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When your “BIG Day” is on the horizon, there’s one thing you know for a fact: you want your honeymoon to be just as memorable as your wedding day. You don’t want just any trip, or worse, a cliché destination. You’re looking for a trip-of-a-lifetime that’s the perfect blend of everything you love doing together—a trip that “feels like us” to you and your partner.
After months of wedding planning, relaxation is definitely a part of your honeymoon plan. But that’s not all you want to do! There are honeymoon destinations out there that strike a balance between relaxation and adventure. Is being completely immersed in culture, getting up close and personal with exotic wildlife, eating exciting cuisine, and trekking through breathtaking landscapes more your speed?
For couples searching for an exhilarating getaway dripping with adventure, these are the top honeymoon destinations we recommend!
Top Honeymoon Destinations for Adventurous Couples
Galapagos Islands
Why honeymooners love it here: Wildlife encounters you won’t experience anywhere else in the world. Ah, Galapagos. The world’s headquarters for rare, exotic animal life and warm, tropical weather that can’t be beat. If you and your partner have a lust for genuine adventure and exploration, Darwin’s archipelago is the perfect honeymoon getaway. The Galapagos Islands are home to over 9,000 different animal species, many of them not found anywhere else in the world! The beauty of taking a safari-style Galapagos honeymoon cruise is the rare opportunity to get up-close and personal with all the wildlife, while creating an even deeper bond through lifetime memories with your loved one.
Southern Patagonia
Why honeymooners love it here: Off-the-grid journeys in picturesque landscapes by private Jeep®. Patagonia is a land that’s begging to be discovered by adventurous couples looking to get away from it all. After you’ve planned a wedding, will there be anything better than exploring secluded landscapes and enjoying the serenity of nature? If a lazy beach vacation just isn’t your style, you’ll love the incredible amount of adventure options Southern Patagonia has to offer. With trips customized to your passions as a couple, activities here have no bounds. Think: ice trekking, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, and rock climbing. There’s no such thing as a wrong turn when you’re met with turquoise lagoons, enchanted granite spires, and endless fjords of Torres del Paine National Park.
Download this essential guide to avoid the mistakes that 90% of travelers make when visiting Patagonia.
More Unique Honeymoon Destinations to Explore
Chile Honeymoon Destinations
Chilean Wine Country
Why honeymooners love it here: Unparalleled wine tastings thanks to Chile’s signature Carmenère grape. Are you a couple that appreciates fine wine and innovative cuisine? Pair your Patagonia honeymoon safari with an unforgettable trip to Chilean wine country. Imagine dining on fresh farm-to-table meals and savoring authentic local fare, while tasting some of the world’s most well-regarded reds.
Atacama Desert
Why honeymooners love it here: Extra-terrestrial landscapes meet some of the clearest skies in the world for an experience you have to feel to believe. Here is a journey of a lifetime to add to your couple bucket list: an Atacama Luxury Tour. Ideal for adventurous honeymooners, the sweeping desert of northern Chile offers breathtaking views, both earth and sky. In the driest place on earth, you’ll be met with colorful sunsets, crystal clear skies, bubbling geysers, and even pink flamingos. If you and your loved one are dreamers, star-gazers, photographers, or unique-memory-collectors, this is a 10/10 honeymoon destination.
Ecuador Honeymoon Destinations
Quito & The Andean Highlands
Why honeymooners love it here: Rich cultural experiences, vibrant arts communities, and unbelievable architecture collide in a destination named “too cool to remain on your bucket list” by GQ. Quito and the Andean Highlands fly under the radar as a honeymoon destination, but only because they tend to get overshadowed by the Galapagos Islands. Experience the best of both worlds by combining trips! Couples who love colorful architecture, indigenous community immersion, and cultural cuisine will thrive in this area. Meandering the cobblestone pathways of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site of Quito is just one of the many delights that await you in Ecuador.
Mashpi Lodge & the Mindo Cloud Forest
Why honeymooners love it here: Luxury and relaxation meet bird-watching and rainforest treks for an experience that brings National Geographic to life. One of the best ways to get away from it all is to get deep into nature. Within driving distance from Quito, Ecuador, the Mashpi Lodge and the Mindo Cloud Forest are known for elevating honeymooners above the clouds. Experience the quiet romance of the rainforest, with waterfall hikes, bird watching tours, and “sky biking.” Cap off your days with a soak in the open-air Jacuzzi, toasting to your new life together.
The Ecuadorian Amazon & Yasuni National Park
Why honeymooners love it here: Vast winding rivers, lush rainforests, and luxury lodges leave honeymooners spellbound, with colorful memories of rare wildlife encounters. The Ecuadorian Amazon and Yasuni National Park call out to couples who yearn for untouched landscapes and brag-worthy wildlife encounters. Imagine canoeing jungle lagoons, exploring the treetops together on a network of skybridges, and photographing finger-sized pygmy marmoset monkeys. For one of the best wildlife experiences in the Western Hemisphere, combine The Ecuadorian Amazon with your Galapagos honeymoon cruise.