Honeymoon | Explore Chile and Peru

Chile and Peru occupy most of the Pacific Coast of South America, and while both have spectacular coastlines, honeymooners also will find romance and adventure on offshore islands and the mountainous interior of these neighboring nations.

Easter Island, with its totemic “moai” statues, is a destination in itself — while part of Chile, it lies thousands of miles off the coast. Easier to reach is Magdalena Island with its 120,000-strong penguin colony, and the bohemian coastal town of Valparaíso, known for its brightly painted houses; the nearby San Alfonso del Mar is one of Chile’s top luxury resorts.

The San Rafael Glacier meets the sea at Laguna San Rafael — a chilly contrast to Chile’s Atacama Desert, home to the stark Valley of the Moon. Fabled Patagonia, at the southern tip of the continent, is shared by Chile and Argentina; the Explora resort combines luxury accommodations with guided explorations of Torres del Paine National Park.

Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas,” is Peru’s most famous tourist attraction, and countless honeymooners have paused for a selfie overlooking the city’s terraced ruins. Adventurous couples can get here by hiking the Inca Trail, or stay in the elegant Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, just a five-minute walk from Machu Picchu’s Temple of the Three Windows. Nearby Cusco with its historic Plaza de Armas — the city center since the time it was ruled by the Incas. 

A converted convent now houses the luxurious JW Marriott El Convento Cusco. Honeymooners can also explore the Peruvian stretch of the Amazon River, marvel at the tiny oasis town of Huacachina (and surf the surrounding sand dunes), and encounter the thriving wildlife in Manu National Park.

>Written by: Bob Curley