Are you searching for the perfect honeymoon destination in January after your winter wedding? The world is brimming with romantic spots, each offering its own unique charm and adventures.
Consider the blissful Caribbean islands, known for their diverse culture and stunning landscapes, or the serene beauty of Bali, where equatorial weather creates an idyllic setting. For a touch of European allure, the Canary Islands await with their splendid weather and picturesque views. Alternatively, explore the summer vibrancy of New Zealand, perfect for couples who love nature and adventure.
One thing’s for sure: with so many wonderful places to consider, planning your honeymoon is half the fun.
Aruba
Beach in Aruba
Aruba enjoys fine weather year-round thanks to its location in the far south of the Caribbean. January is one of the best months to travel, with often unbroken sunshine, making beach days irresistible.
Aruba’s beaches are some of the most romantic in the Caribbean thanks to their powdery white sand and turquoise sea. Palm Beach, on the island’s northern coast, is one of the best, with two miles of palm-fringed sands and plenty of watersports. Try stand-up paddleboarding together or take to the water in a double kayak.
Eagle Beach, Aruba
Visiting beautiful Eagle Beach is one of the best things to do in Aruba for couples. Head here to snap an iconic shot of the fofoti trees twisted by the wind against a background of deep aquamarine.
Puerto Rico
Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is one of the best honeymoon destinations in January as it offers so much variety. Stroll through the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, lined with brightly colored, colonial-era buildings, impressive street art, quirky boutiques, and cool bars.
Admire the views from the top of the 16th-century Castillo de San Cristobal in San Juan, built to defend the city against invaders and pirates.
El Yunque, Puerto Rico
Take to the water at the Escambrón Marine Park, where you can go snorkeling over coral reefs. January is still peak season for surfing, too.
Or head to El Yunque, Puerto Rico’s tropical rainforest. Hike the marked trails together, looking out for mongoose, colorful birds, and the tiny coqui, a native frog.
British Virgin Islands
Cane Garden Bay in Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Scattered like emeralds across the sparkling Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands are a paradise for sailing, snorkeling, and basking on white sand beaches. For romance in the tropics, this is one of the best honeymoon destinations in January.
January is peak season here, and the bars and restaurants are buzzing with life. One of the most fun to visit is the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke. The bar gets its name from the fact that anybody who arrives by yacht has to swim the short distance ashore, hence their soggy dollars.
Painkiller
Try a Painkiller while you’re here; this Caribbean cocktail was invented at the Soggy Dollar Bar and is made from Pusser’s Rum, pineapple, orange juice, and cream of coconut.
The wide sweep of Cane Garden Bay, close to Road Town, is one of the best beaches in Tortola. You could combine a couple of hours here with a hike through leafy Sage Mountain National Park, with views of all the British Virgin Islands scattered across the sea.
The Baths at Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
For a romantic adventure, head for tiny Virgin Gorda and clamber around The Baths, one of the best places to swim in the world. This stretch of giant, tumbled granite boulders forms a natural playground.
Start at one end and make your way to the other via small ladders, ropes, and under the rocks to cool caves and balmy lagoons. Remember to take a waterproof camera to capture the moment.
Cozumel
Playa Mia, Cozumel
Cozumel is a blissful beach destination for creating romantic honeymoon memories. The island is blessed with gorgeous beaches, whether you want somewhere quiet and serene, or the buzzing atmosphere of a resort like Playa Mia Grand Beach Park, where you’ll find water toys, a 200-foot slide, and a pool with a swim-up bar.
Marine life in Cozumel
The underwater life around the island’s reefs is spectacular. While snorkeling in Cozumel, look out for sea turtles gliding gracefully through the crystal-clear water, as well as colorful sea stars. January is the peak month for spotting enormous manta rays, a truly thrilling experience.
Grand Cayman
Beach in Grand Cayman
The island of Grand Cayman is a happy mix of sophisticated dining and shopping in George Town, the capital, and beaches you’ll never forget. Stroll along Seven Mile Beach together, stopping for swimming and snorkeling, or a rum punch in a toes-in-the-sand beach bar.
For a change of scenery, explore the lush gardens of Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. There’s a conservation program here to protect the blue iguana, which is native to Grand Cayman.
Stingray City, Grand Cayman
Another unmissable thing to do in Grand Cayman is to take a boat to Stingray City, where you can stand on a shallow sandbar and have southern rays glide around you, waiting for snacks.
Barbados
Barbados
In pretty Barbados, honeymooners will find plenty of things to do in January, which is peak season, thanks to the fine weather.
It’s cricket season, so you could catch an international match. Barbados Sailing Week, which falls in the middle of the month, is a time of high glamor, parties, rum drinking, live music, and of course, beautiful yachts. If you love life on the water, time your visit to coincide with this event.
Carlisle Bay, Barbados
The wide sweep of Carlisle Bay, next to Bridgetown, is the epicenter of the yachting world and a lot of the races start and finish here. It’s also home to some of the best snorkeling in Barbados.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia
St. Lucia is arguably one of the prettiest islands in the Caribbean thanks to its dramatic scenery, and one of the best places to honeymoon in January. The twin volcanic peaks of the Pitons loom above dense rainforest, while the beaches are sublime. Reduit, a sweep of golden sand framed by Rodney Bay, is one of the prettiest.
If you’re an outdoors-loving couple, tackling the hike up Gros Piton, the taller of the two peaks. The walk is fairly challenging, but the views from the top, down over the rainforest and across the sparkling sea to St. Vincent, are stupendous.
Diamond Falls, St. Lucia
You’ll find more of the natural beauty of St. Lucia at Diamond Falls, a private estate in Soufrière rich with tropical blooms, soothing mineral baths, and the cascade of Diamond Falls itself.
St. Kitts
St. Kitts
St. Kitts offers a wonderful choice of things to do together on your honeymoon. You’ll find fascinating military history, not least the rugged Brimstone Hill Fortress, a massive compound known as the “Gibraltar of the Caribbean”.
Ride the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, which trundles along the dramatic, wave-pounded shoreline through the rippling sugarcane fields. Take a hike on Mount Liamuiga, a dormant volcano that towers over the island’s center. Snorkel over vibrant reefs at Frigate Bay, home to some of the best beaches in St. Kitts.
The Bahamas
Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas
The islands of the Bahamas are the archetypal romantic destination, whether you’re looking for adventure, marine life, or glorious beaches.
For a shared adrenaline rush, you can’t beat the dizzying waterslides at the Aquaventure Water Park at the Atlantis Resort on Nassau’s Paradise Island. For a more relaxing experience, head for dreamy Pearl Island and treat yourselves to a luxurious private cabana with uninterrupted sea views.
Honeymoon Harbor in Bimini, Bahamas
Bimini has gorgeous beaches, too, and fantastic snorkeling, including a guided snorkel tour where black-tipped reef sharks hang out. Head for Honeymoon Harbor where you can feed docile stingrays by hand, or snorkel through the shimmering shallows over a shipwreck.
Read: Best Spots for Snorkeling in The Bahamas
Hanoi, Vietnam
Old Quarter in Hanoi, Vietnam
Vietnam’s bustling capital is a joy to explore as a couple and one of the best places to honeymoon in January. The best part of Hanoi is the Old Quarter, a buzzing cluster of narrow streets and atmospheric buildings. Different areas are dedicated to different craftspeople like silversmiths, fabric sellers, and vendors of traditional medicines.
Hop on a cyclo for a tour through this kaleidoscope of color, stopping for coffee along the way. Hanoi is packed with excellent coffee shops and patisseries, a legacy of the French period here.
Halong Bay, Vietnam
One of the best trips outside Hanoi is Halong Bay, where thousands of sheer-sided, jungly limestone karst formations are scattered across the sea. This is one of the most photographed spots in the world, and for good reason.
Explore by kayak, looking out for monkeys scampering through the trees, or take a trip in a traditional sailing junk. For a honeymoon memory you won’t forget, take a flightseeing tour and gaze down on this spectacular landscape from the air.
Bali
Nusa Dua Beach, Bali
The serene Indonesian island of Bali is a paradise for honeymooners, from the soft sand of Nusa Dua Beach to emerald-green rice terraces and colorful temples.
A honeymoon in Bali is a chance to learn about the Hindu faith that’s predominant here, as well as traditional healing, yoga, and massage. And as one of the best islands in Asia for food, you’ll find excellent restaurants offering Indonesian, Thai, and modern Asian fusion cuisine, as well as wholesome juice bars and chic cocktail bars.
Honeymoon in Bali and you’ll feel a spiritual connection to the island, which has a special energy. If your visit coincides with January 9, you’ll see all the Hindu temples busy with locals making offerings to Lord Shiva as part of the annual Siwaratri Ceremony.
Read: Best Things to Do in Bali
Canary Islands
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
If you want to imbue your honeymoon with a taste of European culture but are looking for sunshine at the same time, the Canary Islands are some of the best honeymoon destinations in January.
This volcanic archipelago, scattered across the Atlantic off the west coast of Africa, is part of Spain. Here, you’ll find tapas bars, vineyards, and beautiful architecture as well as beaches and sunshine.
Mount Teide in Tenerife, Canary Islands
On Tenerife, you could take a trip up Mount Teide, Spain’s highest mountain, which in January will most likely be sporting a cap of snow. On a clear day, you can see some of the other islands from here, as well as the lush slopes stretching away below.
Santa Cruz, the capital, is easy to explore on foot, with wide boulevards and a colorful, compact old town. Visit the enticing Nostra Señora de Africa market for snacks. You’ll find local cheeses and hams as well as fresh-cooked empanadas and churros to dunk in chocolate sauce.
Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Gran Canaria’s capital, Las Palmas, is also delightful to discover on a walking tour. Lose yourself in the narrow alleys of Vegueta, the historic center, where Christopher Columbus is believed to have stayed in 1492 before setting out across the Atlantic in search of the Americas. Vegueta is especially pretty, its whitewashed houses adorned with the ornate wooden balconies typical of the Canaries.
Maspalomas in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Head to the rippling dunes of Maspalomas in the far south for a taste of the Sahara in the Atlantic. It’s home to some of the best beaches in the Canary Islands.
New Zealand
Milford Sound, New Zealand
New Zealand is a honeymoon destination that will provide you with endless memories to share. Marvel at the backdrop of saw-toothed mountains, steaming geysers, and plunging fjords in January when the weather is at its absolute best.
Glow worms in New Zealand
New Zealand is a paradise for active couples, with spectacular hiking trails to explore, including underground. Near Auckland, you can walk for four miles through the mysterious Ruakuri Cave, regarded as sacred by the Maori, and glowing with pinpricks of light from tiny glow worms.
Also on the North Island, you can sail the Bay of Islands, where 150 rocky islands are scattered across a turquoise sea. It’s a paradise for dolphins, whales, fur seals, and penguins.
Vineyard in New Zealand
New Zealand is famed for its wines, too; the Waipara wine region near Christchurch on the South Island is a wonderful place to join a cycling tour to some of the cellar doors, where you’ll receive a warm welcome and a chance to taste some of the world-class vintages.
One of the most beautiful settings in which to celebrate your love is the sublime scenery of Fiordland. Sail through New Zealand’s fjords to take in beautiful views of steep mountains plunging into the glassy water and ribbon-like waterfalls tumbling over sheer cliffs.
Vineyard in New Zealand
Are you dreaming of romantic honeymoon ideas around the world? Browse our January cruises for inspiration for your winter honeymoon and plan your romantic adventure together.
