HONEYMOON Rainforest Retreat 12958 views

COSTA RICA
Spend your honeymoon at the eco-friendly Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort in Costa Rica, set in a lush rainforest next to a stunning national park on the glorious beaches of the Pacific coast – what more could you ask for?

Each of the 38 spacious hotel rooms and 16 apartment suites of the Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort offers spectacular views of the ocean or tropical rainforest, with direct access on to the private beach.

The Ocean View Suites are air-conditioned and feature a king-size bed, a large deck area and two beautiful his ‘n’ hers bathrooms. The private hot tub on the deck is the perfect spot to relax on your honeymoon and catch up on some well-deserved ‘you’ time.

Couples can spend their time on either of the two spectacular beaches, relaxing on the sugar-soft sand or exploring the warm tide pools where tropical birds are known to nest.
Or if you’re feeling energetic, the hotel organises half-day tours of the Manuel Antonio National Park, so you can observe first-hand the distinctive plant life as well as spotting monkeys and some of the 184 species of birds that live in the rainforest.

If that all feels like too much effort, the hotel boasts two glorious swimming pools and the Las Brisas Spa, where the long list of treatments includes hot stone massages, the lavish caviar facial or a sumptuous chocolate body wrap (strictly for beauty purposes only, sadly).

Sample the fresh seasonal ingredients at the two gourmet restaurants, which offer delicious Costa Rican cuisine with an international flavour. The Playita Snack Bar offers cocktails throughout the day and tasty dishes, such as grilled shrimp wrapped in spinach-herb tortilla. The formal El Mirador overhangs the Espadilla Beach with its white sand and sparkling water. Enjoy fresh lobster, squid, sea bass, and other delicacies while admiring the breathtaking sunsets.

Eco-conscious guests will be pleased to hear Arenas del Mar prides itself on supporting local projects that work towards environmental improvement and will be participating in an extensive re-forestation programme, planting over 7,000 native species of trees on the property. The hotel also has solar panels to heat water, underground electricity systems that don’t interfere with surrounding wildlife, energy efficient light bulbs throughout, and even tiles made from discarded plastic bags.

Prices for an Ocean View Suite start from £181 per night based on two people sharing. Visit Arenas del Mar for more information.

Know before you go

Costa Rica is a year-round destination with temperatures comfortably warm in the highlands and hot along the coasts. The dry season from December to April is usually considered to be the best time to visit.
American Airlines flies daily to San Jose via Miami from around £640 per person return.
Arenas del Mar is three hours by car from San Jose airport or a 25-minute domestic flight with Sansa.

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