-size beds all facing the massive cone of Arenal. H oney m oon pa c ka g es of f er m a ny i nc l u si v e d i ni ng opt i ons, pl u s a c ou pl e' s m a ssa g e a nd ex c u r si ons su c h a s r a f t i ng a nd r a ppel l i ng . F or a n i nt i m a t e, r om a nt i c g et a w a y , pr a i ses r u n st r ong f or Hotel Makanda by the Sea (makanda.com) at Manuel Antonio National Park. Accommodations are in fully appointed (cable TV, kitchenette, t er r a c e or b a l c ony ) v i l l a s a nd st u d i os, c a r ef u l l y pl a c ed i n r a i nf or est g a r d ens 3 00 f t . a b ov e t h e oc ea n. S u nset s c a n' t b e b ea t ei t h er f r om a b u b b l i ng j a c u z z i or pool si d e a t t h e S u nset B a r & G r i l l . T h e R om a nce i n N a t u r e h oney m oon pa c ka g e st a r t s w i t h a c h i l l ed b ot t l e of c h a m pa g ne, a nd seg u es t o spec i a l d i nner s, a sa i l i ng t r i p, a nd a c t i v i t i es f r om ka y a ki ng t o h or seb a c k r i d i ng . TYING THE KNOT IN COSTA RICA T h e l a w s of C ost a R i c a , a f a v or i t e d est i na t i on w ed d i ng choice, permit U.S. citizens to get married here. A lawyer ( pu b l i c not a r y ) c a n per f or m t h e r eq u i r ed l eg a l c er em ony . T h e d oc u m ent a t i on r eq u i r ed a r e v a l i d pa sspor t s a nd c er t i fied copies of each party s birth certificate. I f one or m or e pa r t i es h a s b een m a r r i ed b ef or e, a c er t i fied copy of the divorce decree(s) or a certified copy of the previous spouse s death certificate must be submitted. Any citizen not married before must come to the U.S. E m b a ssy ' s C onsu l a r S ec t i on a nd m a ke a sw or n st a t em ent to that effect before a consular officer. Note: For a marriage certificate to be recognized in the U.S., it must be translated to English by an official translator on the official list of the Ministry of Foreign Relat i ons. T h i s m u st b e a u t h ent i c a t ed b y t h a t M i ni st r y , a nd t h e certificate must then be notarized and signed by the U.S. C onsu l a r S ec t i on. All steps listed above may be performed by a Costa R i c a a t t or ney w h o, a l ong w i t h a c l i ent ' s onsi t e ex per i enc ed w ed d i ng c oor d i na t or , sh ou l d b e v er y h el pf u l i n m ov i ng t h e certification process along. In fact, you will find that local w ed d i ng pl a nner s a r e ex per t s i n d el i v er i ng ser v i c es a nd i m a g i na t i v e i n c r ea t i ng m em or i es t o l a st a l i f et i m e. T h e new pr oper t y Copa De Arbol Beach and Rainforest Resort ( c opa d ea r b ol .c om ) , l oc a t ed b et w een D r a ke B a y a nd C or c ov a d o N a t i ona l P a r k a nd a c c essi b l e onl y b y b oa t , h a s q u i c kl y b ec om e t h e pl a c e t o st a y . O c c u py i ng a pr i st i ne 7 0a c r e r eser v e, t h e l u x u r y b ea c h f r ont ec o- r esor t h a s 1 0 a i r c ond i t i oned c a b i ns t h a t a r e l a v i sh l y a d or ned w i t h t h e spoi l s of t h e O r i ent , a l l w i t h pi l l ow - t op or t h oped i c m a t t r esses, a nd oc ea n a nd r a i nf or est v i ew s f r om b a l c oni es. G r ea t v i ew s c a n a l so b e h a d f r om the restaurant, bar and 4-tiered infinity pool. Adventure comes in the f or m of d eep- sea t ou r s i n w h i c h g u est s f r eq u ent l y enc ou nt er d ol ph i n su per - pod s. Couples can opt for destination weddings beachside or surrounded by lush foliage. 9 8-9 FamilyHoneymoons.indd 9 1/21/14 1:32 PM http://www.hotelpuntaislita.com http://www.hotelarenalkioro.com http://www.copadearbol.com http://www.makanda.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Costa RIca Travel Planner

Going Green
Rainforest Rambles
Beach Bound
Best of Both Worlds
Family Holidays
Romantico
A Natural Playground
48 Hours in San Jose
Ahhhh, the Spa
Costa Rica in Brief
Getting There & Around

Costa RIca Travel Planner