Temperatures are dropping, gray skies are setting in. Now is the time to prepare for your next getaway. To help you choose, here is our selection of destinations that will make you forget winter.
Escapes to the tropics
The French West Indies for a sunny break
Guadeloupe and Martinique offer temperatures in January that fluctuate around 27°C. On these islands, the beaches stretch between coconut trees and fishing villages. In Deshaies, trails lead to waterfalls where water flows over volcanic rocks. In the Anses d'Arlet, fishermen bring their colorful boats back to the sand, while children bathe in the turquoise waters. Hikes to the Pointe des Châteaux or the Carbet Falls allow you to discover unspoiled nature.
Costa Rica, between beaches and volcanoes
In January, Costa Rica experiences its dry season. The paths wind between jungle and mountains, where the temperature reaches 25°C during the day. Arenal Volcano National Park reveals its trails lined with giant ferns. On the Pacific coast, Dominical and Samara welcome surfers to their wild beaches. In the Monteverde reserve, the suspension bridges allow you to observe the canopy from the height of tropical birds.
Urban and cultural trips
Budapest for its baths and its architecture
In February, Budapest is sometimes adorned with a white coat which highlights the elegance of its architecture. The Széchenyi thermal baths, vast neo-Renaissance pools, invite you to relax in water at 38°C. At the Hungarian National Museum, the collections retrace a thousand years of history. In the evening, the lights of the Parliament are reflected in the Danube. The city deploys its covered markets where the stalls are overflowing with paprika and smoked sausages.
Miami for the sweetness of the east coast
Miami in December displays 25°C on the thermometer. In the Art Deco district of South Beach, pastel facades from the 1930s line up along the ocean. Little Havana resonates to the rhythm of dominoes clanging on the tables, while the smell of Cuban coffee escapes from the ventanas. The Vizcaya Museum, a Renaissance villa on the edge of the bay, houses gardens where bougainvilleas climb the pergolas.
Immersions nature
The Canaries: the islands of eternal spring
In January, the Canary Islands enjoy nine hours of daily sunshine. Hiking trails wind between the volcanoes of Teneguia on La Palma. In Gran Canaria, the dunes of Maspalomas undulate to the ocean. La Gomera is home to a primary forest in its Garajonay national park where the morning mist envelopes the century-old laurel trees.
Australia: experiencing the southern summer
In southern Australia, February marks the height of summer. Waves roll onto Bells Beach where surfers wait for the next set. Along the Great Ocean Road, the limestone cliffs of the Twelve Apostles rise above the Southern Ocean. In Daintree National Park, trails pass through the world's oldest rainforest, where waterfalls cascade beneath the canopy. Koalas doze in the eucalyptus trees while kangaroos bound across the plains at dusk.
Snow and extreme cold destinations
The Northern Lights in Iceland
In December, Iceland enters the polar night. Frozen waterfalls sparkle in the last light of day. Away from Reykjavik, near Lake Myvatn, the sky is ablaze with green and purple draperies. Hot springs steam in the frigid air, creating a stark contrast to the surrounding snow. The houses with colorful roofs of the fishing villages stand out against the fjords where the ice sheets drift.
The resorts of the Swiss Alps
In January, snow covers the peaks of the Swiss Alps. In Verbier, in Valais, the cable cars rise to slopes where the powder crunches under the skis. Dark wooden chalets cling to the slopes, their chimneys escaping wisps of smoke into the crystal clear air. In Engelberg, in the heart of the country, winter hiking trails wind between fir trees bending under their white coat.
For backpackers
Ethiopia: in Lucy's footsteps
Ethiopia in winter offers mild temperatures around 25°C in the highlands. The rock-cut churches of Lalibela attract pilgrims wrapped in their white shawls. In Simien National Park, at more than 4,000 meters above sea level, Gelada baboons congregate on the steep cliffs. The villages of the Amharas appear at the bend of the paths, their round houses built of stone blending into the mountainous landscape.
Patagonia: landscapes at the end of the world
December marks the start of the southern summer in Patagonia. The glaciers of Torres del Paine Park stand out against the intense blue sky. On the Valdes Peninsula, southern right whales cleave the surface of the ocean, while elephant seals lounge on the pebble beaches. In the Argentine pampas, the wind sweeps the steppes where wild horses gallop. In Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, snow-capped mountains are reflected in the waters of the Beagle Channel.
