There’s so much more to Mexico elopements and Baja weddings than just resorts and palm trees. Mexico is bursting with culture, cuisine, and vibrant landscapes from white sand beaches to rugged desert mountains. As Baja California wedding photographers who travel there as much as we can, we know how much more there is to explore in this country for adventurous couples looking to elope in Mexico.
Baja California has a little something for everyone planning to get married in Mexico. There are endless 5-star resorts, but you can also find unique BnB experiences perfect for intimate microweddings that Baja California wedding photographers love to capture, as well as off-the-beaten-track DIY adventure elopements.
Baja California is a mix of adventure and luxury. You can spend the day before your Mexico elopement pampering yourself in a luxurious spa, elope on a beach or in a cactus forest the following day, then take a rugged 4×4 adventure for fun later on! Baja California wedding photographers agree that Mexico elopements are the perfect blend of adventure meets relaxation.
The Baja peninsula is divided into two provinces; Baja California in the north that borders the United States, and Baja California Sur in the south. We have travelled the entire peninsula (including driving it on a road trip in our campervan!), and each area offers something unique. When considering the best places to elope in Mexico, as Baja California wedding photographers we recommend choosing an area that not only matches what you’re looking for for your elopement day, but also for activities and things to do while travelling there!
Todos Santos is THE place to go for Baja California weddings that want to avoid the crowds and tourist scene of Cabo San Lucas without traveling too far off the beaten path. Here you’ll find some of the best surfing spots in Baja California Sur only an hour’s drive from the Cabo International Airport. Todos Santos has a laid-back hippie vibe that heavily contrasts nearby Cabo San Lucas. If you’re looking to get married in Mexico somewhere unique, but you don’t want your wedding guests to have to drive too far, a Todos Santos wedding is perfect for you.
Hotel San Cristobal: This newly-built hotel is an architectural masterpiece and has been featured in various magazines, including Vogue. It’s located right on a scenic cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a surf beach just below, so it makes for the perfect destination wedding venue. For couples wanting to elope in Mexico without guests, you can stay at Hotel San Cristobal to get ready at and photograph your first look, then head somewhere more rugged for your ceremony photos.
Hotel Casa Tota: If you’d rather stay right in the town of Todos Santos for your adventurous elopement in Baja California Sur, Hotel Casa Tota focuses on contemporary design with rustic flair. The perfect base for your Mexico elopement.
La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur and offers world-renowned snorkeling in the Sea of Cortez. Here you’ll find a lively city bursting with art, expats, and fine dining. If you dream of snorkeling on your wedding day or eloping on a tropical island, La Paz is for you.
Camp Cecil: Camp Cecil on Isla Espiritu Santo is perfect for La Paz elopement couples who want to stay right on one of the renowned snorkeling islands in the Sea of Cortez. Camp Cecil’s glamping experience means you can get married in nature and camp right on the beach for your Mexico elopement.
Cabo is famous for its nightlife, but the international airport and city amenities means it’s a perfect wedding venue for getting married in Cabo San Lucas too. Cabo has some of the hippest accommodations on the peninsula, and is best suited for couples planning intimate weddings with guests over small Mexico elopements.
Acre Baja: If you’ve seen pictures of an Acre Baja wedding before, you know this is the best place to get married in Mexico with guests! The property itself is full of great spots for Baja California wedding photographers, and that means you don’t have to leave the property on your wedding day to get great photos! Staying at one of Acre Baja’s treehouses might be the perfect getaway for an elopement, too.
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La Ventana is a mecca for kite surfing and you’ll find no shortage of wind here. La Ventana has some of the best tacos and local Mexican cuisine we’ve ever had while travelling across the Baja California Peninsula, and it’s easy to find seclusion in the cactus forests and desert hills. Located right on the Sea of Cortez with plenty of camping spots, La Ventana is the best place to elope for couples planning a road trip for their Mexico elopement!
Pelican Reef: At Pelican Reef you can rent out your very own casita for your elopement or Baja California wedding! With kite surfing rentals and lessons available on site and a vibrant community feel, Pelican Reef offers a ‘one-stop shop’ travel experience to La Ventana, Mexico.
The tallest cacti and largest boulders you may ever see in your life await you in Valle de Los Cirios. This natural protection area saddles the border between Northern and Southern Baja California, and is best suited for couples planning to road trip in a campervan or trailer for their Mexico elopement. This is by far our favourite place as Baja California wedding photographers, and is well worth the effort to get to. Don’t expect amenities or towns nearby though; this area is strictly for camping and getting amongst the wild desert and towering cacti of Baja California.
A popular vacation spot for Americans because of its close proximity to the US-Mexico border, San Felipe is a bustling tourist town with white sand beaches. You may be hard-pressed to find an authentic feel along the promenade that doesn’t feel touristy, but watching the sun rise over the Sea of Cortez more than makes up for it.
Ensenada is close to the US-Mexico border, making it a perfect short travel destination for Mexico weddings and California couples getting married in Baja California. Nearby Guadalupe has been called the Napa Valley of Mexico for its distinct wine scene, and offers some of the best wedding venues in Baja California. Try Hacienda Guadalupe or Cuatro Cuatros for wedding venues and places to stay near Ensenada.
Having planned our own destination elopement we understand the logistics involved in Baja California wedding photography. We offer you a custom price quote including travel expenses, so there’s no hidden fees. Travel + adventure are at the heart of who we are. That’s why we offer a free adventure session with every wedding/elopement in Mexico to capture every adventure + candid moment. Every Mexico wedding package includes:
Although we’re most familiar with the Baja peninsula, there are a ton of other beautiful wedding venues and places to get married in Mexico too. Each province offers something unique, and these places below will be sure to catch your attention as an elopement destination. We’re happy to offer a custom Mexico wedding package quote for any location in Mexico.
Images via Unsplash
Mayan ruins, sandy beaches, and some of the largest cenotes in the world. Tulum is one of our favourite destinations in Mexico; check out Nest Tulum wedding venue for the ultimate boho wedding inspiration.
Oaxaca is full of colonial architecture, lively festivals, and tropical mountains. From surfing to jungle experiences, Oaxaca is perfect for couples seeking an adventure elopement in Mexico. Looking for a beach wedding venue in Mexico? Try Quinta Real Huatulco on the coast.
Sayulita is a surfer’s paradise. With tons of hip restaurants and cute BnBs there’s something here for every wedding guest and Mexico elopement. We recommend Teitiare Estate for Sayulita wedding venues or renting a casita for smaller elopements.
Images via Unsplash
San Miguel de Allende has a cosmopolitan feel with a colonial vibe, making it a perfect wedding destination for those that want architecture as the focus in their Mexico wedding photography. There are plenty of places to stay in San Miguel de Allende, but we recommend choosing a venue with lush gardens and interesting architecture for your elopement photos. Try Casa Tortugas as San Miguel de Allende wedding venue options.
Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s biggest travel destinations, so you’ll never run out of things to do or unique places to stay for your Puerto Vallarta wedding. Check out Verana Hotel for a unique Puerto Vallarta wedding venue built right into a jungle hillside overlooking the ocean.
Cancun is one of the most popular Mexico wedding destinations and the infrastructure makes it easy to get to for your wedding or elopement. There’s 5-star resorts, yes, but you’ll also find unique BnBs and accommodations and that offers something a little off the beaten path for your Cancun wedding venue. Take a look at Hotel Casa Las Tortugas on Isla Holbox for a boho elopement location or bohemian wedding venue in Cancun.
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