Off Season Honeymoon Hotspots in the Caribbean & Mexico

Not a fan of crowded beaches? Plan an off season beach honeymoon when flights and hotels start lowering fares, meaning you can snag much better deals and that gorgeous villa or Jacuzzi tub suite at a fraction of the price. And don’t think low season means rain showers and potential hurricanes. There’s plenty of spots sitting outside the hurricane belt — or even tucked inland — that make for just as idyllic of a honeymoon destination come May as they do during the height of season in December. Here are five super romantic locales that serve as the perfect couple’s retreat year-round.

Zihuatanejo, Mexico
While the rainy season here runs from late-June through September, you’ll only really have to worry about a downpour come nightfall. The former fishing village southwest of Mexico City on Guerrero’s coastline is part of the Golden Pacific on the Mexican Riviera. Beaches are known for drawing more surfers than swimmers since they’re on the rougher side, but the highlight here isn’t the sandy shore — it’s the view. The bay is lined with a number of charming boutique hotels that are a dream for honeymooners. Perch up in one of these tucked-away sanctuaries like La Casa Que Canta, with 25 adobe brick suites and two villas sitting above the bay just a few minutes from beach.

Mexico City, Mexico
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Mexico City’s weather varies due to its altitude but honeymooners can count on a rather cool climate year-round. If you visit the capital in April and May, you’ll experience the city in its warmer months, with temperatures still hovering in the 70s, meaning perfect weather for strolling the sprawling neighborhoods. Wander through weekly markets like El Bazaar Sábado, San Angel’s Saturday artisan market, and be sure to make a trip out to the Xochimilco neighborhood, known for its floating gardens and colorful gondola-style barges.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Low season kicks off just after Easter, so make your way to the beach destination before the rainy season starts in May. Set in the center of Riviera Maya, you’ll be right near the shopping and nightlife of Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, and less than an hour from the ancient Mayan city of Tulum, where you can tour the cliffside ruins that overlook the Caribbean. From Playa del Carmen, you’re also just a quick ferry ride away from the island of Cozumel, an ideal day trip for snorkeling the reefs just offshore.

See More: The Best Honeymoon Destinations by Month

Aruba
Thanks to its dry climate and location just outside of the hurricane belt, Aruba boasts more days of sunshine than any other spot in the Caribbean, as well as temperatures hovering around 82 degrees. Spend your days kayaking or snorkeling off the southern side of the island, or explore Aruba’s desert-style plains by horseback. When you’re ready to sit back and relax with your other half, indulge in a spa treatment in an atmosphere just as exotic, from a beachside bamboo cabana to a set-up on a private island.

St. Lucia
Skip the crowds cramming into resorts here come high season. May and June are actually known to be the best months to visit St. Lucia and snag deals in some of the most glam honeymoon hotels on the globe. This is the island noted for over-the-top resorts, after all. Book a stay at Jade Mountain with its three-walled suites overlooking the looming Pitons mountains or opt for a room at luxurious Ladera, with its romantic four poster beds and views that look straight out at the island’s stunning sunset.