When newlyweds (or not-yet-weds) begin dreaming about their honeymoon, the first big question is often where to go. The choice can feel overwhelming with so many tropical destinations promising romance and adventure. Two names rise to the top again and again: Costa Rica and Belize. Both offer warm seas, lush landscapes, and unforgettable ways to celebrate love. But each country delivers a different kind of magic. Which one is right for your story?
Beneath the Waves
Belize
Belize is a marine wonderland. Its barrier reef, the second largest in the world, stretches for nearly 309 kilometers (192 miles). Here, the Caribbean Sea shelters a maze of coral gardens, cayes, and atolls where marine life thrives. Snorkeling and diving are exceptional: think turtles gliding past, nurse sharks resting on sandy bottoms, eagle rays sweeping by in formation, and hundreds of species of dazzling tropical fish. Whale sharks even visit between March and June, a bucket-list encounter for adventurous honeymooners.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica offers a different kind of water story. While snorkeling and diving exist, visibility is limited and reefs less colorful. Most couples come here for adventure above the surface: paddling through mangroves, surfing Pacific waves, or sailing at sunset. The sea in Costa Rica is more about motion and power than quiet exploration.
Romance in the Air
Costa Rica
Both destinations know how to turn up the romance. In Costa Rica, you might find yourselves in a jungle lodge with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking misty cloud forests, your plunge pool steaming as toucans call in the distance. The sense of seclusion is profound, nature itself wrapping around you.
Belize
In Belize, romance often means barefoot luxury on a private caye, your thatched-roof cabana just steps from the sea. Wake to the sound of waves, dine by lantern light with your toes in the sand, and kayak together through turquoise shallows where no one else is around.
Journeys into the Past
Belize
Belize is steeped in Maya heritage. Couples can climb the towering temples of Caracol or Xunantunich, wander the jungle ruins of Lamanai, or venture underground into the ceremonial caves of Actun Tunichil Muknal, where pottery and skeletal remains still rest. History is tangible here, part of the land you walk on.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is less about ancient ruins. Its story is told through conservation, a decision to abolish its army in 1948, and its leadership in sustainable tourism. Travelers come not for archaeological remains but for the living culture of pura vida and the natural heritage protected in national parks.
Adventure Together
Costa Rica
Adventure is where Costa Rica shines brightest. Zip lines stretch above canyons, waterfalls invite rappelling, and volcanoes demand to be hiked. Whitewater rafting, horseback rides, ATV excursions, and cloud forest canopy walks keep adrenaline seekers busy for days. Almost anywhere in the country, an adventure awaits just beyond your doorstep.
Belize
Belize offers adventure with a different flavor. Underground caves invite tubing, canoeing, and exploration by headlamp. The sea adds its own thrills: kite surfing, sailing, or deep-sea fishing. On land, ATV rides and horseback trails weave through reserves and farmland. While there are fewer mountains to climb, the blend of jungle and reef keeps options exciting.
Encounters with Wildlife
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a biodiversity powerhouse. On the Osa Peninsula, dubbed “the most biologically intense place on earth,” couples may spot tapirs, monkeys, scarlet macaws, and sloths within a single day. Tortuguero offers canal boat rides with herons, caimans, and turtles, while Monteverde’s cloud forests hum with hummingbirds and amphibians. Every hike here feels like stepping into a wildlife documentary.
Belize
Belize is strongest beneath the surface. Whale sharks, turtles, dolphins, rays, and countless fish make its waters teem with life. On land, sanctuaries exist, though the density of terrestrial wildlife is not as dramatic as Costa Rica’s.
Sand Between Your Toes
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has hundreds of beaches stretched across two coastlines. The Pacific is dramatic and wild, with surf towns like Santa Teresa and Tamarindo alive with energy, and secret coves offering solitude. The Caribbean is laid-back, dotted with palm-lined shores and Afro-Caribbean villages where reggae drifts across the sand.
Belize
Belize’s beaches are gentler, fronting small cayes and atolls. Many are fringed with sea grass, which signals thriving ecosystems but can make swimming from shore less ideal. Offshore excursions to coral cayes deliver the postcard experience: soft white sand, calm turquoise shallows, and hammocks swaying between palms.
Flavors to Share
Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, food is rustic, nourishing, and often farm-to-table. Expect plates of gallo pinto for breakfast, ceviche for lunch, and casado platters with beans, rice, and fresh-caught fish for dinner. Ingredients are fresh, portions hearty, flavors simple.
Belize
In Belize, the table is more diverse. Creole stews simmer in coconut milk, Maya dishes feature corn and cacao, and Garifuna specialties blend seafood with tropical spices. Lobster season (June 15 to February 15) is a delicious bonus for honeymooners. The food here feels more eclectic, a reflection of the cultures woven into Belizean life.
Language & Ease
Belize
In Belize, English is the official language. Communication is effortless, a comfort for many couples traveling from North America or the UK.
Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, Spanish is the language of daily life, though English is widely spoken in tourism hubs. Picking up a few Spanish phrases goes a long way toward connection and enhances the pura vida spirit.
Nightlife
Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, surf towns like Tamarindo and Puerto Viejo come alive after dark with beach bars, live music, and salsa. Santa Teresa blends barefoot chic with DJ nights, while Dominical has a more low-key surfer vibe.
Belize
In Belize, San Pedro on Ambergris Caye is the heart of nightlife, with beachfront lounges and cocktail bars that spill out onto the sand. Placencia offers a more relaxed but lively stretch of beachfront restaurants and music-filled bars.
Cost & Value
Both Costa Rica and Belize are more affordable than many island destinations like St. Lucia or Hawaii, while still offering high-quality lodges, luxury resorts, and world-class experiences.
- Entry-level honeymoons can start around $900 USD for a week, excluding flights.
- Mid-range trips typically range from $3,000–3,500 USD.
- Luxury honeymoons with private plunge pools, high-end suites, and curated excursions often begin at $4,500 USD in Costa Rica and $5,000 USD in Belize.
Costa Rica has a broader range of accommodations across all budgets, while Belize leans more toward boutique resorts and private-island stays that skew slightly higher in price.
Getting There & Around
Costa Rica
Costa Rica has two major international airports (San José and Liberia), making it easy to access different regions. Domestic flights, shuttles, and private transfers connect coasts and jungles, though driving times can be long on winding roads.
Belize
Belize has a single international airport near Belize City. From there, short domestic flights whisk travelers to Ambergris Caye, Placencia, or jungle lodges in minutes. The country is smaller and easier to traverse, but with fewer regions to combine than Costa Rica.
The Verdict: Which to Choose
Choose Belize if you dream of diving into turquoise water, exploring Maya ruins, and savoring cultural flavors. This is a honeymoon for sea lovers, history buffs, and couples who want an easy, English-speaking escape.
Choose Costa Rica if you crave adventure, dramatic landscapes, abundant wildlife, and two coasts worth exploring. This is a honeymoon for nature lovers, thrill seekers, and couples who want variety in both setting and activity.
Both countries know how to deliver romance. Both promise mornings wrapped in nature and evenings by candlelight. At Osaviva, we believe the right destination is not about which country wins the comparison, but about which one feels like it was made for your love story.
