Jacó Beach is quickly becoming one of Central America's most sought-after destinations for destination weddings — and it's easy to understand why. Warm Pacific Ocean, lush jungle backdrop, pristine beachfront, dramatic sunsets, and a world-class private resort venue that your entire wedding party books exclusively. If you're thinking about saying "I do" on the sand in Costa Rica, this guide walks you through every step of wedding planning in Jacó Beach.
At www.jacobeachchef.com, we've worked with couples from around the world who chose Jacó Beach for their destination wedding. Here's everything you need to know.
Step 1: Choose Your Wedding Venue
The most important decision in wedding planning is your venue, and Jacó Beach has something no other destination in Costa Rica can offer: a full private beachfront resort available for complete buyout. Jacó's only full-resort wedding venue sits directly on the sand at the South End of Jacó Beach — the most beautiful and tranquil stretch of the entire coast.
Book the entire resort exclusively for your wedding group and you get 30 en-suite bedrooms (55 beds), an oceanfront Tiki Bar, a full on-site restaurant, a beachfront pool, and no other guests anywhere on the property. Your entire wedding party — guests, family, wedding party — sleeps, eats, and celebrates under one roof. No shuttles between hotel and venue, no schedule stress, no strangers at the pool.
Step 2: Pick the Right Time of Year
Timing is everything for a beachfront wedding. In Jacó Beach, Costa Rica, the dry season runs December through April — the most popular window for destination weddings. Expect blue skies, low humidity, and calm Pacific breezes. December and January dates book up a year or more in advance, so secure your resort date early.
The green season (May through November) offers lush tropical color, dramatically lower rates, and equally beautiful mornings — afternoon showers typically arrive after 3pm and last an hour. Many couples love the vivid emerald green of the rainforest during this time. October is especially beautiful, and the resort is available at rates that make a larger guest list far more accessible.
Step 3: Plan Your Catering and Reception Meals
Catering is the part of a wedding guests remember longest. The private resort includes a full on-site restaurant and kitchen, and the www.jacobeachchef.com team provides dedicated wedding catering: welcome dinners, rehearsal dinners, the wedding reception itself, and morning-after breakfasts for overnight guests. Every menu is built around your vision — Costa Rican fusion, international fine dining, farm-to-table, or a combination of all three.
All dietary requirements — vegan, gluten-free, allergy restrictions, halal-friendly requests — are coordinated at the planning stage, not the day of. A wedding cake and toast coordination are also included. Visit our services section for full catering details.
Step 4: Arrange Guest Accommodations
One of the biggest headaches in destination wedding planning is scattering guests across different hotels. With a full resort buyout, that problem disappears. The venue's 30 bedrooms accommodate your entire wedding party on-site:
- 16 rooms with 2 queen beds each (32 beds)
- 6 rooms with 1 oversized bed + sofa bed
- 4 rooms with 1 oversized bed
- 4 rooms with 1 queen bed
- 1 private apartment — 3 beds + living room
- All 30 bedrooms are en suite with private bath
With 55 beds under one roof, everyone sleeps at the venue, wakes up at the venue, and celebrates at the venue. No taxis, no coordinating meet-up times.
Step 5: Coordinate Local Vendors
When wedding planning in Jacó Beach, lock in your key vendors early. The most important ones:
- Photographer / Videographer — local photographers know exactly where the golden-hour light hits on the South End beach
- Florist — tropical arrangements with birds of paradise, heliconias, and orchids are a Jacó specialty
- DJ or Live Music — many Jacó DJs specialize in open-air beachfront receptions
- Officiant — bilingual officiants are available for symbolic ceremonies
- Private Chef Team — contact us at www.jacobeachchef.com to discuss your full catering and wedding package
Step 6: Think About Transportation
Jacó Beach is 90 minutes from San José's Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) — one of the most accessible international airports in Central America, with direct flights from Miami, New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Toronto. For wedding groups of 20 or more, a private charter shuttle makes the transfer seamless. Book transfers in advance, especially for holiday-season weddings.
Once at the resort, guests have everything on-site: beach, pool, restaurant, Tiki Bar. Day trips — zip-lining, ATV tours, sport fishing, snorkeling — are available through local operators in Jacó town just minutes away.
Start Planning Your Jacó Beach Wedding
The beachfront resort on the South End of Jacó Beach fills up quickly — especially for December and January. If you're serious about a destination wedding in Costa Rica, the best first step is locking in your date and confirming availability.
Message the Jaco Beach Chef team at www.jacobeachchef.com via WhatsApp to discuss availability, catering packages, and to get connected with the venue. We respond within hours.