Warm Places to Visit in December 2023: Hawaiian Beaches, African Deserts, and More
The only ice you’ll see is in your cocktail.
Is anyone else already dreaming about warm places to visit in December? Don’t get us wrong: The magic of winter is truly unparalleled with its glittering snow, festive holidays, and cozy evenings by the fire. But with all its romantic perks, just thinking about the season can be pretty draining—let alone staring down the fifth week of daylight savings time fatigue.
Since even the greatest of winter enthusiasts can only stand chapped lips and diminished sunlight for so long, we consider the cold months one of the best times to travel—sunny beaches and tropical islands offer a much-needed seasonal escape, and hotel and flight prices tend to drop as the temperatures do.
So if you prefer white sands to a white Christmas, you’re in luck. We’ve scoured the globe for warm places to visit in December and the rest of the winter months, where the temperatures rarely (if ever) drop below 50 degrees—regardless of the local season.
Whether you’re looking to work on your tan while your friends are shivering back home or are willing to trek through dry—and we mean dry—deserts in Africa, there’s a balmy destination out there waiting for you. From San Diego to French Polynesia, here are 19 warm winter vacations to take this season.
The Bahamas
Average winter temperatures: High of 77 degrees, low of 62 degrees
East Coasters are lucky to have the perpetually sunny Caribbean in close proximity, and the Bahamas, with so many quick direct flights, is one of the region’s best and most convenient options. (Although technically in the Atlantic, the crystal clear turquoise waters here are on par with anything found farther south.) Head to the island of Nassau for some of our favorite unscathed properties, including SLS and Rosewood at the resort complex Baha Mar, as well as Harbour Island.
Bora Bora
Average winter temperatures: High of 86 degrees, low of 75 degrees
Bora Bora is always a good idea, but its year-round warm temperatures make it an especially lovely place to escape the snow and sleet. Famous for its turquoise waters and verdant mountains, the island is pretty close to heaven on earth. It has some of the best resorts in the South Pacific as well: Our readers are fans of InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, Conrad Bora Bora Nui, and Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora.
Cape Town, South Africa
Average winter temperatures: High of 83 degrees, low of 59 degrees
Our winter is the best time to experience Cape Town, with pretty much perfect weather in terms of both temperatures and rainfall. While December and January mark the city’s high season—which means crowds and premium prices—it’s worth it to experience those incredible beaches, mountains, and vineyards in their absolute best light. (Just be sure to book your hotel well in advance.) Join the party at Camps Bay Beach, where the bars are loud but the landscapes are gorgeous, then make the trek up Lion’s Head for the best views in town. And when you need a break from the sun, just pick a restaurant out of a hat—it’s almost guaranteed to be delicious.
Costa Rica
Average winter temperatures (measured along the Pacific Coast): High of 95 degrees, low of 72 degrees
Whether you’re here for the beaches or jungles, Costa Rica offers warm weather and beautiful nature during the winter months. On the beach front, you’ll find some gorgeous stretches of sand in Santa Teresa and Nosara. Meanwhile, green spaces like the Monteverde Cloud Forest have zip-lining and canopy bridges for a dose of adventure, and they let you get up close and personal with capuchin monkeys and sloths. Book one of the 50 jungle-facing casitas at Hacienda AltaGracia, a modern wellness retreat that appeared on our 2022 Hot List.
The Florida Keys
Average winter temperatures: High of 78 degrees, low of 67 degrees
While most travelers to the Florida Keys head straight to Key West (we get it), there are plenty of other places to visit along the archipelago. Islamorada—located midway between Miami and Key West—is a perfect place to either break up your drive or set up camp for a couple of nights. The island cluster has tons of outdoor activities, fish tacos, and chic hotels. Key Largo is a must-visit spot in the northern Keys, with an underwater park (John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park) that scuba enthusiasts will appreciate.
Fiji
Average winter temperatures (measured on Viti Levu): High of 86 degrees, low of 73 degrees
Fiji takes a while to get to for most travelers, but it’s worth it to go off the grid and into untouched nature. Of the country’s 332 volcanically formed islands, only around 110 are inhabited. The biodiversity both above and below the surface in this South Pacific paradise draws visitors from around the world to scuba dive its spectacular reefs and to marvel at the more than 2,000 types of orchids at the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, the former private home of actor Raymond Burr.
Mauritius
Average winter temperatures: High of 84 degrees, low of 73 degrees
Instagram and Pinterest have created renewed interest in this island in the Indian Ocean, thanks to its “underwater waterfall”—a visually stunning runoff of sand and silt best viewed from above. Roughly 550 miles east of Madagascar, Mauritius may also be home to a lost continent hiding beneath the waves. If you want some activity beyond strolling from lounge chair to beach towel, head to the island’s recently-opened Anantara Iko, featuring miles of hiking trails through La Vallée de Ferney.
Maldives
Average winter temperatures: High of 88 degrees, low of 77 degrees
A chain of 26 atolls and more than 1,000 islands in the Indian Ocean, the Republic of Maldives is one of the most sought-after tropical destinations in the world. It’s dense with megawatt luxury villas and overwater bungalows, and the diving is unreal (though, sadly, some of the coral has been threatened by bleaching). Still, there’s a dive for all skill levels at Ari Atoll, where you can swim with rays and, deeper down, reef sharks.
Namibia
Average winter temperatures (measured along the coast/Namib Desert): High of 68 degrees, low of 59 degrees
If your idea of a perfect winter escape involves safaris rather than sunbathing, then Namibia is perfect for you. The beautiful country has seen a boom in tourism recently, thanks in large part to the fact that it’s more accessible than ever. The last few years have seen a proliferation of connecting flights into Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, through hubs like Johannesburg on South African Airways, Amsterdam on KLM, Doha on Qatar Airways, and Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines. (Renovated lodges like ultra-luxurious AndBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge help, too.) And with some of Africa’s most navigable roads, road-tripping has exploded—especially among anyone eager for Instagram fodder.
Oahu, Hawaii
Average winter temperatures: High of 81 degrees, low of 67 degrees
Oahu is the most-visited of Hawaii’s islands—it has Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, and the North Shore with its world-renowned surf breaks and garlic-shrimp vendors to thank for that. And the island’s hotel scene happens to be hotter than ever right now. In Waikiki, check out the Wayfinder Waikiki, a soulful outpost that soft-launched in January 2023. Another can’t-miss property is the kitschy 1950s White Sands Hotel, which reopened a couple of years ago after a lengthy makeover by the team behind the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club.
Okinawa, Japan
Average winter temperatures: High of 70 degrees, low of 57 degrees
While the northern stretches of Japan are a skier’s paradise come winter, the southern islands of Okinawa are some of the best warm places to visit in December—and though the water is ever slightly too cool for most people to enjoy swimming (around 70 degrees), there are still plenty of activities around the prefecture. The mild weather lends itself perfectly to cycling—many islands have established paths and bike rentals near ferry ports—and the flat terrain means you can truly appreciate the ocean views without focusing on your straining quads.
Visitors can also experience the kaleidoscopic glow of 3,000 colorful lanterns during the Ryukyu Lantern Festival (typically held from early December through late March every year). If you extend your trip through January, you can usually spot humpback whales in the ocean—and depending on the weather, you might even get to glimpse Japan’s earliest cherry blossom blooms.
Penang, Malaysia
Average winter temperatures: High of 89 degrees, low of 75 degrees
A former trading hub, the Malaysian island of Penang has benefited from the influences of a variety of cultures. George Town, the island’s capital, showcases both colonial and Chinese architecture, and rows of pastel-painted shophouses. Even better? Penang is renowned as one of the best spots in the world for street food, and the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre is host to the biggest variety of stalls in George Town.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Average winter temperatures: High of 81 degrees, low of 63 degrees
Puerto Vallarta may have a certain youthful energy during spring break, but there’s so much more to this Pacific resort town than sunbathing undergrads. There’s winter whale watching in Banderas Bay, an artisan market with local goods, and, just a half-hour boat ride south, the quiet shores and waterfall hikes of Yelapa Beach. If you want to feel like a celebrity, stay at Casa Kimberly, the former home of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton that now serves as a nine-suite boutique hotel.
Seychelles
Average winter temperatures: High of 87 degrees, low of 76 degrees
Giant tortoises, coconut crabs, and black parrots claim this idyllic archipelago as home, due north of Madagascar. The dramatic rock formations along Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue Island compete with the nearly 3,000-foot-high Morne Seychellois peak on Mahé and the dense tropical forests of Praslin Island. And then there are the resorts: the country’s two Four Seasons properties—one on Mahé Island and one on Desroches Island—are both absolutely breathtaking.
Sicily, Italy
Average winter temperatures: High of 62 degrees, low of 50 degrees
What could be better than a winter vacation in Sicily? As long as you dodge the holiday crowds, you can fully enjoy the Italian island’s world-famous beaches (we’re fans of Scala dei Turchi and Cala Tonnarella) and street markets of Palermo—without constantly bumping elbows with other tourists, which would definitely happen in the high season. Be sure to also head to the town of Noto to fill up on fettuccine and Baroque architecture, then climb on Etna’s hardened lava fields for a true sense of place.
Sri Lanka
Average winter temperatures (measured in Colombo): High of 87 degrees, low of 74 degrees
With countless sacred sites, boundless crystal blue waters, and picturesque jade-green tea estates, Sri Lanka offers plenty of charms to those willing to explore. Given the country’s alternating monsoon seasons, you’ll need to be strategic about which coast to visit during different times of year. Sri Lanka’s southwest coast (home to the capital city of Colombo) and Tea Country are both great spots to visit in December, as the month marks the peak of the dry season in these corners of the country.
Sydney, Australia
Average winter temperatures: High of 80 degrees, low of 65 degrees
Those summer hemisphere summers start to look really good as the temperatures drop back home. Sydney is always a great place to stay for a week or two, with golden beaches, surfable waves, and incredible restaurants. If you need a break from the student crowds (it is their summer vacation, after all), you can always take a quick day trip to the Blue Mountain region or dreamy Northern Beaches.
Valparaíso, Chile
Average winter temperatures: High of 68 degrees, low of 51 degrees
Chile really does have something for everyone. Sightsee in urban Santiago, head into the Atacama Desert to stargaze with astronomers, or pass through Chile’s vineyards to get to the colorful, coastal town of Valparaíso. The city is arguably one of the most scenic hubs in the country, with lollipop-colored homes staggered along the 22 hills that rise from the Pacific Coast.
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Average winter temperatures: High of 71 degrees, low of 58 degrees
Waiheke Island is best described as New Zealand’s answer to Montauk—only with better beaches and fewer hipsters. And since December is the middle of summer for Kiwis, Waiheke makes for a glorious escape from the northern hemisphere’s winter doldrums. Take a one-hour ferry ride from Auckland to reach the island, then get ready for a relaxing vacation filled with beach houses and some of the best vineyards and tasting rooms in New Zealand.
