The world’s most romantic places to propose

A sunset sail around the motus of Bora Bora is the perfect backdrop for popping the question. Staff members at Le Meridien Bora Bora can arrange for couples to take a sunset tour of the lagoon aboard one of its pirogues, traditional Polynesian boats made from a local wood called vaimere.

The price tag: A 90-minute private sunset tour costs around $370, including two cocktails. Overwater bungalows at Le Meridien Bora Bora start at $775 per night.

Venice, with its narrow cobblestone streets, graceful palazzi, sleek gondolas and, of course, Casanova, is a time-honored setting for love. And the Venetian island of Giudecca has always had extra-special appeal for lovers, given its panoramic vistas of the lagoon, including the Doge’s Palace and Piazza San Marco. For the ultimate Giudeccan excursion, book a room in the lagoon-front 15th-century Palazzo Vendramin — a wing of the posh Belmond Hotel Cipriani that offers ultra-romantic rooms, unrivaled privacy and incredible, uninterrupted views of St. Mark’s Basin and the lagoon.

The price tag: A lagoon-view junior suite in the Vendramin starts at $3,910. For more affordable Venetian views, check into the Cipriani’s neighbor on Giudecca, the more contemporary Hilton Molino Stucky, a converted flour mill with a killer rooftop pool. Lagoon view suites start at $350.

Combine a view of the Columbus Circle entrance to the park with legendary chef Thomas Keller’s spectacular food, and you’ve got Per Se, a Manhattan perch that perfectly suits your purpose. When you speak to a reservationist (two months in advance is recommended), ask for a park-view table near the fireplace, and mention your plans.

The price tag: Per Se’s nine-course, market-driven degustation menu costs $325 per person, without wine. (Service is included.) For a less expensive option, try a spot that’s smack in the middle of the park: the Loeb Boathouse Lakeside Restaurant, where entrees are in the $30 range.

Luxury tour company Abercrombie & Kent can custom-build a Kenya safari experience to include a sunrise balloon ride over the Mara. A&K recommends Governors’ Camp’s Balloon Safaris, which take off from the heart of the Mara game reserve and end with a magical breakfast out on the distant plains.

The price tag: A one-hour balloon ride followed by a Champagne breakfast and game drive runs about $440 per person. A&K’s Kenya Safari in Style costs $8,295 per person for 10 days (not including airfare). For a less expensive option, try South Africa in the off-season (May through July). At Samara Private Game Reserve, a suite facing the plains costs around $172 a person per night during those months.

Head to the top of The Shard, the city’s newest iconic landmark, for an unbeatable vista. The View From the Shard stays open until midnight and even has an on-site marriage proposal concierge service to tailor a unique proposal experience for couples. Once the deal is sealed with a kiss (and a selfie), celebrate over bubbles at the Lanson Champagne Bar.

The Price Tag: Admission to The View From The Shard costs $37 per person; $48 with Champagne.

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula has plenty of noteworthy historic sites, but few can beat the Mayan archaeological site at Tulum for sheer, high-drama beauty. Set on a grassy clifftop above an azure Caribbean Sea, the sunbaked remains of this pre-Columbian city — built in what’s known as the Mayan post-classic period, around the 13th century — include a dramatic castillo set prettily on the edge of a 12-meter limestone cliff. Afterward, follow the winding staircase down to the postcard-perfect white-sand beach below, and take your first dip together as an engaged couple.

The price tag: Entry to the site costs around $2 per person. Visit in the early morning to avoid the crowds.