Already wary of that New Year chill? Now is the time to plan which warm places to visit in January and get the best travel deals. The good news is, you don’t have to travel too far to find warm vacation spots. You just need to know where to look.
On the mainland, it’s the Sun Belt that offers the warmest places in the US in January. California and Florida do the heavy lifting, but Texas also has its fair share of sun. And don’t forget the Caribbean, where peak season brings high temperatures (and high prices). For a wild and warm destination, my pick is Central America as it enters its dry season. Read on for the best warm places to visit in January.
| Country | Destination | Avg. temp | Avg. hours of sun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | Jamaica | 77°F | 9 |
| Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico | 77°F | 8 |
| Saint Lucia | Saint Lucia | 79°F | 8 |
| US | Sarasota | 61°F | 11 |
| US | San Luis Obispo | 53°F | 10 |
| US | South Padre Island | 61°F | 11 |
| US | Palm Springs | 58°F | 11 |
| US | Malibu | 46°F | 10 |
| Belize | Belize | 71°F | 11 |
| Nicaragua | Nicaragua | 79°F | 11 |
Where is it warm in January?
Best warm places to visit in January in the Caribbean
1. Jamaica
- Average temperature: 77°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 9 hours
- Suitable for: Couples, luxury travel and groups
What better way to start the new year than on a warm Jamaican beach, rum punch in hand? January is actually Jamaica’s coolest month with the average temperature dropping to a still balmy 77°F.
Base yourself in Montego Bay. It may be the tourist center, but with that comes white-sand beaches, inland mountain and forest adventures, laid-back towns, and that infamous ‘no problem’ vibe. To the east at Plantation Cove, the Rebel Salute festival celebrates all things reggae on the 19th and 20th.
Of the many resorts, my pick is the Grand Palladium Resort and Spa. A sprawling all-inclusive resort, it offers private beaches and one of Jamaica’s biggest pools, complete with a wet bar. In Cockpit Country Park, sail a bamboo raft down the Martha Brae through dense tropical forests. Take sundowners at Rick’s Cafe on the cliffs of Negril and watch spectacular high-divers take the plunge into bath-warm waters below.
2. Puerto Rico
- Average temperature: 77°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 8 hours
- Suitable for: Solo travel, couples Travel, group Travel
Puerto Rico in January is a hotspot for fun and warm weather. And if you’re an American citizen you don’t even need a passport to get there. Basking in daytime temperatures lingering in the low 80s, the capital San Juan sparkles, and nowhere more so than the Old Town.
Already colorful and atmospheric, it goes into overdrive in January with the week-long Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián. From the 18th-24th, hundreds of artists and musicians and thousands of visitors flood the streets in huge extravagant parades. The balmy evening temperatures ensure the party continues late into the night, every night.
Thankfully, San Juan also offers beaches tailormade for recovery. Get away from the crowds at Blue Flag beach Balneario de Carolina and laze under palm and almond trees. For city chic and convenience, Condado Beach is just minutes from the Old Town. While you’re there take a kayak trip into neighboring Condado Lagoon and keep an eye out for its resident manatees.
3. Saint Lucia
- Average temperature: 79°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 8 hours
- Suitable for: Couples Travel and luxury travel
A country of unbridled nature, St Lucia is for me the most beautiful of all the Caribbean islands. That landscape of greens, more than three-quarters of which is rainforest, comes from St Lucia’s impressive rainfall. January, however, is dry season when the rains thin and the sun shines. It’s the best time to take advantage of the island’s many natural assets before February brings peak season crowds.
The sensible thing to do is hit the beach. Sugar Beach, part of the Viceroy resort, is the island’s most famed and spectacular. Set between the twin Piton Mountains, its white sands are imported in place of the original gray. Save yourself the long walk and resort charges to access it by visiting on a boat trip. My personal pick is Anse Mamin Beach, a dreamy curve of palm-fringed seclusion that’s hard to get to but worth the effort.
It would be criminal to come to St Lucia and miss out on its adventures. Hike Gros Piton, a moderately easy climb, with spectacular views. Zipline through the canopies of Babonneau Rainforest to be at one with the hummingbirds. Or slow things down with a rainforest aerial tram tour. Ascending from the heat of the lowlands to the ecological park in the forest reserve is something you’ll never forget.
Best warm places to visit in January in the US
4. Sarasota, Florida
- Average temperature: 61°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 11 hours
- Suitable for: Couples travel, solo Travel, family vacations, and luxury travel
The default go-to for warm places in the US in January, Florida is home to beautiful beaches and buzzing cities. On its Gulf Coast, Sarasota flies more under the radar than its neighbors Tampa, Miami, and West Palm Beach. That’s not to say it offers any less in terms of natural beauty, city glitz, and sophistication. Indeed, it’s one of Florida’s most scenic areas.
January sees average temperatures in the low 60s. Highs tend to sit in the mid-70s though, making it warm enough to enjoy many outdoor attractions including the lush habitats of nearby Myakka River State Park. Bring binoculars to spot limpkins and ospreys soaring through the skies above and alligators and turtles slinking through the waters below.
Sarasota city is also a cultural hub; the 66-acre Ringling Museum Complex is its crowning glory. Now Florida’s state art museum, it’s a showcase for railroad magnate John Ringling’s extensive art collection including the Circus Museum and his extravagant Venetian Gothic home, Cà d’Zan.
5. San Luis Obispo, California
- Average temperature: 53°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 10 hours
- Suitable for: Couples travel, family travel and adventures
With its Mediterranean climate and lazy, low-key vibe, San Luis Obispo is a California dream in January. Roughly equidistant between the city giants of LA and San Francisco, it couldn’t be more removed from either. That location also makes it a perfect launch point into the wild wonders of Big Sur.
Mild January temperatures make the beaches and trails of nearby Montaña de Oro State Park ripe for exploration. Appetite earned, visit SLO’s downtown to celebrate restaurant month in its many quirky eateries. Find yourself there on a Thursday and the farmer’s market brings live music, barbecues, and a party atmosphere to Higuera Street.
Tranquil and historic, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa is the heart of downtown. Stroll the peaceful gardens and beautifully preserved but unassuming church for insight into its Chumash tribal and Spanish colonial identity. At the other end of the cultural spectrum, Bubblegum Alley is a 15-foot-high, 70-foot-long repository of chewed gum. Something of a tourism icon, its millions of pieces of gum are every bit as disgusting as you might imagine.
6. South Padre Island, Texas
- Average temperature: 61°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 11 hours
- Suitable for: Couples Travel, Family Travel, Adventure Travel
South Padre Island is so popular with tourists escaping cold winter climes that it has spawned its own nickname for them. Winter Texans, as they’re known, have long enjoyed its subtropical climate and diverse wildlife habitats. Its geography is a prime reason for this climatic oddity. A long, narrow barrier island close to the Mexican border, it’s a haven of remote beaches, placid waters, and outdoor adventures.
Visit Laguna Madre aboard a kayak or SUP to get in amongst its abundant sea life. Join a fishing cruise into the Gulf of Mexico or a dolphin boat tour for a less strenuous aquatic adventure. For pure exhilaration, a horseback ride along the seemingly endless Seashell Beach is hard to top.
South Padre Island is also renowned as a twitcher’s dream. The SPI Birding and Nature Center is a 50-acre paradise of boardwalks, bird blinds, and watchtowers dedicated to avian study. Perfectly positioned along the Mississippi and Central migratory flyways, some 500 bird species regularly flock to its shores. The visitor center and exhibit hall are a deep well of birding insight. Keep an eye out for the useful blackboard out front that lists recent sightings.
7. Palm Springs, California
- Average temperature: 58°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 11 hours
- Suitable for: Couples Travel, Luxury Travel, LGBTQI+
Cold nights bring Palm Springs’ average January temperatures down into the chilly sub-60s. Daytime temperatures, however, hover around the 70 mark – much more amenable to a warm vacation spot in January. Add the Californian sun and things really start to heat up.
Retro chic Palm Springs is hot in every way, a benchmark of Californian cool. It went from a ’60s Rat Pack hangout to an ’80s retirement town before being reborn in the ’90s. Today its iconic mid-century architecture – stylish hotels and eye-popping private homes – has become a hipster magnet. It’s also a beacon for the LGBTQI+ community.
January is peak season, so expect buzzing crowds across the city. Nowhere is that truer than at marquee events like the International Film Festival and American Express Golf Tournament. For something different, try the historical walking tour that peels back the modern facade to showcase the city’s true glamor.
For walking with a little more strain, hikers should head out into the spectacular surrounding desert landscapes. Coachella Valley (so much more than a music festival), Joshua Tree National Park, Indian and Tahquitz Canyons are all extraordinary.
8. Malibu, California
- Average temperature: 46°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 10 hours
- Suitable for: Couples Travel, Luxury Travel, Solo Travel
California’s location on the Sun Belt makes it an oasis among the warmest places in the US in January. Malibu and the Pacific Palisades are particularly lovely, although chilly evening temperatures make it appear far colder than it is. Daytime temperatures usually sit in the 60s and rain is rare.
While it doesn’t deliver the glitz of summer, January is when Malibu’s epic coastline really comes into its own. Surfers flock to the winter swells at aptly named Malibu Surfrider Beach. Yet there’s so much more to Malibu than this one spot that indelibly links it to its surfing reputation.
With 27 miles of stunning coves, caves, and cliffs to discover, January is my favorite time for crowd-free coastal walks. It’s also the height of the whale-watching season. Keep one eye on the ocean as you walk for tell-tale plumes from the blowholes of passing pods. Premium viewing spots are from Point Dume and El Matador state beaches.
Turn your gaze inland for views of the astonishing Getty Villa. Almost as spectacular as nature’s show, it is perched on an ocean-view hillside; a showcase of Greek and Roman art.
Best warm places to visit in January in Central America
9. Belize
- Average temperature: 71°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 11 hours
- Suitable for: Solo Travel, Couples Travel, Adventure Travel, Budget Travel, Backpacking
If it’s true winter warmth you seek, head south. January is the start of the dry season in Belize. Daytime temperatures linger in the low 80s and the humidity falls.
For clear, dry and sunny days head to the Cayes – 450-plus gorgeous islands scattered offshore. Indulge in long, luxurious beach days at 5-star resorts, lounge on palm-fringed beaches, and swim and snorkel magical reefs. For diving, the Belize Barrier Reef is one of the Caribbean’s great dive sites. Further offshore the world-famous Big Blue Hole yawns into the depths, where water turns from luminescent blue to ink black.
I’ve always loved the Placencia peninsula to the south for its raw, unadulterated beauty. Be wary of swimming in the lagoon though. It may be home to friendly manatees but lurking in the depths you’ll also encounter toothier, less trustworthy saltwater crocs.
For a tropical climate, the lesser-populated Toledo District is a great choice. Lush and exotic, you’ll find quiet ancient Mayan ruins among the tropical jungle highlands. Typically, the crowds head for big-name ruins elsewhere at Altun Ha, Xunantunich and Caracol. But in Nim Li Punit you’ll find space to explore a classic period site complete with ruined pyramids and stone tombs.
10. Nicaragua
- Average temperature: 79°F
- Average hours of daily sun: 11 hours
- Suitable for: Solo Travel, Couples Travel, Adventure Travel, Budget Travel, Backpacking
Several hundred miles south, Nicaragua is blessed with awesome January weather. Less rough and ready than Belize, yet less touristy than its southern neighbor Costa Rica, Nicaragua has it all.
Untamed beaches fringe the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Some of Central America’s best surf spots adorn the latter, groomed in January by offshore winds and almost no rain. The prime surf town is San Juan del Sur, but in truth, it’s more about the partying than the surfing.
Better to head north past the waves of Playa Maderas and stay at Morgan’s Rock Hacienda overlooking Playa Ocotal. A gorgeous and wildly romantic eco-lodge, it puts you in the heart of the area’s extraordinarily biodiverse rainforest.
Got a taste for surfing? Try it inland on the slopes of one of Nicaragua’s landscape-defining volcanoes. Still on the Pacific coast, head north to buzzing León and brace yourself for the nearby Cerro Negro volcano. Rent a specially adapted board and hit speeds of 60mph as you fly down black ash waves. For an added thrill, that ominous sound you can hear is likely the still-active volcano rumbling beneath your feet.
Discover more of the best places to travel in winter
If it’s not just warm places to visit you’re looking for, January has some epic vacation destinations worldwide as well as winter destinations in the US. If your January trip is just an extension of the holiday season, take a look at my picks for the best places to visit in December and where is warm in December.
For other inspiration, KAYAK Explore and travel guides bring the world to you. And for great value bookings, KAYAK is where you’ll find flights, trains, car rental and accommodation.