Manav and Prachi | Engagement Proposal at Waldorf Astoria Papagayo and Monteverde
Part One: The Proposal at the Waldorf Astoria, Papagayo
Manav and Prachi were staying at the Waldorf Astoria on the Papagayo Peninsula — right at the entrance to the peninsula on Playa Penca. It’s one of the nicest places to stay in Guanacaste, and Manav had chosen it carefully. He wanted the proposal to happen there at sunset, and then a couple of days later we would go to Monteverde for the real portrait session. Two locations, two very different experiences.
Prachi had no idea. When Manav proposed at sunset on the property, she started crying. Afterwards, when we did a quick portrait session together, she was laughing and almost crying the whole time. That combination — laughing and crying at the same time — is one of my favorite things to photograph. You can’t fake that. It’s what genuine surprise looks like.
The Waldorf Astoria Papagayo is a really beautiful property to photograph at. The light at sunset on that part of the peninsula is great, and Playa Penca is a quiet beach that doesn’t get the crowds you see further south near Tamarindo. If you’re planning a proposal in Costa Rica and want a high-end resort as your setting, the Waldorf is worth looking at seriously. The property, the beach, and the light all work really well together.
Part Two: Portrait Session at Cerro Pinocho, Monteverde
A couple of days later we met in Monteverde for the portrait session. Manav and Prachi wanted more than just a quick post-proposal shoot — they wanted a real session in a location that felt special. Cerro Pinocho was exactly right for that.
Cerro Pinocho is a family farm just outside Monteverde. For a small entry fee you can walk the property, which is terraced with easy paths going up and down the hill. It’s the kind of place that feels very local — because it is. A family runs it, tourists do visit, but it never feels like a tourist attraction. It feels like someone’s land that they’re generous enough to share.
From the top of the hill the view is incredible. On a clear day you can see the ocean. The rest of the hill has this flowing green grass that catches the late afternoon light in a really nice way — green grass against an orange sky is a great combination for photographs. We worked our way up and down the terraces as the light changed, and by the time we got to the top the sky was doing exactly what you hope it will do in Monteverde at sunset.
Monteverde is one of those places that people either know well or haven’t discovered yet. It’s a completely different experience from the beach — cooler, greener, quieter. For couples who want engagement photographs that don’t look like every other Costa Rica session, it’s worth the drive up. Cerro Pinocho specifically is one of the more special spots I’ve photographed at in that area. Most visitors never find it. If you’re considering Monteverde for a proposal, I also put together a guide to proposing at El Tigre Waterfalls — another spot in the area that most couples never find.
Manav and Prachi, congratulations. Two locations, two very different kinds of light, and a really good couple to photograph through both of them. Thank you for having me there for both parts of it.
If you’re planning a proposal or engagement session in Costa Rica, get in touch. I photograph throughout Guanacaste and beyond — from the Papagayo Peninsula to Monteverde to Tamarindo. If you’re still in the early stages of planning, the getting married in Costa Rica guide covers everything from legal requirements to timing and location.
