Playa Conchal, Flamingo and Potrero, Costa Rica
In the first post of this series we took you to Peninsula Papagayo. This time we're heading about an hour south along the coast, to one of our favorite stretches of Guanacaste.
Playa Conchal, Brasilito, Flamingo, and Potrero sit close together, but they don't feel the same. Conchal is resort territory, built around a large private reserve. Flamingo and Potrero lean toward private villas, sunset views over the bay, and a more relaxed, residential feel.
That difference matters more than people expect. It shapes how your guests spend their weekend, where everyone sleeps, and what your gallery ends up looking like.
The Westin Reserva Conchal
The Westin is the classic choice for couples who want everything in one place. It's an all-inclusive resort set within Reserva Conchal, a private reserve of roughly 2,400 acres, right on Playa Conchal.
For a destination wedding, all-inclusive solves a real problem: guests arrive, check in, and don't have to think about logistics again until they fly home. Welcome dinner, ceremony and reception can all happen without anyone getting in a car.
The resort offers indoor and outdoor wedding spaces, including the beach, garden areas and a ballroom that works as a genuine rain plan rather than an afterthought.
Photographically, Playa Conchal is the star. The sand is made largely of tiny crushed shells, which gives the water near shore a lighter, clearer color than most Guanacaste beaches. What we love most is the last hour of light, when the sun drops low over the bay and the pale sand turns warm and golden. It's our favorite time to walk a couple down to the water for portraits.
We're proud to be one of The Westin Reserva Conchal's recommended wedding photographers. That means we already know the property, the wedding team and how a day here flows, from the best ceremony light on the beach to the quickest route to portraits, so you can spend less time planning and more time enjoying it.
W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal
Same reserve, completely different personality.
The W is design-forward, playful and noticeably more contemporary. The resort describes its event spaces as set among the mangroves, with an outdoor venue called The Lawn and an indoor ballroom.
It suits couples who want a wedding that feels like a party with great design, rather than a traditional resort ceremony. With around 150 rooms, it's also a more contained guest experience than a large all-inclusive.
We love how the W's bold, modern design gives portraits an editorial edge you rarely find at a beach resort. And when we want something softer, the green of the mangroves is only a few steps away.
Prefer more space? Condos and villas inside Reserva Conchal
Not every guest needs a hotel room. Reserva Conchal also has privately owned condos and villas for rent inside the same gated community, from two-bedroom apartments to larger homes.
They're a great option for families and groups of friends who want a kitchen, a living room and a bit more independence, while still being minutes from the beach and the wedding. Many rentals include access to the community's beach club and amenities, but that varies by property, so check before booking.
Some couples mix both: the wedding at the Westin or the W, and condos for family who are staying the whole week. Your planner can help coordinate transport between them.
Villa Ocaso, Playa Flamingo
The hills above Flamingo are full of private homes with big ocean views, and Villa Ocaso is one of the few built to host a wedding properly.
Its name means "sunset" in Spanish, and that's the point. The villa steps down the hillside above Flamingo Beach, with walls of glass framing the Pacific. It has nine bedrooms, sleeps around 20 guests, and has a heated infinity pool and several distinct spaces for a ceremony, a poolside reception and a rehearsal dinner.
It's ideal for intimate weddings where the closest family and friends stay together for the whole weekend, while the rest of the guests stay nearby in Flamingo or Potrero. The villa requires a professional wedding planner for every event.
What we love here is how much of the day can happen in one place. Getting ready, the first look, the ceremony and sunset portraits are all a few steps apart, with the ocean in almost every frame.
Access Villa Ocaso website here and view the complete wedding gallery of Bessa and Tylor in this wonderful location.
Other private villas in Flamingo
Flamingo has many other luxury rentals, from hillside estates to homes right on the sand. They can make a beautiful private wedding, but not every villa allows events, and capacity, noise rules and neighbors vary a lot.
If a villa wedding appeals to you, ask your planner for homes that have hosted weddings before. Rentals, catering, lighting, guest transport and a real rain plan all have to be brought in.
Hotel Bahía del Sol, Playa Potrero
Bahía del Sol has been part of our story for years. We've photographed so many weddings here that it feels a little like coming home every time we arrive.
Bahía del Sol is a boutique beachfront hotel just a few steps from Playa Potrero, a wide, calm beach with warm water on the Potrero bay. It's only a few minutes from Flamingo, and about 45 minutes from Liberia airport.
It's a great fit for couples who want a relaxed, personal wedding right on the sand, with guests staying at the hotel and everything within walking distance. The beachfront gardens host ceremonies and receptions, and the hotel's own restaurant and catering keep things simple.
What we love most is the calm. The bay is quiet and protected, so beach portraits feel unhurried, and the evening light over the water is some of the softest on this coast.
Access hotel website here.
Choosing the right venue in Conchal, Flamingo or Potrero
Ask yourselves two questions first.
Do you want your guests taken care of, or do you want the whole place to yourselves? Resorts in Reserva Conchal handle accommodation, food and logistics in one system. Villas give you privacy and freedom, with more planning.
How do you picture the light? This part of the coast faces west over the water, so sunset can be dramatic. Build your ceremony time around it, as we explain in What Time Should Your Costa Rica Wedding Ceremony Start?
Season matters here as it does across Guanacaste. December through March is the most reliable dry period, and the landscape turns golden. From May it turns green again, with more rain to plan around. More in our guide to the best time of year to get married in Guanacaste.
A Few Final Thoughts From Our Team
Conchal, Flamingo and Potrero sit close together, yet each gives a wedding a different rhythm. In Conchal, it's resort ease or bold, playful design. In Flamingo, it's a private villa on the hillside with the ocean below. In Potrero, it's an oceanfront hotel where the ceremony is just steps from the sand.
We've been photographing weddings along this coast for more than 20 years, and we still find new light here every season.
Planning Your Wedding in Peninsula Papagayo?
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