Is there anything more fun than planning your honeymoon? It’s all the best parts of planning a wedding, but without any of the stress or pressure. If you’re overwhelmed with your upcoming nuptials, thinking about your carefree honeymoon with your new spouse can be a breath of fresh air.
From the warmth of the Caribbean to more far-flung locales in Asia and South America, here are some of the best honeymoon destinations in December.
Grand Cayman
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
You can’t go wrong with a honeymoon in Grand Cayman: it’s accessible, beautiful, and offers a fantastic escape from chilly weather, especially when visiting in December.
When you arrive in Grand Cayman, head straight for Seven-Mile Beach. Unwind as you dig your toes into the soft sand and gaze out at the gentle waves. It’s one of the Caribbean’s best beaches and has plenty of coves, reefs, and beach bars to ensure you and your new spouse can find the perfect place to while away a few hours together.
Stingray City, Grand Cayman
Aside from lounging on pristine beaches, Grand Cayman is one of the best honeymoon destinations in December because you can make friends with a stingray.
For a unique vacation idea for couples while in the Caymans, book a trip to Stingray City, where you can jump in the open ocean with friendly stingrays and nurse sharks. The water is only a few feet deep, and the animals are very used to people. There are a few other well-known snorkel spots near Stingray City if you want to spend a few hours on the water.
Hell, Grand Cayman
Going to Hell on your honeymoon may sound like a disaster, and it normally would be—but not in Grand Cayman. For a fun afternoon with your new spouse, take a day trip to the island’s town called Hell. It’s actually sunny, beautiful, and tropical, with impressive spiral rock formations that give the town its name.
Read: Best Honeymoon Destinations in the Caribbean
Bonaire
Klein Bonaire
If you want to go someplace completely new, then Bonaire may be the best place for a honeymoon in December. This warm, tropical island close to South America’s northern coast is very protected from wind and weather, so the water is perfect for snorkeling and boating.
Bonaire offers some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean. Take advantage of Bonaire’s 75-foot or more visibility by taking a scuba diving lesson. You can easily walk in off the shore with your scuba gear on and see tropical fish, healthy reefs, and well-preserved shipwrecks in less than 40 feet of water. It’s an easy, safe, and wonderful place to learn to dive.
Off the coast of Bonaire is an even smaller island known as Klein Bonaire, part of the Bonaire National Marine Park. The snorkeling by this small island is simply excellent. The most exciting way to reach it is by taking a traditional sailboat, called a junk boat. Relax on the beach with a cold cocktail, go for an easy beachside snorkel, or snuggle in the sand—it’s your tropical island honeymoon, after all.
Washikemba Reservoir, Bonaire
One of the most exciting things to do in Bonaire is take a high-octane ATV ride along the island’s beautiful terrain. The island’s interior is mostly desert, and it’s a fabulous place to cruise on an ATV past wildlife reservoirs, hidden cave systems, and beautiful ocean cliffs. Most ATV tours include a guide to teach you about the flora and fauna you’ll see along the way—including flamingos!
Lac Bay, Bonaire
Couples who enjoy learning and experiencing new things together can visit Bonaire’s Lac Bay National Park, where two unique activities are on offer: gentle boat rides past flamingos and mangrove forests, and windsurfing lessons. The water is so warm that it feels great when you inevitably fall in, anyway.
Read: Best Caribbean Wedding Destinations for Your Big Day
Vietnam
Ha Long Bay in Hanoi, Vietnam
For an amazing honeymoon, world travelers may want to experience the colors, culture, history, and friendliness of Vietnam. Though small, the country is packed with wonder, ranging from abandoned temples to creative street food to some of the most stunning landscapes you’ll find on earth (we’re looking at you, Ha Long Bay).
Arguably one of the most beautiful and romantic places in Asia, Ha Long Bay is one of the best honeymoon destinations in December if you want to be on the water. Winter brings less rain and less humidity, so you can expect great weather when you’re out on the bay. The best way to see the bay is on a traditional junk boat that sails past the amazing formations, secret caves, and floating villages that make this destination so special.
While in Vietnam, spend at least a day getting to know the culture and history of Hanoi, one of Vietnam’s largest cities. Filled with small, winding streets and almost unbelievable amounts of history, you’ll want to spend time wandering down Silk Street and exploring the city’s stunning Temple of Literature, dating back to the 11th century.
Imperial City in Hue, Vietnam
If you have time on your Vietnam honeymoon, visit Hue, a town bursting with beauty. The Heavenly Lady Pagoda is a stunning seven-tier temple overlooking the Perfume River, and the ruins of the Imperial City—the former capital of Vietnam—are a fascinating place to leisurely stroll together.
Nha Trang Beach, Vietnam
Spend a romantic day with just the two of you in Nha Trang, one of Vietnam’s most luxurious beaches. Here, you’ll find high-end spa experiences unique to the area, like mud and mineral baths or the chance to shower under a mineral waterfall.
An afternoon on this Vietnamese beach is the perfect way to relax together, and it doesn’t hurt if you follow up your couple’s spa session with a waterfront meal at one of the area’s gourmet restaurants, either.
Read: Best Places to Visit in December in Asia
Cozumel
If you’re dreaming of the ultimate beach honeymoon, look no further than Cozumel, one of the most luxurious and romantic areas of Mexico.
San Gervasio ruins in Cozumel, Mexico
Explore Cozumel—one of the best Caribbean islands for couples—and its ancient wonders at the ruins of San Gervasio, a forgotten city in the jungle. If you and your honey are avid explorers, you’ll love strolling through the archaeological wonder and coming up with your own theories on the site’s more mysterious details.
December is one of the most pleasant times to visit as it’s not too hot or muggy to spend a few hours in the jungle. But even so, unwinding in a luxury beach club after exploring the ruins isn’t a bad way to spend a day of your tropical honeymoon.
Food is an essential part of any culture, and it’s also a fabulous way to experience something new together. While honeymooning in Cozumel, consider taking a cooking class. Mexico has some of the freshest and most flavorful ingredients in the world, and it’s a great place to learn how to make spicy salsas and perfectly flavored margaritas.
Playa Mia in Cozumel, Mexico
Any good honeymoon has to involve at least one luxurious day at the beach, and at Playa Mia, you and your beloved can settle into a pair of cozy beach chairs and relax beneath swaying palms all day. Playa Mia also has a fun waterpark where couples can let loose and have fun, plunging down water slides or floating along a gently flowing river. Treat yourselves to beachfront massages while you sip a cool piña colada around happy hour.
Patagonia
Tierra del Fuego National Park in Ushuaia, Argentina
The most adventurous couples should consider a honeymoon in Patagonia, on South America’s southern tip. Because it’s south of the equator—very far south, in fact—December falls at the beginning of the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, when the days are long and warmer.
Even if you go nowhere else, be sure to visit Tierra Del Fuego National Park, one of South America’s best honeymoon destinations in December. Tierra del Fuego—which means Land of Fire—is one of the best places to visit in Patagonia. It covers more than 150,000 acres and is a playground for every kind of outdoor adventurer. Whether the two of you like hiking, birdwatching, or landscape photography, you’ll find it here. Don’t miss out on your chance to see some of the continent’s most famous wildlife, like sea lions and whales.
Read: Romantic South America Honeymoon Destinations
End of the World train in Ushuaia, Argentina
If you’re always saying you’re willing to go to the ends of the earth for your new spouse, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is. Snuggle together on the “End of the World” train in Ushuaia, Argentina, as the two of you learn about the region’s history and take some of the most enviable honeymoon photos imaginable. You can also swing by the End of the World Museum to learn more about the remote and fascinating region around Ushuaia.
Magallanes National Reserve in Punta Arenas, Chile
Hike through the Magallanes National Reserve, passsing stunning views of the Strait of Magellan. If you keep a keen eye out during your hike, you might spot seabirds, foxes, or even a puma (though the latter is very, very rare).
Read: Underrated Honeymoon Destinations
New Zealand
If you’re using your honeymoon as an excuse to take the dream trip you’ve always wanted, then head to New Zealand. Winter in the U.S. is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, so New Zealand is one of the best places for a honeymoon in December.
Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand
The Queen Charlotte Sound has something for everyone, from kayaking and wildlife watching to exploring some of the best hikes in New Zealand and spotting the country’s famous kiwis.
One of the best things to do on New Zealand’s South Island is to ride the luxurious Southern Alps TranzAlpine train in Christchurch, the largest city on the island. Perfect for couples who want to sip wine, snuggle up, and enjoy each others’ company, the luxury train goes past some of the country’s most impressive sights while serving gourmet regional cuisine and wines along the way.
Milford Sound, New Zealand
What’s better than gourmet cuisine set against the backdrop of a bright blue lake? How about having fjords, historic towns, and impressive mountainscapes just around the corner? Milford Sound, the most well known of New Zealand’s fjords, is rugged, breathtaking, and remote. The weather is often a bit rainy here, which makes it exceptionally beautiful—the mist over the waterfalls is quite a sight to see.
Read: Places to Visit on the North Island of New Zealand
The Retreat
For an unforgettable, stress-free vacation, book a honeymoon cruise with Celebrity Cruises. From luxurious beach getaways to incredible adventures around the world, a cruise is the best way to visit multiple destinations with none of the planning and logistics.
Browse romantic cruise itineraries on our website and book your honeymoon in paradise today.
