Best Eco-Tourism Destinations for a Perfect Honeymoon
Need some honeymoon destination ideas? You’ve come to the right place.
A getaway after all of that wedding planning will be much-needed, so you’ll want to make your honeymoon one for the books. Start your marriage off with an adventure of a lifetime! Check out these luscious eco-tourism destinations for your honeymoon in the U.S. and abroad.
As one of our top priorities at Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal is sustainability, we’ve done our research and come up with some amazing honeymoon destinations that put eco-tourism and sustainable travel at the forefront.
From top spots in the U.S. to some unique places to visit in Mexico and more, this list is filled with honeymoon ideas for adventurous couples.
Travel destinations for a romantic honeymoon
Before we get into the list of travel planning tips, here's a quick look at the 5 eco-tourism destinations we've chosen for you for a sustainable and romantic honeymoon of a lifetime.
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala: Start your married life off right with a magical nature escape like no other in Central America.
The Oregon Coast: Green luscious forests and the misty ocean waters welcome you for an epic honeymoon on the West Coast.
North Georgia (the state): Pair an eco-friendly island beach vacation with sustainable wineries and romantic wanders in the top honeymoon towns of northern Georgia.
The Azores: Get lost in the middle of the Atlantic on a green getaway in Portugal. The Azores are the eco-friendly antidote to roaming the hilly streets of Lisbon or beach-hopping in the Algarve on your honeymoon.
La Paz, Mexico: An underrated eco-tourism destination in Mexico’s Baja Sur that welcomes adventurous and sustainably-minded newlyweds. Think secluded beaches, desert hikes, and lots of water sports (and lots of fish tacos, of course).
Sustainable travel planning tips for your honeymoon
Here’s some honeymoon planning tips to try, whether you’re looking to plan your eco-friendly honeymoon with your partner or looking for the help of trip-planning professionals.
Don't swim with marine life: We know they're cute, but please don't swim with them. True-blue eco-tourism destinations will always advocate for the marine life, and this means not booking tours where you touch or engage with dolphins, turtles, or any type of animals. The best way to experience wildlife is to observe these beauties creatures (land or sea) is always from a distance.
Bring and use biodegradable sunscreen: It's always important to read the back label and the ingredients. Something labeled as "reef-friendly" might still have toxins in the product, as this term isn't officially regulated. If you must use sunscreen, opt for some with non-nano zinc oxide. Eco-tourism destinations in Mexico like the Yucatan often ban the use of any type of sunscreen when visiting a cenote (this body of water is super beautiful and also a super sensitive ecosystem). In these cases, pack a long sleeve swim shirt so your skin will be safely covered from the sun.
Bring your own beach towel: One big sustainable travel tip I always give people is to use the hotel towels sparingly. Packing your own quick-dry travel towel is such a simple thing, but little swaps and changes in your travel style like these can go a long way.
Eat the local food: One of the best parts of travel is sampling the local eats. Dining on yummy local cuisine also means a lower carbon footprint, win-win!
Book with local companies: From your honeymoon hotel to the restaurants to the tours you do - make your trip the most eco-friendly through and through by supporting small businesses in your chosen destination.
And speaking of local travel companies, if you're looking for an expert to help you plan the honeymoon of your dreams, D'Amico Travel has been serving the Hammonton community and beyond for years with all of their travel and vacation needs.
Recently, D’Amico’s travel experts shared with us at Hand-Me-Gowns one of their top tips. "We know exactly how to take away that travel-planning stress, and it's through our signature '6-D Formula' which helps hopeful travelers create a 'Vacation Vision'."
"By uncovering your Date Range, Duration of Trip, Departure Cities, Dollar (travel budget), and Dream, our D'Amico Travel's expert Vacation Designers will match your preferences with custom proposals and offer expert advice to help you choose the getaway you'll remember forever."
Interested? You can download their 6-D Formula guide for free and learn more about Hammonton's award-winning travel agency here at: damicotravel.com/contact.
Top 5 eco-tourism destinations for your honeymoon
Prepare to soak up all that wedded bliss and start planning for an unforgettable honeymoon. Check out these best honeymoon spots that are also amazing eco-tourism destinations – 5 places are the perfect choice for adventurous couples looking to mix rejuvenating nature escapes with boutique, sustainable travel.
Best eco-tourism destinations for your honeymoon: Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Best honeymoon spot for mixing relaxation and rejuvenation with natural wonders.
Lake Atitlan carries a special type of energy. You can spend your honeymoon on sunrise hikes up what's called the 'Indian Nose' Mountain and go kayaking for a post-breakfast adventure before heading out to explore the town. Maybe take a Mayan weaving class, or spend the afternoon at a rooftop cafe enjoying a frappe made with locally-grown coffee and sweetened with local honey.
What makes this part of the world one of the best eco-tourism honeymoon destinations in the Americas is that many of the accommodations and local businesses are now powered using solar panels.
That being said an eco-friendly, stylish hotel right on the lake is La Casa del Mundo. There's everything you need right here on-site – from a restaurant and bar, spa services, and even private access to the lake. This is the type of sustainable honeymoon destination for those couples looking for something different, and want to opt-out of the all-inclusive and wake up to stunning sunrises, coffee on the patio, huevos and plantains for breakfast, and afternoon wanders in one of the nearby towns. Pretty amazing, right?
But, your Central American honeymoon adventure doesn’t stop there. Pair your trip with a few days in the colonial town of Antigua. Book an overnight hike of Acatenango before spending a few days wondering the cobblestone streets of the town.
The Oregon Coast
Best honeymoon place for outdoorsy and adventurous newlyweds.
Luscious and filled with eco-friendly tourism options, let your sustainable honeymoon trip take you on a once in a lifetime adventure out West.
And what better way to do it than on a road trip along the Oregon Coast? Start in Portland and then explore one or two towns along the coast to get yourselves a healthy dose of sea, mountain, and city life in a way that only the PNW can provide.
Cultural, colorful, and historic, The Crystal Hotel in Portland's lively Pearl District is a great place to base yourself to start this iconically 'weird' city. The property is managed by McMenamins, a local family-owned and run chain that restores historic properties. Sustainability has always been a priority for these guys.
Want to head out into nature? One of the most unique and sustainable hotels that you can stay at in the state is WildSpring Guest Habitat in Port Orford along Oregon’s idyllic southern coast. Each cabin is so cozy and uniquely designed that you’ll feel right at home. Enjoy breakfast made with local ingredients and turn in after a long day with your partner and a bottle of one of their affordably-priced local Oregon wines that they offer at the property. Check out their eco-tourism initiatives at the hotel for more info.
It’s giving ‘southern charm by the beach’ don’t you think? Tybee Island, North Georgia
North Georgia
Best honeymoon spot in the U.S. to mix the beach and charming small towns along the way.
Did you know that northern Georgia has some of the best sustainable and affordable honeymoon towns in the U.S.? Why not opt for a stateside honeymoon, where you can hop on a quick flight or take a road trip down to our beautiful Peach State.
Start your honeymoon-ing adventures just off the coast in Tybee Island, a quaint seaside town with a lots of cute cottage rentals, not to mention a ton of outdoor experiences to be had and great sustainable foods to eat. Explore the island by bike, work those muscles and go on a sea kayak tour of Tybee, and stroll the beach hand-in-hand by sunset.
Then, head inland to explore the northern Georgia countryside for wining-and-dining. Book a night or two in Dahlonega, which was voted one of the most affordable honeymoon destinations in the state. Right in the town is the Kaya Vineyard and Winery where you can book a wine tasting and even stay on this stunning property with the best views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you’re in the mood to continue your wine tour, check out Yonah Mountain Vineyards and Serenberry Vineyards. Both use solar-energy to power their wineries, so you can sip and savour these local libations while supporting sustainable business practices.
The Azores, Portugal
Best honeymoon destination for an eco-tourism getaway of amazing food & drink with unforgettable experiences.
The Azores are made up of 9 islands in the Atlantic, about halfway between the U.S. East Coast and mainland Europe. Plan a honeymoon adventure to the Azores where you and your new spouse will be wowed by the stunning scenery, welcoming people, delicious food, wine, and so much more.
Nature escapes will play the lead role here on your honeymoon. Visit the island of Sao Miguel for its wondrous thermal hot springs, summit the highest peak in Portugal at Pico Volcano on the island of Pico, and laze your honeymoon days away along the calm beaches of Faial Island. End your day with a steaming hot bowl of cozido das Furnas, a local specialty, and pair it with a glass of vinho verde.
If you’re looking for sustainable hotel options in the Azores, the Solar Branco isn’t your typical vacation accommodation. Named one of the top eco-tourism hotels in the Azores, this gem of a spot ticks all of the sustainability boxes. The choice of suites and individual cottages are chic and cozy – perfect for a romantic honeymoon stay. Get social at their “Gin O’Clock”, held at 6 pm every evening where guests get a free gin & tonic to enjoy at their Eco Estate.
La Paz, Mexico
Best honeymoon destination for couples looking for a tropical getaway in Mexico.
If you’re longing to spend your honeymoon in sunny Mexico, one of the best eco-tourism destinations in the country is La Paz, in Baja California Sur. Much lesser-known than Cabo, La Paz is a two-hour drive away from the airport and home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world (shhhh….don’t tell). It’s small-town vibes here, where you’ll find plenty of hotel options, amazing food, and lots of outdoor experiences.
Playa Balandra is the stunning beach in question, and only 450 people are allowed access to this beach on the daily. This type of incentive has kept this playa pretty pristine, and it’s a must-do if you’re in this part of the world.
On top of beach-ing, you can go scuba diving in the Sea of Cortez, hike the Sierra de la Laguna and Cerro de la Calavera, or go sandboarding in El Mogote (how's that for an adventurous honeymoon!) And if you’re honeymoon-ing here between the months of January-March, you’ll be just in time for La Paz’s peak whale-watching season.
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