Last updated August 1, 2026 · Editorial policy
Every “winter sun” list promises paradise; this one shows the receipts. We ranked all 94 destinations in our open climate dataset (ERA5, 2019–2023) by December–February warmth and rain, and kept the genuinely warm ones — average days of 22°C or better. These are the escapes where the sun is a statistic, not a slogan.
The best winter sun destinations, by the numbers
1. Laos
December–February: 28°C days / 18°C nights · ~1 rainy day a month (ERA5 2019–2023). Peak dry season on the Mekong: warm, gentle and reliably rain-free — Luang Prabang at its best. When to visit →
2. Mexico City
December–February: 23°C days / 8°C nights · ~2 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). Dry-season altitude weather: warm afternoons, crisp mornings, and almost no rain.
3. Dubai
December–February: 26°C days / 15°C nights · ~2 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). The months Dubai is actually built for: mid-20s, low humidity, beach-perfect. When to visit →
4. Chile
December–February: 30°C days / 15°C nights · ~1 rainy day a month (ERA5 2019–2023). Southern summer in Santiago and the Central Valley: hot, dry, and endless blue skies. When to visit →
5. Peru
December–February: 24°C days / 19°C nights · ~3 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). Lima stays mild while the coast runs dry — a different (greener) season in the Andes, so check trek conditions. When to visit →
6. Chiang Mai
December–February: 28°C days / 17°C nights · ~2 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). Northern Thailand’s cool season: warm days, genuinely fresh evenings, clear skies. When to visit →
7. Cape Town
December–February: 25°C days / 17°C nights · ~4 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). High summer at the Cape: beaches, Table Mountain hikes and long evenings.
8. Costa Rica
December–February: 25°C days / 16°C nights · ~7 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). The verified dry season — Pacific-side sunshine and prime wildlife weather. When to visit →
9. Guatemala
December–February: 24°C days / 12°C nights · ~8 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). Highland dry season: eternal-spring temperatures around Antigua and Atitlán. When to visit →
10. Cuba
December–February: 27°C days / 20°C nights · ~8 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). Classic Caribbean winter: warm, breezy, and out of hurricane season.
11. Buenos Aires
December–February: 28°C days / 20°C nights · ~8 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). Southern summer energy — warm nights made for the city’s late dinners.
12. Hawaii
December–February: 25°C days / 20°C nights · ~8 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). Winter is whale season; showers pass fast and the water stays warm.
13. Cambodia
December–February: 31°C days / 22°C nights · ~4 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). Dry and hot at the temples — start at dawn, rest at noon. When to visit →
14. Thailand
December–February: 32°C days / 23°C nights · ~5 rainy days a month (ERA5 2019–2023). High season everywhere: islands dry, seas calm. When to visit →
How this ranking works
December, January and February scored for comfort (penalties outside 18–29°C and per rainy day), warm-only filter at 22°C+ average highs, two entries per country. Data + method: methodology · datasets.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
