Marine Iguanas & Merengue

Surrounded by the peaks of the Andes and full of beautifully preserved Spanish colonial architecture, Quito is an atmospheric place to begin your romantic getaway, where you'll stay in the colonial mansion La Casona de la Ronda. A walking tour through the old town will take you to various religious sights such as the monasteries of San Francisco, dating from 1534, and San Diego, which holds a collection of artworks from the Quito and Cusco schools. A special way to take in the sunset is to board the TeleferiQo, a cable car up the slopes of the Pichincha volcano, which affords beautiful views of Quito and the mountains beyond. Then, when night falls, head to Casa de la Cultura for a refined evening of classical music or theatre, or dance the night away yourself in the nightclubs and salsotecas of La Mariscal.

Next on your adventure is a trip to the famous Galapagos Islands, home to numerous unusual and iconic species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Flying from Quito to the island of San Cristobal, you’ll be transferred to Golden Bay Hotel & Spa, a luxurious contemporary property on the western tip of the island. The characteristic wildlife of the Galapagos is evident the minute you step out of the hotel: a colony of sea lions lounge on the adjoining beach, while you can find a colony of red-throated frigatebirds on a walk to the eastern end of the bay. Golden Bay also offers a range of both land- and sea-based tours and activities. A boat trip to nearby Lobos Island will see you spot blue-footed boobies and mockingbirds, while there’s fantastic snorkelling and scuba diving at the striking Kicker rock formation. On San Cristobal itself, attractions include a centre for the breeding of the giant tortoise, an icon of Galapagos wildlife.

From San Cristobal you’ll board a flight to Bogota, Colombia’s capital and the next stop on your honeymoon. Bogota, like Quito, combines colonial and indigenous history with vibrant nightlife and a scenic, high-altitude setting. The cobbled streets of La Candelaria, the city’s historic old town, make the perfect setting for an afternoon’s stroll; attractions include the Church of San Francisco, dating from 1557, and the Gold Museum, which tells the fascinating story of the role played by gold in pre-Hispanic Colombia. When you’ve had your fill of culture and history, jump on the cable car to the summit of Monserrate, a church-topped mountain that looms over Bogota and affords stunning views over the capital. A remarkable excursion from Bogota is to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, a subterranean Catholic church built 200 metres down a salt mine. Eerily lit, with sculptures and altars carved from the rock, it’s an important pilgrimage site as well as a popular tourist destination. During your time in Bogota, you'll stay in the Hotel de la Opera. 

A short flight from Bogota will bring you to the Andean foothills and Colombia’s acclaimed coffee-growing area. You’ll spend two nights at Sazagua, a lovely boutique hotel built to evoke the atmosphere of colonial coffee estates. It goes without saying that if you love a cup of joe, you’ll have a good time here: on visits to nearby farms, you can learn all about the production process and taste top-quality coffee right at the source. But if you’re not a fan, don’t despair: also on offer are tastings of the region’s vast array of exotic fruits, and cooking classes where you can learn how to rustle up the exquisite Colombian dishes you’ll enjoy in Sazagua's restaurant.

In the nearby Cocora Valley, you can hike through the cloud forest to visit the world’s largest palm tree, the wax palm, which can reach heights of 60 metres.

The final destination on your honeymoon is Cartagena, a short flight from the city of Pereira. Cartagena, an eye-catching city on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, was where literary giant Gabriel Garcia Marquez began his writing career, and it’s not difficult to imagine the role that the historic buildings of the old, walled city played in inspiring his brand of magical realism. A walking tour should take in the grisly exhibitions of the Palacio de la Inquisicion and the Church of Santo Domingo, built in 1552.

Your beautiful home for three nights, Casa San Agustin, sits right in the heart of the old city, and, with parts of it 300 years old, it blends in pretty well too. When evening falls, head to Donde Fidel, a Cartagena insitution where you can enjoy a cocktail and some salsa overlooking a scenic square. Alternatively, what could be more romantic than learning a few steps yourselves at a Latin dance class?