Where to Go for Winter Sun: Warm Places to Travel in December to February (2026 to 2027)

October 26, 2026

Sunny tropical beach in winter with a single palm tree leaning over calm turquoise water

The short answer: From December to February, the warm, reliable choices for US travelers are the Caribbean and the Florida Keys (short flights, and Puerto Rico needs no passport for US citizens), Mexico's Pacific coast and Yucatán, Costa Rica's Pacific side in its dry season, Cartagena, and Hawaii. If you want to go further, Thailand's Andaman coast and Cape Town are in their best season, and the Canary Islands and Marrakech give you mild sun on the European side. The Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on November 30, so the whole window is outside it.

Below is how to pick, by the kind of trip you want.

Which winter sun destination is right for me?

It depends on how far you'll fly, whether you have a passport handy, and what you want to do once you land. Nothing here is the right pick for everyone.

Destination	Good for	Passport for US citizens?	Weather in Dec to Feb
Puerto Rico	Long weekends, no-passport trips, food and old town plus beach	No (domestic flight; REAL ID or other TSA ID)	Warm year-round; bring a light rain layer
Florida Keys	Road trips, snorkeling, a drive instead of a flight	No	Mild: Key West averages about 76°F highs and 66°F lows in January
Mexico (Los Cabos, Oaxaca coast, Tulum)	Beach plus food, every budget	Yes	Generally dry and warm (Pacific and Baja)
Costa Rica (Guanacaste)	Nature, surf, families	Yes	Dry season on the Pacific side
Cartagena, Colombia	Old town, nightlife, islands nearby	Yes	Dry season, hot and humid
Hawaii	Long trip without a passport, hiking, whales	No	Warm, but the wetter half of the year
Canary Islands, Spain	Europeans, hikers, mild rather than hot	Yes	Mild, spring-like days
Marrakech, Morocco	City break, riads, day trips to the Atlas	Yes	Sunny days, cold nights
Cape Town, South Africa	Summer in January, wine country, a long trip	Yes	Southern Hemisphere summer, dry and often windy
Thailand (Andaman coast)	Islands, long stays	Yes	Cool, dry season

Flight times vary a lot by airport and connection, so they're left out on purpose.

Where is warm in December without a passport?

Puerto Rico, the Florida Keys and Hawaii. All three count as domestic travel for US citizens.

If you want the easiest Caribbean trip: Puerto Rico. Flights from the mainland are domestic, so you need a REAL ID-compliant license or another TSA-accepted ID (REAL ID enforcement started May 7, 2025), not a passport. Split your time between Old San Juan and a beach town on the west or east coast.
If you'd rather drive than fly: the Florida Keys. NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for Key West put January at about 76°F highs and 66°F lows. That's swimsuit weather for most people, though a cold front can bring a cooler day or two.
If you want a longer trip and nature: Hawaii. The National Weather Service treats October through April as Hawaii's wet season, so expect showers, especially on windward sides. The upside: NOAA's humpback whale sanctuary says whales are seen from November into May, peaking January to March.

Where should I go for beach and food in Mexico, Costa Rica or Colombia?

Mexico for variety, Costa Rica for nature, Cartagena for a city with beaches nearby.

If you love food and a slower beach town: the Oaxaca coast (Puerto Escondido and the smaller towns nearby). Winter is generally the drier part of the year on this coast. It's surf country, so check which beaches are safe for swimming.
If you want resorts and reliable sun: Los Cabos. It sits at the dry southern tip of Baja California; ask locally about whale-watching trips, which are a winter staple there.
If you want cenotes and Maya sites: Tulum and the Yucatán. Book a base inland or in town if beach hotels are out of budget, and check sargassum seaweed updates before you go, since it varies year to year.
If you love wildlife and families with older kids: Costa Rica's Guanacaste. December to April is the dry season, most reliable on the Pacific coast. The Caribbean side gets rain more evenly through the year.
If you want a walkable old town and nightlife: Cartagena. December to April is the dry season and also the busiest. Mid December to mid January is peak; late January and February are calmer.

Entry notes for these, as of October 2026 (always check the State Department's country page before you fly):

Mexico: passport book for air travel, plus the FMM visitor permit, often handled by the airline or online.
Costa Rica: no visa for short tourist stays; carry a return or onward ticket, which immigration may ask to see.
Colombia: no visa for short tourist stays; complete the Check-MIG form online before your flight.

What are the best winter sun options in Europe and Africa?

The Canary Islands for mild sun, Marrakech for a city break, Cape Town for real summer.

If you want mild, not hot: the Canary Islands. They're Spain's subtropical islands off the coast of Africa, with spring-like winter days. Pick Tenerife or Gran Canaria for variety, La Palma or La Gomera for hiking and quiet. Don't expect hot beach days every day, and the Atlantic is cool.
If you want a city break with sun: Marrakech. Winter days are usually sunny and pleasant for walking, but nights get cold, and traditional riads can feel chilly indoors. Pack a warm layer. US citizens don't need a visa for short tourist stays.
If you want summer in January: Cape Town. December to February is summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and Cape Town gets most of its rain in winter, so summer is mostly dry. The strong southeasterly wind locals call the Cape Doctor blows often in summer. South Africa usually asks for blank visa pages in your passport, so check your passport before you book.

Europe entry note: for US travelers going to the Canary Islands (Spain), the EU's Entry/Exit System now registers non-EU travelers at the border. ETIAS, the EU's travel authorization, was not yet required as of October 2026; the EU says it will announce the start date several months in advance. Check the official EU site before you go.

Is Southeast Asia warm in winter?

Yes, and December to February is Thailand's most comfortable season. The country's cool season runs roughly from mid October to mid February, when the northeast monsoon brings cooler air to much of the country.

If you want islands: the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta). Winter is generally its driest stretch.
Watch out for the Gulf of Thailand side (Koh Samui and nearby) in November and December, when the Thai Meteorological Department's seasonal forecasts have flagged heavy rain in the south. January and February are usually better there.
Entry: all foreign visitors must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arrival. Thailand's visa-exempt stay length was under review in 2026, so check the Thai embassy's current guidance for US passports before you book.

When do I need to book for the holidays?

Book Christmas and New Year's trips as early as you can; prices and availability get worse the closer you get.

Decide your dates first: the weeks of December 20 to January 3 are the busiest of the season.
Flying on Christmas Day or New Year's Day itself is often quieter; compare fares for those days.
Book small hotels first (riads, boutique hotels in Old San Juan or Cartagena); they sell out before big resorts.
Check passport expiration now. Some countries ask for six months of validity; renewals take time.
For January and February trips, you usually get better prices and smaller crowds than over the holidays.
Buy travel insurance that covers missed connections, especially if you're connecting through winter-weather hubs.

FAQ

Where is warm in January without a passport? Puerto Rico, the Florida Keys and Hawaii. Key West averages about 76°F highs in January, per NOAA's climate normals. Hawaii is in its wetter season, so expect some rain.

Is December hurricane season in the Caribbean? No. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs June 1 to November 30, per NOAA's National Hurricane Center. Storms can occasionally form outside those dates, but December to February is outside the season.

What's the warmest place in Europe in winter? The Canary Islands are the usual answer for winter sun in Europe. Expect mild, spring-like days rather than summer heat.

Is Thailand good in December? Yes, for most of the country. It's the cool, dry season. The Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi) is the better beach pick in December; the Gulf side around Koh Samui can be rainy until the new year.

Do I need a passport for Puerto Rico? Not if you're a US citizen flying from the mainland. You need a REAL ID-compliant license or another TSA-accepted ID.