Maria Fernanda and Carlos | Playa Penca Engagement Proposal

A woman in a sleeveless, white V-neck dress stands at the edge of the sea with water around her feet at Playa Penca. Her hands rest gently on her abdomen, set against calm ocean waves—a serene scene perfect for an engagement proposal.
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Carlos and Maria Fernanda’s Surprise Proposal at Playa Penca

Last week I had the privilege of photographing Carlos’s surprise proposal to Maria Fernanda at Playa Penca in Potrero, Guanacaste. This secluded beach on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast provided the perfect backdrop for their special moment.

Why Playa Penca Potrero is Perfect for Proposals

Playa Penca in Potrero offers everything couples want for an engagement proposal. It is a way less crowded beach. If you get there early enough it will just be a couple of people walking their dogs, or senior citizens getting their exercise in. It’s also a longer beach, so there is room to walk around and get photographs with variety. This is why it is on my list for top beaches near Tamarindo. Also, it is on the 911 road that heads up to Riu Guanacaste and Playa de Coco. So if you happen to be staying there and you want to propose at a smaller, beautiful beach, this is it.

Additional Reading: Top 5 Beaches near Tamarindo

The Proposal Session

Carlos contacted me weeks in advance to plan the perfect surprise. We coordinated timing for the best light and positioned ourselves discreetly before Maria Fernanda arrived. The genuine surprise and joy on her face when Carlos got down on one knee was absolutely priceless.

  • A man kneels on Playa Penca’s sandy beach, holding a ring and proposing to a woman in a white dress, with the sea and blue sky framing their unforgettable engagement proposal.
  • A woman in a white dress and a man in a white shirt and shorts stand barefoot on Playa Penca’s sandy beach, facing each other. The man gently kisses her hand under a clear blue sky, capturing a romantic engagement proposal with islands in the distance.
  • A couple stands facing each other and holding hands on Playa Pencas sandy beach, with gentle waves and distant islands in the background—a perfect scene for an engagement proposal under a clear blue sky.
  • A couple embraces and kisses on the sandy Playa Penca beach with calm blue ocean waves and islands in the background, capturing a romantic engagement proposal under a clear sky.

The session continued after the proposal with engagement portraits along the beach. Playa Penca’s natural beauty required minimal posing – the setting spoke for itself.

  • A young man and woman smile and walk arm in arm along the sandy shores of Playa Penca, with gentle ocean waves in the background under a clear sky—the perfect setting for an engagement proposal.
  • A couple embraces closely during their Playa Penca engagement proposal, focusing on their intertwined arms and hands. The woman, in a white dress and engagement ring, is gently held from behind by her partner in a white shirt.
  • A couple smiles lovingly at each other outdoors during a Playa Penca Engagement Proposal; one is kneeling and holding the other, who is wearing a white dress, as they gently touch faces in front of leafy green trees.
  • A couple walks along Playa Pencas sandy shoreline, gentle waves at their feet and a tree-covered hill in the distance—a perfect setting for an engagement proposal under a partly cloudy sky.
  • A couple holding hands and smiling as they walk through waves on the sandy Playa Penca beach, the ocean and blue sky in the background—a perfect scene for an engagement proposal.

Planning Your Costa Rica Beach Proposal

It was an honor to capture this intimate proposal between Maria Fernanda and Carlos. Felicidades!

Want to learn more about how you can plan your surprise engagement proposal in Costa Rica? Check out the link below.

recent engagement proposal in costa rica

Engagement Proposals in Costa Rica

Want to learn more about having your engagement proposal in Costa Rica? Check out my full resource page.
About Kevin Heslin Photography

Real Moments, Real Memories

Capturing Your Costa Rica Wedding

Hi, I’m Kevin — a local wedding photographer who’s spent years capturing love stories around Costa Rica.

My style is all about natural, candid moments — the real laughs, the quiet glances, the pure joy.

You can check out my Costa Rica Wedding Packages here.

If you’re ready to make memories that last a lifetime, I’d love to be there to capture every moment.

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