Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for January

Welcome to the “Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for January & February!”  Today’s high in Bend, Oregon (where I live) was a non-toasty 48 degrees!  So my mind got to wandering….to warmer climes, & I began to wonder what the warmest destinations are in January, all around the world.  So that’s exactly what this article discusses, & here are my requirements: we need day-time highs of at least 75° (23° Celsius), & water temperatures about the same.  Tall order?? 

Well, we’re going to be greedy here & ask for it ALL! 

Cozumel may not be the first place you think of for a Mexican getaway ~ but the weather is just about PERFECT in January.

Map of Warm Weather Spots in January 

We’ll start in the U.S. with two spots that are warm enough to make this list, & then move out into the world from there:

1) Miami; 2) Oahu & the Big Island of Hawaii; 3) The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico; 4) St. Lucia, in the Carribbean; 5) Cartagena, Colombia; 6) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 7) Bali; & 8) Phuket, Thailand.

Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for January

1) Miami, Florida

Average Daily Temperature = 76°F, Average Water Temperature = 77°F (25°C)

Did you know that the warmest place in the continental U.S. in January is Miami, Florida??  Even within the sunny state of Florida, it’s the warmest spot this time of year.  And it’s got happening South Beach, with its Cuban influence & trendy hotels like the W Miami, delicious restaurants like Joe’s Stone Crab, & TONS of nightlife.  Check out art deco along Ocean Drive, play a round of golf, or simply enjoy one of the only places where you can swim in nice, warm waters in January…

Miami is the warmest city in the continental U.S. in January.

2) Oahu, Hawaii 

Average Daily Temperature = 79°F, Average Water Temperature = 76°F (24°C)

Surfers from all over the world head to Oahu’s famous North Shore every winter, when swells reach their peak.  Billabong hosts a famous surf competition this time of year at infamous “Pipeline.”  But the truth is, even if you’re not an adrenaline junkie: the Hawaiian Islands are ideal for a January getaway.  Hotel prices peak during the holidays & around New Year’s Eve…so you may get lucky finding good deals in January & February.  Also try the Big Island for fewer crowds & lower prices. 

Oahu’s Waikiki Beach is a perfect place for beginners to learn surfing year-round, as its waves are calm & mellow: with Diamond Head forming an idyllic backdrop, rising out of the sea.  On the Big Island, you can night-dive with manta rays, taste-test at various coffee plantations, or stay in hotels with fantastic snorkeling on-site…

Oahu’s famous North Shore goes OFF every December & January, which brings surfers from all over the world to Hawaii. But don’t worry: the waves at Waikiki are calm & small!

The Big Island is usually less crowded than the other islands (especially Oahu), & also typically has lower prices.

Search hotel prices on the beaches of Miami, on Oahu’s Waikkiki Beach, or in the Big Island’s quaint town of Kona.  Two great hotels can also be found below….

Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for January

3) The Yucatan Peninsula Mexico 

Average Daily Temperature = 81°F, Average Water Temperature = 79°F (26°C)

The Yucatan’s weather is perfect in January, & you’ve got loads of great beach destinations: Cancun is good for families with its all-inclusive, beachfront resorts; Playa del Carmen is perfect for party-lovers & those who love a good “scene.”  To get off-the-beaten path & more on “Island Time,” head out to more tranquil Isla Holbox or Isla Mujeres. 

But personally, my two favorite spots in the Yucatan are: Cozumel & Tulum. 

Why, you may ask? 

I love Cozumel for its diving & amazing snorkeling, & the pace of life reminds me of old-school Newport Beach ~ before it got super popular.  Yes, Cozumel gets busy with cruise ship tourists: but only for brief times, & they almost always stick to the main drag.  If you venture just a couple streets over: you’ll find mainly locals.  And Tulum I love because it has the best beaches in the Yucatan: they’re wide & stretch for miles.  Tulum has a relaxed, bohemian feel with sandy streets, fashionable boutiques in beachy shacks, & hip hotels that sit right along the beach. 

No high rises here….

For a full run-down on all cities in the Yucatan, read this article.

Not only is the water warm in Cozumel, with AMAZING diving & snorkeling….but the sunsets are unreal.

The beaches in Tulum are my favorite in the Yucatan. My friend Eileen is pictured here.

4) St. Lucia, in the Caribbean 

Average Daily Temperature = 83°F, Average Water Temperature = 81°F (27°C)

Though the Caribbean is known for being warm year-round: St. Lucia is among the warmest Caribbean islands in January.  And it’s one of the most scenic: with the dramatic Piton Mountains rising sharply out of the sea.  This absolutely epic backdrop can be fully appreciated at the stunning Jade Mountain Resort, which arguably as the best Piton views on the island ~ including some from bathtubs & balconies! 

St. Lucia is ideal for a romantic getaway, & features reef-dives, volcanic beaches, rain forest hikes, waterfalls, sleepy little fishing villages, & upscale luxury resorts.

Magical St. Lucia.

Search for hotels in happening Playa del Carmen, bohemian Tulum, or on the magical island of St. Lucia ~ the most romantic spot on the list. 

Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for February

5) Cartagena, Colombia

Average Daily Temperature = 87°F, Average Water Temperature = 81°F (27°C)

Oooohhh….how I love Cartagena!  It’s got more spirit & culture than most places on this list.  But, if you don’t like humidity: you may want to look elsewhere.  It gets HOT & very humid here!  All the better for those salsa nights.  Water temps are in the 80° range, with air temps close to 90°…which simply isn’t for everyone.  I spent most of February in Cartagena, & some days the heat got oppressive.  But for the most part, I loved it! 

The spirit of the city, with its chic rooftop bars & pools, meandering cobble-stone streets, colorful buildings, & the gorgeous Rosario Islands give you plenty of opportunities to cool off & explore….

For more photos of Cartagena, view this gallery.

The beaches in Cartagena are pretty good….but the beaches on nearby Rosario Islands are AMAZING!!  Definite “Gilligan’s Island” vibes…

6) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 

Average Daily Temperature = 87°F, Average Water Temperature = 77°F (25°C)

They say that some of the most beautiful people in the world are from Brazil.  And you can see many of them frolicking in itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny bikinis on beaches like Copacabana & Ipanema.  I never made it to Brazil in all my South America travels, but its warm January & February temps still secured a spot on this list.  And pretty much everyone I met who traveled there RAVED about Brazil’s beaches!!! 

If you’re looking for a sexy beach vacation in South America: Brazil is the place.  Killer beaches to check out in Brazil: Florianopolis, Buzios, & the #1 place I wanted to visit ~ Fernando de Noronha.

Exquisite Fernando de Noronha.

The Miramar Hotel, overlooking the beach in Rio de Janeiro.

Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for February

7) Bali, Indonesia 

Average Daily Temperature = 79°F, Average Water Temperature = 84°F (29°C)

Bali is currently the ultimate travel blogger’s paradise: everyone & their mother seems to be basing out of Bali!  As you can see from its balmy temperatures: Bali is an ideal January or February beach destination, with too many picture-perfect, Instagram-worthy beaches to name: Seminyak, Kuta, Canguu, the Uluwatu Temple overlooking Bingin Beach, & Klingking Beach ~ which is pictured below. 

Bali isn’t a county ~ in case you were wondering.  It’s part of Indonesia, & largely believed to be one of the country’s most beautiful islands.  It’s also where Elizabeth Gilbert “Eat, Prayed, & Loved“……Bali was the final of her three destinations.

Klingking Beach in Bali.

Swing in Bali!

Rice fields near Ubud, Bali.

Search hotel prices in beachside Canggu, or nearby Seminyak: two of the island’s most popular destinations.

Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for February

8) Phuket or Krabi, Thailand 

Average Daily Temperature = 81°F, Average Water Temperature = 82°F (28°C)

Finally, we come to beautiful Thailand.  Dry season is from November to early April (which means it’s NOT “Monsoon Season!”), & famous beaches like Krabi & Phuket are near-ideal to visit in January & February.  Phuket has an international airport on the north side of the island, & its main town is Patong ~ which has a gorgeous beach, but can feel busy & touristy. 

For more peace & quiet on Phuket: stay further from Patong, or venture over to Krabi with its towering monoliths rising out of the Andaman Sea.

Imagine yourself relaxing on this beach in Phuket, mimosa in hand…

Ao Nang is in the Krabi region of Thailand, & offers breathtaking sunsets & many ocean-view, luxury hotels.

Search hotel prices on the beautiful island of Phuket, nearby Ko Phi Phi (where “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed), or stay on the mainland in Krabi…

Best Warm Weather Beach Vacations for January

I hope this post has got your wheels turning about where you want to visit this winter: & if you decide to visit one of these destinations, I would love it if you’d book through my website!

Happy Travel Planning

xoxo Noelia

Read Next: Where to Stay on the Beach in Tulum  

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