2015 Travel Awards: Authentic Wedding

We crisscrossed the planet to find the best honeymoon-perfect resorts, beaches, all-inclusives and more for our first-ever Travel Awards.

Winner: Zoëtry Paraíso de la Bonita, Cancun, Mexico

zoetry
Photo Credit: Marco-Badalian Photography

The vibrant Mayan culture is one of the attractions that makes the eastern Caribbean coast of Mexico such a special destination. Sure, you can spend a day at one of the ruins and pick up some ancient-inspired trinkets at the resort gift shop, but hosting a Mayan wedding ceremony is an authentic way to experience the spirit of the elder civilization. The ceremonies at the boutique, beachfront all-inclusive Zoëtry Paraíso de la Bonita in Cancun offer the most memorable ritual. Guests are greeted by the sounds of a conch, a low drum beat and a local shaman. Together, the couple and their guests are blessed during the ceremony, which celebrates the natural surroundings and overlooks the shining sea (room rates start at $350 per person per night and are all inclusive; zoetryresorts.com).

More Favorites: Casa Palopó, Lake Atitlán, Guatemala; InterContinental Resort & Thalasso Spa, Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Four Seasons Punta Mita, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico