Wedding Venues in Santa Teresa, Montezuma & Nosara: A Photographer’s Guide

Quick answer: Among the Santa Teresa wedding venues and the nearby Montezuma and Nosara options, we have photographed an elopement at Hotel Nantipa and weddings at Hotel Amor de Mar, Banana Beach, OCiO Mal País and Aves Hotel and Resort. Amor de Mar, Banana Beach, Nekaui, Nosara Beach Hotel and OCiO (through Casa Chameleon) publish wedding information on their own sites, while Nantipa and Aves Hotel and Resort do not, so ask them directly. This guide keeps what each venue says about itself apart from what we have seen ourselves.

By Adri and Lucas · Published October 2026 · Last updated October 2026

The south end of the Nicoya Peninsula, from Santa Teresa and Mal País down to Montezuma, plus Nosara on the same peninsula, is surf-town Costa Rica: beaches, jungle hills and small hotels. It suits couples who want a relaxed, personal wedding instead of a resort. Below is what each venue publishes, where we have worked, and how we plan a wedding day here. Because venues change their terms, capacity, vendor rules and fees are not listed here, so ask each venue.

Santa Teresa wedding venues, plus Montezuma and Nosara, at a glance

Santa Teresa wedding venues: Hotel Nantipa

Hotel Nantipa is a beachfront boutique hotel in Santa Teresa with bungalows, suites and villas. Its website has no weddings page, so there is nothing published about ceremony spaces, guest numbers or vendor rules; ask the hotel directly which private events it accepts. We have photographed an elopement at Nantipa. Official site: nantipa.com.

Before booking: First, ask which areas your event can use. Then ask where the ceremony and dinner move if it rains, and whether outside vendors are welcome.

Hotel Amor de Mar (Montezuma)

Hotel Amor de Mar is a small family-run boutique hotel at the waterfall entrance in Montezuma. Its Weddings page describes a simple, personalized approach to weddings with a rustic, intimate feel. We have photographed weddings at Amor de Mar. Official wedding page: amordemar.com/weddings.

Before booking: Also confirm which spaces and rooms your date includes, how many guests the hotel can host, and what the rain plan is.

Santa Teresa wedding venues: Banana Beach

Banana Beach is a beachfront hotel and restaurant on Santa Teresa beach. Its website has a Weddings page, and the venue has its own wedding coordinator. We have photographed weddings at Banana Beach. Official site: bananabeachcr.com.

Before booking: However, a beach restaurant and a private wedding are different arrangements, so ask which part of the property is closed to other guests during your event and how the tide and sunset affect the ceremony time.

Santa Teresa wedding venues: Nekaui

Nekaui is a vacation rental property on Santa Teresa beach. It is not the same place as Nekajui in Guanacaste. Its website has a Weddings tab that presents the property as a setting for celebrations. We have not photographed there, so this section only repeats what the venue publishes. Official site: nekaui.com.

Before booking: Ask about event permission, how many guests the property allows, and which vendors may work on site.

OCiO Mal País

OCiO Mal País belongs to Casa Chameleon Hotels. OCiO Estate is a private villa retreat built for gatherings and special occasions, and OCiO Villas are quieter, more private villas for couples or small parties. Casa Chameleon lists OCiO Mal País among its wedding venues. We have photographed a wedding at OCiO. Official page: casachameleonhotels.com/ocio-mal-pais.

Before booking: Confirm the exact property and the event terms in writing, and ask how your guests will be accommodated and transferred.

Aves Hotel and Resort (Montezuma)

Aves Hotel and Resort is a boutique hotel and retreat center in the hills above Montezuma, with jungle and ocean views. Its website covers stays and retreats and has no weddings page, so ask whether it accepts private events before you plan around it. We have photographed a wedding at Aves, with a garden ceremony under a large old tree. Official site: avesmontezuma.com.

Before booking: Ask whether weddings are accepted at all, which spaces are available and how guests get up to the property.

Nosara Beach Hotel (Nosara)

Nosara Beach Hotel has a Weddings page on its website that presents the hotel as a wedding venue. We have not photographed at the hotel, but we have photographed an elopement in Nosara, and the planning notes below apply there too. Official wedding page: nosarabeachhotel.com/weddings.

Before booking: Ask which beach and which spaces your event uses, and what the rain and tide plan is.

Montezuma in photographs

A few frames from a wedding near Montezuma: the town, the wildlife, the coast and a ceremony above the ocean.

How we plan a wedding day on the Nicoya Peninsula

This is the order we work in. It keeps the day relaxed and gives your photographs the best chance to look the way you imagine.

1. Choose the venue by what it accepts, not only by how it looks. Ask whether your date is a private event, which spaces are included and what the rain plan is.
2. Set the ceremony time with the light in mind. If you want sunset portraits, hold the ceremony before sunset so the sunset itself is left for the two of you. Ask your planner or venue for the sunset time on your date.
3. Let us know the story before the day. We work from a moodboard, a planning meeting and direct communication with your planner, so everyone shares the plan before the wedding day.
4. Consider a first look. It gives you a quiet moment together before the day speeds up.
5. Protect time for your couple session. We would rather plan it with you than squeeze it in, and we share our best tips for it.
6. Think about two days of coverage. Some couples add a second day for a rehearsal, a morning session or a sunset session on the beach.
7. Keep the guest timeline flexible for transfers. Ask your venue how long guests need to reach it from where they stay. We do not publish drive times here because they change with season and road conditions.

Light, seasons and weather

The best light on this coast is very early in the morning or near sunset. In addition, the dry season, roughly December through April, is the most reliable for Pacific-coast weather. By contrast, the green season is lush and quieter, with afternoon showers that many couples plan around. For that reason, plan a covered backup in every season.

Santa Teresa wedding venues FAQ

What are the best Santa Teresa wedding venues, and what about Montezuma and Nosara?

There is no single best venue; it depends on the wedding you want. This guide covers Hotel Nantipa, Hotel Amor de Mar, Banana Beach, Nekaui, OCiO Mal País, Aves Hotel and Resort and Nosara Beach Hotel. We have photographed an elopement at Nantipa and weddings at Amor de Mar, Banana Beach, OCiO and Aves.

Do you photograph weddings and elopements on the Nicoya Peninsula?

Yes. We are based in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, and work throughout Costa Rica. We have photographed weddings in Santa Teresa, Mal País and Montezuma, and an elopement in Nosara.

Is Santa Teresa a good place for a beach wedding?

Santa Teresa has beachfront venues that host weddings, including Banana Beach, which has a Weddings page, and the boutique hotel Nantipa. Confirm the details of your date with each venue.

When is the best time to get married on the Nicoya Peninsula?

The dry season, roughly December through April, is the most reliable for Pacific-coast weather. In contrast, the green season is lush and quieter, with afternoon showers many couples plan around.

How do I check your availability for my date?

Send us your date and the venue you are considering through our contact page and we will tell you if we are available.

Want to see our work? Browse the portfolio, read the pricing guide, see our guide to eloping in Costa Rica or look at the Uvita and Osa Coast venue guide. Planning your wedding on the Nicoya Peninsula? Check our availability for your date. Based in Tamarindo, Guanacaste, and working throughout Costa Rica.