All you want to do on your Caribbean honeymoon is enjoy a romantic sunset sail or learn to salsa like a local. Your new husband, however, may have his heart set on deep-sea fishing or mountain biking. Since marriage is all about compromise, your honeymoon is the perfect time to start practicing the art of give and take: He gives you his two left feet on the dance floor and you give him a few ounces of sweat on an uphill rainforest ride. Begin your life together with a tropical getaway that offers activities to satisfy you, your guy — and the both of you.
Jamaica
Photo courtesy of Jamaica Inn
His: Bobsledding. Take him on a wild, 60-second ride through the jungles of mystic mountain near ocho rios on a bobsled run inspired by the famous olympic team.
Hers: Equestrian Sand Shuttle. at the equestrian center at half moon, a rock resort in rose hall, the horseback riding experience is truly special. in addition to cantering and galloping across sugared sands, with the help of a guide, you'll direct your mare into the ocean for a “swim.”
Ours: Cliff jumping. You’ve already taken the biggest plunge of all, so why not join the locals with a hand-in-hand leap off of Negril’s famous waterside cliffs? The water is delightfully warm. After you towel off, enjoy tropical cocktails at the legendary Rick’s Café.
Where to stay: For casual-chic ambience in colorful oceanfront rooms, cottages and villas, plus farm-to-table cuisine and instant camaraderie, stay at Jakes Hotel (room rates start at $115 a night; jakeshotel.com). Check into the all-inclusive, action-packed, 312-room Couples Swept Away on Negril’s seven mile beach for dozens of activities from tennis and golf to scuba (room rates start at $349 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; couples.com). You'll feel as though you’ve discovered a quiet slice of paradise island at the tranquil periwinkle-blue Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios (room rates start at $310 a night; jamaicainn.com).
Dominican Republic
Photo courtesy of the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism
This lively island is home to some of the region's most inviting beaches, challenging golf courses and great-value all-inclusive resorts, all of which make it easy for honeymooners to kick back — while still staying muy active.
His: Cigar factory tour. If he loves the lore and flavor of tobacco, have him indulge to the max during a visit to Garcia Tobacco and La Flor Dominicana. Both famous houses are located in La Romana; tours and tastings can be booked via cigar country tours.
Hers: Gem collecting. The Dominican Republic is known for its amber, so if you’re a fan of this prehistoric golden gem you’ll be in heaven. The island’s other treasure is larimar, an opaque blue stone known as “dominican turquoise” and only found here.
Ours: Golf. This island nation has some of the caribbean’s finest courses — 28 in all, designed by top names like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player — so it’s a great spot to take lessons or to challenge each other to a one-on-one honeymoon tournament.
Where to stay: Adults-only, 456-room Excellence Punta Cana lets you enjoy sun and sand beneath palapa-style umbrellas, indulge at eight restaurants and 10 bars, and soak in a private, in-room Jacuzzi for two (room rates start at $326 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; excellence-resorts.com). For a livelier Vegas-on-the-beach vibe, modern decor and an enormous casino, there’s the glitzy all- inclusive Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana (room rates start at $395 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; hardrockhotelpuntacana.com). Zöetry Agua Punta Cana, a 51-suite oasis on a palm-studded beach, boasts a distinctly upscale Zen ambience and an ultra-pampering spa (room rates start at $724 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; zoetryresorts.com).
Photo courtesy of Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts
Next: St. Lucia, Bahamas, and Puerto Rico ►
St. Lucia
Photo coutesy of De Mountain
Blessed with stunning natural beauty — from the drama of the twin piton peaks to the scenic vistas of pigeon island — St. Lucia seduces with land and sea based activities and creole charm.
His: Mountain biking. If your guy loves to ride, he’ll be a happy camper on Anse Mamin Plantation, where eight miles of trails slice through the jungle.
Hers: Savor the chocolate. On this island, chocolate is a draw, especially at the Boucan, a boutique hotel that’s nestled among the cocoa groves of the island’s rabot estate. Known as the “hotel chocolat,” the hideaway offers tree-to-bar experiences, which include sessions in chocolate making, yummy spa treatments and a dynamic food menu featuring the locally crafted treat.
Ours: Gros Piton climb. Embrace a serious physical challenge by hiking up 2,619-foot Gros Piton for a stunning view. Later, reward yourselves with a private champagne sunset cruise aboard a catamaran or schooner.
Where to Stay: For one of the island’s loveliest locations, on Jalousie Bay between the Pitons, check into Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, which features airy white colonial ambience mixed with modern luxury (room rates start at $440 a night; viceroyhotels andresorts.com). If you prefer lofty accommodations with an open-air style, private plunge pool and amazing views, splurge on Jade Mountain (room rates start at $995 a night; jade mountain.com). And if intimate authenticity is your style, kick back in one of the 33 gingerbread cottages at Ti Kaye Village Resort & Spa (room rates start at $220 a night; tikaye.com).
Photo courtesy of a Viceroy Resort
Puerto Rico
Photo courtesy of Sugar Beach
If your dream honeymoon combines soft adventure by day and Latin-tinged seduction by night, check out the English-speaking, dollar-using tropical island, where no passport is required.
His: ATV adventure. Just five minutes outside bustling San Juan, your guy can rev his engine for a thrilling ride through the grounds of Hacienda Campo Rico.
Hers: Coffee klatch. Puerto Rico’s lush interior provides the perfect conditions for growing coffee. Explore the history of the local bean-growing culture with a tour of one of the island’s restored haciendas (farms).
Ours: Salsa nights. Post-sunset, it’s time to put on some high heels and a sexy dress and drag your man to a red-hot club for some salsa—head to Nuyorican or Rumba in Old San Juan for live music or to the Red Coral Lounge at the San Juan Marriott in Condado.
Where to Stay: Check into La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort in Condado for an edgy neo-retro ambience with a buzzing nightlife and great ocean views (room rates start at $249 a night; laconcharesort.com). Immerse yourselves in historic Old San Juan, with a stay at the 58-room Hotel El Convento, a 17th-century convent turned romantic boutique hotel (roomrates start at $180 night; elconvento. com). For a luxurious setting on Isla Verde Beach, try ultra-plush The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, with its 416 newly refreshed rooms, five restaurants and spa (room rates start at $339 a night; ritzcarlton.com).
Photo courtesy of La Concha Resort
Bahamas
Photo courtesy of Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island
Nassau and its sister Paradise Island are oh-so convenient — less than 30 minutes by air from Florida and under three hours from New York — and are ideal for couples that want to mix waterbased fun with duty-free shopping, fine dining and glitzy gaming.
His: Sport fishing. The Bahamas’ aquamarine waters teem with everything from barracuda to marlin. A halfday charter is a great way for your guy to reel in a prize catch; booked via Born Free Charters and Hunter Charters.
Hers: Shopping. Nassau’s Bay Street offers an array of shopping opportunities, from local Bahamian crafts at small, independent stores and the famous Straw Market to duty-free designer perfumes and jewelry. He can tag along, too, and duck into shops selling electronics, watches and cigars.
Ours: Swimming with dolphins. Getting to know the adorable bottlenose dolphins at Dolphin Cay at the Atlantis Resort is an awesome experience. Choose from shallow-water interaction, deep-water scooter swims or the Ultimate Trainer for a Day program.
Where to Stay: For couples-only all-inclusive fun, there’s Sandals Royal Bahamian, home to 10 restaurants and its own private-island beach (room rates start at $556 per person, per night and are all-inclusive; sandals.com). The 694-room Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort sits on 1,000 feet of Cable Beach and offers three pools with waterfalls and swim-up bar, three restaurants and a casino (room rates start at $189 a night; sheratonnassau.com). For a luxurious adults-only splurge with access to all the water-park fun at Atlantis, try The Cove Atlantis, a 600-room tower with spacious suites offering great ocean views and a private pool with a hip bar scene (room rates start at $499 a night; the coveatlantis.com).