The Best Winter Sun Destinations To Escape The Cold
As the days shorten and there’s an evening nip in the air, many of us are dreaming of the best winter sun destinations across the globe. For all you sunseekers out there, here’s our pick of the very best winter sun destinations, to banish those winter blues.
South Africa
South Africa is a year-round destination so no matter when you visit, you’re assured a fantastic holiday experience. You’ll find climatic differences between regions, with varying opportunities for wildlife spotting. Towards the end of September, the cooler winter months in the northern regions bring superb conditions for viewing big game. Though it can be rainy from November to February, this is the best time to travel for exceptional birdwatching, and temperatures are still warm at around 22°C to 33°C. Visit the Cape during its summertime – between November and February, and you’ll enjoy beautiful, hot, dry weather with temperatures between 23°C and 26°C and you’ll still be able to enjoy whale-watching right through November too.
India
The best time to visit India is from December until early March, so great for a fix of winter sun. The whole country starts warming up from April and most regions experience the summer monsoon come our summer months of June to September. However, India is vast with very diverse weather conditions so once you’ve chosen exactly where you’re going, it’s best to double check before you book.
Delhi experiences a subtropical climate with an intensely hot early summer and humid monsoon season in late summer. The best time to visit is from November to February, with temperatures in the mid to high twenties, avoiding the monsoon rains and the intense heat of later months.
If you’re travelling to see the Taj Mahal, Agra experiences a similar climate whilst Mumbai is best visited early in the year – January and February. The state of Rajasthan, which includes Jaipur and Ranthambore National Park is best enjoyed from December to February – though the monsoon is generally less dramatic so a visit at any time of year is still magical.
Costa Rica
Ideally Costa Rica should be visited between mid-November and April. Not only is it the driest part of the year, but it’s also pleasantly warm with daytime temperatures hovering around 28°C and up to twelve hours of sunshine each day to take in the sights – a definite destination to banish the blues!
Costa Rica’s lush jungles, white sand beaches and wonderful wildlife is well-known – from toucans to frogs, butterflies to sloths. Its seasons are varied and stark – being dry and sunny one month, and tropical the next – so depending on when you opt to visit, your experience can be very different from one season to the next.
Malaysia
One of the world’s most beautiful winter sun destinations – Malaysia – is best to visit between January to April.
During January you’ll find most places bathed in sunshine with temperatures sitting around 30°C and tourist numbers are lower during February, so you’ll avoid the crowds too. December and February marks Malaysia’s dry season, where weather is hot and humid, however you might still experience the odd rain shower – so no winter wardrobe is required, but perhaps a brolly might be handy!
Ecuador & Galapagos
The Galapagos climate has two seasons – the warmer but wetter season from January to June and the cooler, drier season from July to December – ideal for a dose of winter sun! Its equatorial location ensures even in the wetter season the weather is typically hot and sunny with sporadic heavy rain showers. November to December is generally the optimum time to travel and sightsee during an Ecuadorian holiday – temperatures begin to rise, hovering around 25°C, and the sun shines brightly on most days with calmer seas for snorkelling and marine-life spotting. Whichever month you travel you’ll still enjoy incredible wildlife experiences as most species are non-migratory.
New Zealand
New Zealand’s rugged beauty and varied landscapes make it a spectacular destination to visit at any time of year. If you’re heading for some winter sun, be prepared for a fair sprinkling of rain! It does have four distinct seasons just like the UK, but being in the opposing hemisphere, December to March is summertime there and the most popular time to visit to enjoy its natural wonders. You’re likely to get long, bright, sunny days and temperatures between 16 and 23°C, perfect for enjoying the sights, superb beaches and the country’s legendary great outdoors.
Sri Lanka
For a relatively small island, there are wide variations in climate depending on the time of year. There are two monsoons that affect the island’s climate but despite the rainfall, the temperature around the coast rarely drops below 25°C. Generally, the best time to visit the west and south coasts as well as the Cultural Triangle is between December and April, and December also sees the beginning of the whale-watching season off the south coast.
Sri Lanka’s weather in January is generally warm and dry, especially in the central, western and southern regions so it’s certainly one of the best winter sun destinations. If you are looking to explore the Cultural Triangle and then to spend some time on the beach or by a pool, this is a great time to travel. The weather in February has minimal rainfall and beautiful sunny days with temperatures around 30°C.
Vietnam
With its tropical monsoon climate, Vietnam has two seasons although depending on the topography of where you’re going and when, the picture is a bit more complicated. Generally, the best time to tour Vietnam is between November and April as the rainy season ends, making it one of the best winter sun destinations.
Whilst in the north and central regions it’s hotter during our own spring and summer months, and colder during our winter season, if you’re exploring the south the ideal time is still December to January when the heat is less intense and there’s little to no rainfall. Another benefit is this is shoulder season, so you’ll avoid the crowds of July and August. Though it’s winter all over the country and you might want a few warmer clothes with you, if you’re travelling in southern Vietnam, you’ll still feel nicely toasty with temperatures between 20 and 26°C and clear, bright skies most days.
