Ocean View Luxury Villas in the Jungle
I’ve photographed about 20 weddings at Villa Punto de Vista, and the reaction is always the same when couples arrive for the first time. They step out onto one of the balconies, see the monkeys in the trees, hear the toucans, look down at the best part of the beach, Playitas below — and they just stop. It feels like you are right in the middle of nature, but everything around you is completely luxurious. The staff is attentive and personal in a way that doesn’t feel like a resort. It feels like you’re being taken care of by people who genuinely want your week to be perfect.
The 12,000 square foot villa sits on 2.5 acres of private tropical jungle, right next to Manuel Antonio National Park. Floor-to-ceiling windows in almost every room look out over the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding rainforest. You’re not just near nature here — you’re in it.
This venue is for couples who want more than just a wedding day. The 10 suites sleep up to 27 guests — your closest family and friends, all under one roof. Each floor has its own rooms and private spaces, but you share meals together every day with a chef on site for lunch and dinner. By the time the wedding arrives, your group has already spent a week together. That changes everything about how the day feels.
The estate can host up to 100 guests for the wedding itself. If you have more people coming than the villa sleeps, the concierge will help sort out nearby accommodations. There are other private villas close by and several good hotel options in the area.
Why Manuel Antonio is an Amazing Wedding Destination
Manuel Antonio is a little bubble — and I mean that in the best way. It’s an amazing place, but when you’re there, that’s mostly where you stay. It’s about an hour up to Jaco and nearly an hour south to Dominical. You’re not going to explore a lot beyond the area. But the area itself is spectacular. The national park is right there, the beaches are beautiful, the restaurants are great, and there’s plenty to do. For couples who want their whole group in one place for a week, focused on each other and on the experience, Manuel Antonio is perfect for that.
Full-Service Staff at Punto de Vista
The concierge starts working with you before you even arrive — sorting out transportation, activities, accommodations for anyone not staying on site, and all the details for the wedding itself. I want to mention something about the vendor communication here, because couples planning from abroad sometimes get stressed when emails take a little longer to come back. That’s just how things work in Costa Rica sometimes. But in my experience, by the time the wedding week arrives, everything is in place. The day unfolds exactly as it should. The staff at Punto de Vista is genuinely excellent at making sure of that.
The concierge is your go-to person for everything during the stay — transportation, tours, dining recommendations, errands, and yes, if someone needs a drink made, he can handle that too.
Every morning starts with a fresh breakfast made by the chef. Lunch and dinner are covered too. Housekeeping, maintenance, and 24-hour security round out the team. You genuinely don’t have to think about anything except enjoying the week with your people.
Wedding Ceremony Options
Beach Ceremonies at Punto de Vista
Punto de Vista has ceremony options that work for almost any size or style of wedding. Here’s how I think about each one after photographing about 20 weddings here.
The beach option is Playitas — a section of Manuel Antonio Beach just below the villa. It’s a beautiful beach, and one of the less crowded stretches in the whole area. When I lived in Manuel Antonio for 20 years, that’s where I would take my family and friends. If the tide and weather allow for it, a beach ceremony here is really special.
The logistics take a bit more planning. You need to get everyone down to the beach, so usually you hire a van. The villa has an SUV that can shuttle smaller groups back and forth, but for a larger group you’ll want additional transport. Also worth knowing: the sand in Manuel Antonio is sticky because of the humidity. After the ceremony your guests will be shaking sand off their feet — totally fine for a beach wedding, just factor that into your timeline.
One practical compromise I often suggest: have the ceremony on the rooftop terrace, then I take the couple down to the beach for portraits and bring them back. You get the iconic beach photographs without the full logistics of a beach ceremony.
The light in the late afternoon at Punto de Vista is really something. Plan your ceremony time so portraits fall in that window — the way the sky looks over Manuel Antonio Bay at that time of day is hard to beat.
Other Ceremony Options
The rooftop terrace on the fifth floor is the iconic spot — and honestly the best ceremony location at the villa. You have a panoramic view looking out over Manuel Antonio Beach, the bay, and the jungle below. In the later part of the day when the light is dropping, it’s really just an amazing sight for the couple and their guests.
Worth knowing: the rooftop used to be completely open air. Because Manuel Antonio gets rain for most of the year, they eventually put in a real roof. Now you get that full unobstructed view and the open breezes, but you’re protected from rain. That’s a big deal in a place that gets this much weather.
One floor below is the dining terrace — teak beams, natural rock, the same ocean view. This is where most receptions happen. It’s close to the kitchen and the bar, which makes the flow of a dinner reception really natural. It’s also a great spot for the ceremony itself if you want something slightly more intimate than the full rooftop.
The ballroom is the backup for days when the weather is really coming in hard — wind and rain from all sides, which can happen in deep rainy season. It has big windows looking out to the rainforest and the infinity pool, a full bar, and a sound system that handles a DJ or a live band. If you need to move the ceremony indoors, this is a solid option and it still looks beautiful.
The pool deck ceremony option is specific to Villa La Isla — the sister villa on the property. It’s a great spot for really small, intimate ceremonies. The rooftop terrace at Punto de Vista is a big space, and if you only have 12 people, you’re not filling it. For a small group, the La Isla pool deck has a beautiful view and feels more proportional to the gathering.
Accommodations at Punto de Vista
The villa has 10 suites and each one is different. It’s not like a hotel where all the rooms look the same. Each guest room has its own design, its own feel. Some are better for families, some are better for couples. That variety is one of the things people really notice when they arrive.
Beyond the rooms, the social areas are what make a week here really work. The breakfast area on the fourth floor overlooks the ocean and the jungle — that’s where your group starts every morning together. There’s a game room with AC for the hot part of the afternoon. The pool is downstairs. You’re never short of places to gather, and you’re never short of places to disappear to either.
The wildlife is part of the experience too. Monkeys come around and you can see them in the trees nearby. In the late afternoon you can hear and see the scarlet macaws. It’s genuinely what people talk about when they get back.
This is the top villa in Manuel Antonio for a reason. It doesn’t feel like a resort. It feels like you are in the jungle, taken care of by people who actually want your week to be perfect.
The villa is capable of hosting up to 100 guests for your special event so if more rooms are needed the villa staff is happy to take care of finding overflow accommodations. There are other private villas that are handily nearby or there are also a few luxurious and comfortable hotel options in the area.
Villa La Isla: Intimate Oceanfront Elegance
Villa La Isla is a brand-new 8-9 bedroom oceanfront villa. It’s the perfect size for about 20-24 overnight guests. Each suite has floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies with hammocks. Some even feature outdoor rain showers.
Guests often see monkeys, sloths, toucans and tropical birds right outside their windows. The design uses palm trees, bamboo ceilings, and Balinese details to blend with nature.
The villa offers three elegant event spaces. There’s a courtyard lounge, BBQ deck by the infinity pool, and indoor/outdoor social rooms. You can host up to 50 guests comfortably.
Villa La Isla comes with resort-style perks. You get a double-edge infinity pool, two full bars, and a private chef. The concierge, butler/bartender, housekeeping, and 24-hour security take care of everything. Daily fresh breakfast with mimosas is included too.
A private chauffeur and beach shuttle service make getting around easy. You’ll have simple access to a quiet golden-sand beach and Manuel Antonio National Park.
Combined Estate Option
Booking both villas gives you 18 bedrooms total. This sleeps about 54 guests and comes with shared staff and perks. It’s perfect for larger weddings where you want everyone close by.
Planning Your wedding at Punto de Vista
I’ve photographed about 20 weddings at Punto de Vista and it consistently ranks as one of the best venues in Costa Rica for this kind of wedding. The fifth floor is where most ceremonies happen — floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows looking out over the entire Manuel Antonio coastline. During the day you can see the whole coast laid out in front of you. At night, for the reception, the same space transforms completely. Fairy lights, candles on the tables, the dark ocean around you. It’s a completely different feeling between the ceremony and the reception, and it happens in the same room.
From a photography standpoint, the getting ready situations here are genuinely great. Usually one partner gets ready on the third floor with ocean views and natural light pouring in. The other is in the game room, where more people can hang out and interact. That variety makes for real moments — not just portraits.
Check out this epic wedding video from Punto de Vista:
Is Punto de Vista Right for You?
Punto de Vista is for couples and guests who want an adventurous, authentic Costa Rican experience. This is not a resort. Your guests are going to local restaurants, meeting local people, figuring out whether to rent a car or take a taxi or hop on the public bus. They’re experiencing real Costa Rica — and for the right group, that’s the whole point.
Keep in mind that not everyone can stay at the villa. The 10 suites sleep up to 27 guests. For a larger wedding, some guests will be in nearby hotels and villas and will shuttle in for the wedding day. That’s totally workable — the concierge handles all of it — but it’s worth knowing going in so there are no surprises.
If that kind of trip sounds like your people, Punto de Vista is genuinely one of the best places in Costa Rica to do it.
If you’re still in the early stages of planning and want to understand the basics of getting married in Costa Rica — legal requirements, planning timelines, what to expect — that guide covers everything. And if you want to compare Punto de Vista to other Costa Rica wedding venues, the full venue guide has the broader picture.
Whatever region you choose, the most important thing is finding a venue that fits how you actually want the week to feel — not just how the wedding day looks.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Book
Book early. The dry season from December through April fills up fast, especially at a venue this popular. The concierge can help coordinate transportation, activities, and pre-wedding events once you’re confirmed.
If you have a larger group, consider booking both villas together — that gives you 18 bedrooms and up to 54 guests on site. On weather: Manuel Antonio gets more rain than Guanacaste, especially from May through November. The good news is the fifth floor roof at Punto de Vista means you can hold the ceremony year-round without stressing about a last-minute plan B. They typically schedule ceremonies earlier in the day during rainy season, and the covered rooftop handles the rest.
I’m based in Guanacaste now and primarily photograph weddings in the north, but I photographed weddings at Punto de Vista for 20 years and know the venue well. If you’re considering it and have questions about how the day works from a photography standpoint, feel free to reach out. And if you’re exploring Guanacaste options at the same time, I’m happy to help you think through both.
See what’s included in the Costa Rica wedding collections, or get in touch to start the conversation.
