Where is hot in February? Top destinations for a late winter sun getaway

February is the perfect month for a sunny winter getaway – if you’d rather have a low key January post New Year.

Perhaps you’re simply craving the warm weather amid the winter chill – and fancy planting yourself firmly on a beach for a week or two.

Especially when you consider the UK’s mean (in more ways than one) temperature is a brisk 4°C.

Alternatively, it might be that you’re clamouring for a change of scenery to escape the grey and cloudy UK – no matter if it’s an island paradise, a bustling resort city or somewhere unexpected.

So, where in the world should you jet off to in February for hot weather?

Here are a few bright ideas.

Where is hot in February?

Cancun, Mexico

Temperature: 23°C (up to 29°C)
Sunshine hours: Nine hours
Flight time: 10 hours, 40 minutes

If you’re after a sunny – getting up to scorching – beach break during the UK’s winter, Mexico fits the bill.

In February, highs of around 30°C are possible. But you can still expect it to be hot and sunny in the 20s regardless. Better still: it’ll be balmy at night, so you hopefully you won’t need to wrap up.

Choosing where in Mexico to go is the real conundrum, but the city of Cancun, bordering on the Caribbean sea, naturally ticks the ‘beach holiday’ box.

For a bit of culture, travel along the Yucatán Peninsula to Tulum, where there are plenty of beaches, but a Mayan archaeological site can be found along the coast.

If an off-beat city break is more your bag, look up Oaxaca in the south-west or San Miguel de Allende in the Central Highlands.

Lanzarote

Temperature: 18°C (up to 21°C)
Sunshine hours: Seven hours
Flight time: Four hours

A Spanish archipelago off the coast of Africa, you can pick from seven perfectly-positioned Canary Islands for a hot February holiday.

Tenerife is among the best known, as are Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

If you’re seeking the blazing heat, you won’t find it here in Feb, sadly. However, for the relatively-short flight time, you also won’t find a better place for a few days in the sun, with temperatures climbing to the early 20s.

There’s plenty to do in Lanzarote, beyond the resorts – such as explore Cuevas de los Verdes (caves), trek through Timanfaya National Park, or try surfing at Famara Beach.

Barbados

Temperature: 26°C (up to 28°C)
Sunshine hours: Nine hours
Flight time: Eight hours, 30 minutes

The Caribbean island of Barbados is still in dry season in February, so it’s the ideal time to visit – with the average temperature for the month sitting at an ideal 26°C, with possible highs even hotter.

Again, it’s another place where you have several options for how to spend your trip: lay on the golden beaches for a week straight, or combine your time on the coast with a bit of adventure.

The capital city, Bridgetown, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a fascinating museum about the nation’s history and a bustling shopping street.

Wherever you go, you’ll likely come across amazing food, vibrant nightlife and an abundance of water sports to try.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Temperature: Up to 27°C
Sunshine hours: Nine hours
Flight time: 12 hours

Turks and Caicos is an archipelago of 40 islands, located in the Caribbean south of the Bahamas. It’s also a British Overseas Territory.

If you aren’t put off by the lengthy flight, typically with one stopover in Antigua, you could potentially enjoy temperatures of up to 24°C on the island of Grand Turk or a high of 27°C on Providenciales.

Once you’ve chosen an island, you’ll have your pick of luxury hotels, gorgeous beaches and cays, and snorkelling opportunities. Golfers will also be eager to test the famous Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Course.

For adventure seekers, there’s wildlife to admire, including the islands’ indigenous rock iguana and gecko species – plus birdwatching opportunities and the chance to spot humpback whales in the ocean.

Note if you do fancy a trip here, there are still Covid-19 entry requirements in place, requiring visitors to be fully vaccinated – find the full requirements on the FCO website.

Singapore

Temperature: 27°C (up to 31°C)
Sunshine hours: Eight hours
Flight time: 13 hours

The fragrant smell of street food hawker centres is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you imagine Singapore.

Or perhaps it’s the whoosh of Changi Airport’s show-stopping waterfall.

A trip to the South-East Asian city-state wouldn’t be complete without a wander through the futuristic-looking Gardens By The Bay, though, its botanic gardens or a trip to shopping hotspot Clarke Quay.

OK, so it’s probably not the first place you’d think of when you imagine going on a hot holiday in February, but make no mistake – you’ve got a very good chance of feeling the heat in Singapore.

February is slap-bang in the middle of its driest season (December to April), which promises soaring temperatures and minimal rainfall.

According to Holiday Weather, it’s also the country’s hottest month of the year.

Fiji

Temperature: 26°C (up to 29°C)
Sunshine hours: Seven hours
Flight time: Over 24 hours

Fiji is nearly 10,000km away from the UK – which explains why the weather is so pleasant in February.

Temperatures are regularly in the upper 20s, while the ocean water is prime for swimming at an inviting 28°C.

A once-in-a-lifetime destination, this South Pacific destination has 333 islands – among the biggest and most popular are Viti Levu (where you’d find capital city Suva), Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Kadavu.

You’re guaranteed to see some truly breathtaking beaches, practically plucked off a postcard and placed, unbelievably, right before your eyes.

But for the effort it’ll take Brits to get there, you’ll want to experience as much of Fiji as possible – by hopping across different islands, swimming in the pools of Tavoro Falls, walking through Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park, seeing the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, and searching for Fiji’s rarest birds.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Temperature: 25°C (up to 29°C)
Sunshine hours: Nine hours
Flight time: Nine hours, 15 minutes

Slightly closer to home, with a flight time of less than 10 hours, is the Caribbean’s Dominican Republic.

The resort town of Punta Cana, in the east of the country, is a very popular place for winter sun escapes – as it’s home to white-sand, turquoise-water beaches that go on for miles, peppered with palm trees.

Here, you can also try watersports from surfing to scuba diving, or hire a car and drive for 40 minutes to the historic city of Higuey to marvel at the Basilica Catedral Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia.

Drive further still (around two hours, 15 minutes) to reach the country’s fascinating capital Santo Domingo, known for its seafront and Ciudad Colonial historic centre.

Elsewhere in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata is also a great place to base yourself for a trip – making sure to travel on the Teleferico Cable Car and to the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, where there is the powerful Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration.

Costa Rica

Temperature: 28°C (up to 34°C)
Sunshine hours: Seven to eight hours (roughly)
Flight time: 10 hours, 50 minutes

Perfectly placed in the middle of dry season, with next to no rainfall expected, February is a fantastic time to fly to Costa Rica – where temperatures can climb into the low and mid 30s.

From the UK, you’ll typically fly into the Central American country’s capital San José, and it’s well worth spending a few days getting to know the city, before heading further afield.

It would be crazy to travel so far and not book a tour that incorporates some of Costa Rica’s breathtaking natural sights: Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest, or the national parks Manuel Antonio or Corcovado.

Costa Rica is also beloved for its sensational array of wildlife, such as sloths, sea turtles, jaguars, scarlet macaws and squirrel monkeys.

If you’re not sure where to start, consider booking a tour via Intrepid Travel, Trailfinders or a similar company to arrange your ideal itinerary and make travel arrangements.

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Temperature: 24°C (up to 27°C)
Sunshine hours: Eight hours
Flight time: 11 hours

Another destination in the Caribbean, St Vincent and the Grenadines averages a pleasant mid 20s temperature during February.

For those looking to top up their tan there are plenty of options here, and no visit to the islands would be complete without a trip to Tobago Cays, the uninhabited archipelago which offer some of the best beaches for snorkelling and sunbathing in the Caribbean.

I f you’re staying in Mustique be sure to check out the super-exclusive Macaroni Beach, open only to guests and island residents – while Princess Margaret Beach and Salt Whistle Bay Beach are also must-visits.

When you’re done sunseeking, don’t forget to stop by the Botanical Gardens – one of the oldest of its kind – and visit the town of Port Elizabeth with its stunning scenery.

Sri Lanka

Temperature: 27°C (up to 31°C)
Sunshine hours: Nine hours
Flight time: 10 hours, 25 minutes

Sri Lanka typically has dry and pleasant weather in February, save the northern and eastern coasts.

Which part of the island to visit – or how much of the country you have time to visit – is a real conundrum.

You could start in the capital, Colombo, where many will fly into from the UK, and eventually make your way to Galle – a southwestern city known for its quiet charm, colonial Portuguese architecture, and its Dutch Sea Fort..

A popular tourist trail is the seven-hour train journey through the lush Hill County from Ella, via Nuwara Eliya, to the city of Kandy.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Temperature: 27°C (up to 30°C)
Sunshine hours: Seven hours
Flight time: 11 hours, 40 minutes

The hottest month is Brazilian city Rio is February, reaching potential highs of 30°C – and water temperatures of around 25°C.

If you go in February the highlight of your trip will undoubtedly be Rio Carnival, which runs from February 17-25 in 2023 and attracts visitors from all across the world with its colourful celebrations.

Away from the parades and the samba dancing, there’s also plenty to explore in the city itself, including the famous Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ The Redeemer statue – and when you’re done taking in the stunning views you can relax on one of the beaches, Ipanema and Copacabana being among the most famous.

Cuba

Temperature: 22°C (up to 27°C)
Sunshine hours: Eight hours
Flight time: 10 hours

The Caribbean island of Cuba is well-known for its major city, Havana, and a love of classic cars.

Candy-coloured Spanish colonial architecture can be found in the Old Havana neighbourhood – but museums, incredible live music, brilliant bars and culture hubs make up the city.

If a city break isn’t your thing, Varadero is probably one of the better-known white-sand beach towns. You won’t struggle to find a place to sunbathe or read a book.

Or go beyond the initial tourist trail to discover the town of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or make your way to Santa Clara to visit the mausoleum of revolutionary Che Guevara.

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