We had so much fun talking about the most epic places to get married in California on our last blog post, we had to follow it up with the best destinations to celebrate your honeymoon. Planning for a wedding is fun, but the real fun begins when planning for your honeymoon. With endless destinations to choose from after saying “I do” we have created a list of our favorite places to consider for a couples surfing honeymoon. Whether you plan to surf or watch your husband paddle out in the lineup, these spots offer the best tropical vibes for relaxing and exploration.

Being that we are destination wedding photographers in San Diego and have explored every beach up and down the coast of Southern and Northern California we could go on and on about iconic surf spots to hit. From Blacks Beach in La Jolla to Half moon Bay in Ocean Beach the opportunities are endless, however we want to share honeymoon locations that will take a little more adventure and travel to get to, here’s a look at epic surf destinations around the globe while offering you a budget friendly honeymoon option. Heres a look at our favorites.

Playa Grande, Costa Rica - Located just north of Tamarindo in Guanacaste, Playa Grande is a laid back beach community, offering a chill beach experience. If you are searching for a calm, not so touristy type surf destination this is it. The main street has a few restaurants, a small supermarket and a few surf shops and filled with plenty of stunning brown sand beaches and pearly blue waters. The long stretch of beach is covered with great, giant trees which gives it a rather unique feeling of tropical paradise. According to local surfers, the breaks are varied and offer different skill levels from moderate to high making Playa Grande an ideal location to choose from. Low tide is great for beginners wanting to perfect their skills while high tide brings a bit more action to this break for the intermediate or more advanced surfer.

Ulu Watu, Bali – A goofy footers dream spot, according to surf Indonesia, “Ulu’s is a wide reef offering 5 different peaks that turn on at different tides that all break left.” Ulu Watu however is a drastically different vibe than Playa Grande mentioned above, this location in Bali is one of the busiest surfing spots and is advised that you should have a fair amount of experience before paddling out into the lineup. It is highly recommended when heading out there to be patient and respect the locals who call this spot home, while also having a solid understanding of surfing’s etiquette. Bali is one of the most dynamic destinations on earth, with jungles and amazing waterfalls to explore; there is so much to do outside of surfing on your honeymoon here as well that this definitely makes the list of top destinations for honeymooners. 

Mentawai Islands, Indonesia – Often on the top of any major surfers bucket list is the Mentawai’s due to the combination of uninhabited tropical islands, warm crystal blue water and consistent world class waves. The Mentawai Islands make up over 70 wave-rich chains off the western coast of Sumatra forming some of the most rideable waves on the planet while also being one the most consistent surf breaks year round. The Mentawai Islands offer top surf resorts with boat charters that take you to many different breaks depending on your surf experience and which spots are firing at the right time. Macaronis is one of the more popular breaks and is great for beginners. 

Ragland, New Zealand – Searching for one of the longest rides in the world? Goofy footed and looking for a left to carve on all day long? Manu Bay Is one of those spots that needs to be in the discussion for top waves to ride before you die, the wave itself ranges from two to ten feet however the real intensity is the hollow drop when you first take off which forms a nice sizeable barrel, before opening up into a long wally section. Ruapukeis a beach break on a sandy beach with beautiful cliff views just south of Raglan and exposed to plenty of swell. Its often stated to paddle out at Ruapuke when Ragland is small because it is bound to be bigger here since the winds are from the Eastern quarter.  

Taghazout, Morocco – Nothing like a African honeymoon, Mrocco definitely serves up a cultural shock to any western traveler while also offering some of the most stunning waves. “This quaint town was once a small fishing village that is now a bustling mini-town full of cafes, accommodations and shops–even of the surfy nature.” – Surfer Mag.  Taghazout has a boho vibe with friendly locals that respect the tourists that visit and enjoy the world class surf that is has to offer. Morocco is a Muslim country; so always remember to be respectful of their culture which should always be a staple when visiting a country outside your own. With plenty of modern boutique style hotels that offer surf camps and rentals there are alacarte options to travel or all inclusive options that are still very affordable ranging from $85-100 a night which includes food according to Surf Maroc’s website. 

Sure there are spots like Hawaii’s north shore and the Gold Coast of Australia that we may have not added to the list, but if you are looking to get the most bang for your buck while being able to surf world renowned breaks these five locations will have you living out your dreams. Each location is within close proximity to other stunning surf trips and non-stop exploration with just a short hopper flight away to new cities and foreign countries. Enjoy all the planning that comes along with the honeymoon, remembering to take in each moment and as always… when in doubt paddle out. 

Helllllooooo! Thanks so much for stopping by to read our blog and hope it was a good read. We are Andy and Brittney, local San Diego wedding photographers and San Diego videographers. We live for exploring new areas of the world and what started this amazing career was from our own personal travels. We love meeting new couples and taking photos in remote locations throughout California and surrounding states. Originally from Temecula, California we moved down to Pacific beach right after we got married and love the diversity and endless amounts of beaches down here. We have been able to meet so many incredible people who we have had the privilege to meet through photographing their wedding and met so many amazing people in such a tight knit wedding community. If you are planning your wedding and looking for recommendations here locally or throughout California we would be stoked to share some of our personal favorite San Diego wedding planners or coordinators! We live here in PB so if you are looking for a local Pacific beach wedding photographer or local San Diego videographer we would love to meet and grab drinks! Hope to connect soon.