Best honeymoon destinations in South America: Our top picks

The best honeymoon destinations in South America all have something in common: they’re not a traditional choice.  

For a long time, honeymoons were designed around a rest-and-relaxation ethos. Wedding planning takes extensive time and effort, and the big day is no small amount of stress. It followed logic that the honeymoon should be an opportunity for newlyweds to decompress in a tropical destination, the likes of Hawaii, Jamaica, or Tahiti.  

By contrast, today’s newlyweds are sunsetting fly-and-flop honeymoons in favor of Goldilocks travel. A trip that’s not too extreme, not too simple, but a just-right mix of active adventure, cultural immersion, and downtime. These are honeymoons that are meant to be felt rather than photographed, with experiences crafted at the pace of wonder, leaving room for unscripted moments of shared joy. And to this end, a South America honeymoon perfectly fits the bill.  

You’ll find all the classic hallmarks of a romantic getaway in South America, a continent of mighty mountain ranges, impenetrable rainforests, and vibrant cities.  

• Beaches | From the beaches of Brazil to Colombia’s Caribbean bays, there are plenty of places to stick your toes in the sand along South America’s eternal coastline.
• Food & Wine | Some of the finest wine (and food!) regions in the New World are romantic places in South America. Sip crisp whites on vineyard picnics and bold reds in the ambient cellars of Mendoza, Uruguayan Wine Country, and Chile’s wine valleys.
• Natural Wonders | Adventurous couples can chase thrills while hiking in the highlands of Peru, cruising Amazon tributaries, boating right up to thundering Iguazu Falls, or snorkeling among marine iguanas in the Galápagos.
• Luxury | South American romantic resorts are some of the dreamiest in the world. Imagine modernist marvels backdropped by Patagonian peaks, star-spangled glamping, hygge estancias, and historic city hotels. Our favorite honeymoon suites are configured for privacy and boast features such as cozy fireplaces, balconies, gorgeous views, plunge pools, oversize tubs, hot tubs, and stargazing skylights.
• Mix-and-Match Itineraries | Each country within South America contains unique multitudes, so there’s no need to limit a honeymoon to just one theme. Further, a flight network of well-connected capital cities means that multi-country itineraries are very doable. 

Nestled up against the Andes, Mendoza is Argentina’s best-known wine region. Here, tastings are paired with views of snow-capped peaks, and nights are spent beneath star-flecked skies—a recipe for romance.  

With an estimated 1,000 wineries, travelers are spoiled for choice when picking where to sample Malbec and other high-altitude varietals on a South America honeymoon. Worry not, your Extraordinary Journeys South America expert will match-make a perfect pairing. 

Along with tastings and tours, many Mendoza wineries boast phenomenal culinary programs, marrying estate-made wines with Argentine dishes such as asado barbecues and refined tasting menus. Imagine, al fresco picnic lunches set between rows of grapes or unhurried dinners backlit by candles with conversation flowing like wine. (Let us handle the reservations.) 

As for romantic retreats, luxury accommodations in Mendoza are as exquisite as the wines. Argentineans understand the art of romance, and there’s no shortage of intimate, boutique properties. Our favorites host only a handful of rooms for maximum privacy. We suggest checking into one of the seven spa suites at Susana Balbo’s Winemaker House or slumbering amid the vines at Cavas Wine Lodge. 

For a blend of gastronomy and rural adventure, consider a luxury tour of Salta and Northwest Argentina. It’s hard to imagine that anything can thrive in this stark desert region of red-rock canyons and sun-bleached salt flats, but the region is home to Cafayate—one of the country’s most acclaimed wine regions. Savor the seclusion of honeymooning in one of Argentina’s most untouched corners, where you can sample the area’s signature Torrontés wine at the highest-altitude winery in the world, visit ancient ruins, and hike through lunar landscapes. Hideaway in a historic estancia-winery and reserve a night or two for some world-class stargazing at Pristine Salinas Grandes. 

With azure waters and snow-white sand, a honeymoon in Brazil beckons to newlyweds unwilling to compromise on idyllic beaches. Counting some 4,600 miles of coast, there are plenty of islets and bays to retreat to—not limited to Rio de Janeiro’s iconic (and crowded) Copacabana and Ipanema. More than just beaches, Brazil’s cobblestone streets, elegant architecture, and live-out-loud culture make it one of the most romantic places in South America.  

Honeymooners looking for a barefoot-luxe escape should travel to Trancoso, in Brazil’s Bahia state. Attracting artists and designers from around the globe, this former fishing village has been transformed into a creative coastal enclave. The community brims with owner-operated galleries, boho boutiques, trendy eateries, and design-driven hotels. Check in at the stylish UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa—a jungle hideaway with stand-alone villas and casitas that feature unique artwork. While away your days lounging by the beach, browsing artist ateliers, and washing down ocean-caught ceviche with tangy caipirinhas.  

Newlyweds who prefer a more up-tempo scene should follow in the footsteps of Brigitte Bardot and head to Buzios. When fashionable Rio residents tire of the crowds, they decamp at this beach-rimmed peninsula paradise, which is populated with chic hotels, seaside bars, and hip boutiques. Set on a hill, Casa Brancas’ sunny terraces, private plunge pools, and sweeping views of Armação Bay are ideal for romance-seeking couples. Rent an open-top buggy for a freewheeling way to get around town; it’s also your most convenient option for accessing Buzios’s 23 beaches. After dark, head out on foot to cocktail-hop seaside bars chorused by live music. 

Then, there’s Brazil’s Costa Verde: a 325-mile stretch of forested mountains and cove-pocketed coast running between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Point your compass to the car-free island of Ilha Grande to sail through gin-clear waters and to hike jungle-set trails. Further south, step into a fairy tale in Paraty, where cobblestone streets, flickering lanterns, and historic buildings recall a bygone era. Cruise to islands lapped by jade-colored water by day, then retreat to a romantic, 17th-century pousada in the town’s charming historic center. 

If isolation is what you’re after—sharing quality time while wholly removed from the real world—head to Chile. From the stark northern reaches of the Atacama Desert to land’s end in southern Patagonia, a Chile honeymoon is an opportunity to reconnect in some of the finest luxury lodges on Earth. 

Southern Patagonia is a rugged and windswept terroir framed by sky-scraping mountain peaks. The region demands hardiness while reverberating with a sense of frontier romance—ideal qualities for a honeymoon setting. Imagine, invigorating days spent outdoors that meld into cozy, flame-warmed and candle-lit evenings sipping a Chilean red. To fulfill a dreamy Patagonia honeymoon, retreat to a private villa at Awasi Patagonia near Torres Del Paine National Park. Arrayed across a hillside with panoramic views of Paine Massif, each eco-cabin at this upscale adventure lodge is a stand-alone suite configured to ensure privacy. After a day stalking guanaco on a photo safari or hiking to hidden lakes, dedicate one starry evening to your private, wood-burning cedar barrel hot tub. 

Alternatively, the Atacama Desert, in Chile’s far north, is a less traditional but equally honeymoon-worthy destination. If your new spouse hasn’t already taken your breath away, the otherworldly landscapes (and high altitude) here will. In this stark, visually arresting environment, adventure takes the form of walks through lunar valleys, bike rides past conical volcanoes, geothermal hot spring soaks, and hikes to high-altitude lagoons. After dark, stay up late to peer into the cosmos for some of the world’s best stargazing. Between outdoorsy excursions, relax at Tierra Atacama, a high-design desert resort. Lounge at the infinity pool with its unobstructed volcano views, sip pisco sours while stargazing on your room’s private terrace, and recuperate with an al fresco couples massage. 

Couples looking for a honeymoon destination rich in history and culture will find a perfect fit in Peru. From the mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu to ancient Incan trails, parts of this captivating country feel as if they’ve remained unchanged for thousands of years. 

Touch down in the lofty city of Cusco, cradled high within the Andes Mountains. You won’t linger long thanks to the breathtaking altitude. (Return later, post-Machu Picchu to sip coffee in cobblestone plazas, shop for textiles in artisan markets, and enjoy unrushed dinners of gourmet Peruvian fusion in candle-lit restaurants.) Descend into the Sacred Valley to arrive in the Incan heartland. Skip the hours-long car ride and board a luxurious Andean train instead. The journey snakes along a wild river and through mountainous valleys. Check into Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba to live like royalty, where artifact-adorned rooms gaze out across misty mountains, and cloud-like beds and warming baths keep chilly nights at bay. From privately guided tours of Machu Picchu to meals made with indigenous ingredients farmed using the same methods used by the Incas, bespoke experiences foster a deeper connection with the culture, landscape, and one another. 

For intrepid honeymooners, Machu Picchu might only be the start of a romantic South America honeymoon. Options abound. After the mountains, head to Chachapoyas in northern Peru’s cloud forest to learn about a culture that predates the Incans. Or, visit the Peruvian Amazon to cruise the iconic waterway aboard a handsome river boat. Alternatively, Lima is well connected to Quito (combine Machu Picchu with Galapagos) and Santiago (pair Peru with Easter Island for archeological marvels and beach.) 

Active newlyweds craving uncharted adventure in wonderous habitats should plan a South America honeymoon to Ecuador. From up-close encounters with unique Galápagos species to night walks in the Amazon rainforest, a string of surreal wildlife moments awaits. 

Start your adventurous honeymoon in the jungle: in the Cloud Forest, the Ecuadorian Amazon, or a combination of both. At Mashpi Lodge—a top ranking South American romantic resort in Ecuador’s humidity-hugged cloud forest—wake up to tropical birdsong, hike through forests filled with butterflies, and take a whimsical “SkyBike” through the canopy. In the Ecuadorian Amazon, travel by boat along the snaking Napo River to a reach a luxury jungle lodge tucked away deep in the rainforest of  Yasuní National Park. Considered one of the most biologically diverse places in the world, set out on foot or by canoe to look for sloths, monkeys, elusive jaguar, and more. It all reads like something from an explorer’s journal.  

Save the best for last: a Galápagos honeymoon. Just a two-and-a-half hour flight from mainland Ecuador, this Pacific Ocean archipelago is home to fauna not found anywhere else on the planet. Snorkel alongside marine iguanas and sea turtles, watch Galápagos penguins and blue-footed boobies waddle about on land, and hike through the highlands of Santa Cruz Island in search of lumbering giant tortoises. Whether on boat cruises or hikes, you’re bound to see wildlife in any direction you look…even if you’re just relaxing at one of the archipelago’s many pristine beaches for a blissful, do-nothing day. Luxury Galápagos travel also comes with truly breathtaking accommodations. Sleep on the rim of an extinct volcano in romantic, safari-style tents with sweeping landscape views at Galápagos Safari Camp, or gaze across Santa Cruz from lofty infinity pools and the floor-to-ceiling windowed suites of Pikaia Lodge. 

A country so enchanting that it inspired the magical realism worlds of writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, consider Colombia for a fairy-tale-come-to-life honeymoon. Newlyweds can have it all while traveling between the Caribbean coast, explorable jungle, and vibrant cities, seasoned with a lively dose of Colombian culture. 

Start your honeymoon in Colombia in one of its upbeat cities. Stroll mural-painted streets and soar over neighborhoods of jumbled houses in Medellín, the city of eternal spring, where warm temperatures and sunshine reign all year long. In Cali, the salsa capital of the world, take a private dance lesson and then let a rhythm coax you to a dance floor. Bogota beckons with frozen-in-time, colonial-style districts like La Candelaria. Hands clasped, meander cobblestone avenues fronted by a rainbow of color block facades.  

Once you’ve acquainted with Colombian flavors, architecture, art immersion, history museums, and nightlife in its urban centers, temper your South American honeymoon with some adventure. Head to the heights of the Coffee Region where towering wax palms stand sentinel amid neon-green hills for a taste of Colombia’s coffee and cacao bounty. In the Colombian Amazon, cruise along winding rivers that cut through thick foliage to seek out pink river dolphins and delve into local Indigenous culture in remote villages. Intrepid newlyweds might lace up their hiking boots for a multi-day trek to reach the ruins of a lost city buried in the jungle.  

End your Colombia honeymoon on a coastal high note at the coast. Post up at Casa San Augustin in romantic Cartegena for some sun-bathed days in the cobblestone and bougainvillea-adorned historic center. From here, escape to an exclusive, toes-in-the-sand sanctuary. Travel by boat to reach Acasi, a private beach on Barú island to snorkel turquoise shallows and to lounge on palm-shaded strips of sand while grazing on fresh ceviche served with perspiring white wine.  

If you want your South America honeymoon to hum along at a gentle pace, travel to a destination that won’t demand too much of you: Uruguay. Tucked between Brazil and Argentina, this small country is often overlooked by travelers in lieu of its marquee neighbors. All the better for newlyweds—enjoy dreamy beach sunsets and bucolic country roads all to yourself. Uncrowded and easy going, Uruguay invites newlyweds to ditch travel checklists and simply go with the flow on a romantic road trip.  

Start a honeymoon in Uruguay in Colonia del Sacramento with its storied cobblestone streets, quaint museums, and leafy old quarter. In nearby Carmelo, retreat to a luxury wine lodge for estate-grown wines, to ride horseback through picturesque woodland, and to admire the sunset on a sailboat cruise along the Rio de La Plata.  

Heading east, follow your appetite through Uruguayan Wine Country. Retreat to the minimalist, glass-pane cabins overlooking the lakes and vineyards of Sacromonte Landscape Hotel. Taste the terroir during sunset wine tastings and at al fresco, long table lunches. If time allows, spend more time inland amid the grassy pampas and patchwork vineyards while staying at an estancia. Spend an afternoon with a Uruguayan gaucho, enjoy sunset horseback rides, and savor traditional asado barbecues. 

Complete your Uruguay honeymoon with a few beachy days in the coastal town of Jose Ignacio. With its fishing village origins, whitewashed homes, and rustic beach shacks, you’ll be reminded of Montauk. Home to feted restaurants and renowned properties like Playa Vik—where you can stay in edgy, art-filled casitas arrayed along the shore—and Bahia Vik with its modernist bungalows and bleeds-into-the-horizon infinity pools, it’s hard to say which “wows” more here: the hotels, the dining scene, or the Atlantic swallowing sunsets. Pass splendid days swimming, surfing, lounging, biking to town, or touring artist ateliers and galleries. Honeymooners up for some exploration might day-trip to Polonia, Garzon (for wood-fired fare at a Francis Mallmann restaurant), or pop into the cultural hotspots bookmarked on the Ruta de Arte.