Best Warm Places to Visit in January (2027 Guide)

The best warm places to visit in January are Thailand’s Andaman coast, southern Vietnam, the Maldives, Jamaica and Kerala, where January is dry and daytime highs run from about 28°C to 32°C.

Last updated: October 2026

How we picked these places: January is when the holiday premium starts to fade at some warm destinations and the wet season peaks at others. We count a destination as warm when our own guide gives a high of about 24°C (75°F) or more for January or its warm season; every figure comes from our month-by-month guides.

Quick Answer: Best Warm Places to Visit in January by Priority

• Best for dry-season beaches and islands: Thailand’s Andaman coast, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast and the Maldives — the Maldives guide calls January to March the driest, sunniest, and calmest stretch.
• Best for Caribbean sunshine: Jamaica, where “January is dry across most of Jamaica.”
• Best for culture and cities: Southern Vietnam (about 28-30°C) and Kerala (its driest month, 25mm).
• Warm, but wet: Bora Bora (the year’s heaviest rainfall, about 306mm) and Fiji (the wettest months and the peak of cyclone season).

Which Places Are Warm in January?

Thailand’s Andaman coast, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, the Philippines, southern Vietnam, Kerala, the Maldives and Jamaica are warm and in season in January. The table below gives each January high as our guide states it, with its scope. “Warm and in season” means January falls inside the guide’s own best window; “warm, with a catch” means January is warm but the guide flags rain, cyclone risk, crowds or prices.

Where Is Warm and in Season in January?

Thailand’s Andaman Coast

January is hard to beat on Thailand’s Andaman coast, falling inside the cooler, drier window with Phuket’s typical daytime high of 32°C in the cooler months. The Gulf coast runs the opposite schedule, wettest roughly October through December. November through February is the closest thing to a nationwide sweet spot, when the north, central region and the Andaman coast all line up at once. See our full Thailand guide.

Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast

December through April is the Pacific coast’s driest and sunniest window, and January sits in the middle of it with peak dry conditions. The Caribbean side is wetter in these same months. January brings peak dry conditions on the Pacific side, the month the guide calls the best conditions. See our full Costa Rica guide.

The Philippines

January brings minimal rainfall and comfortable humidity to Manila, with highs of 23–31°C. It falls in the December–April peak season, when flights and hotels run 30–50% higher. December through February is the most comfortable stretch temperature-wise. See our full Philippines guide.

Southern Vietnam

December and January are the most comfortable months overall in the south, with daytime highs around 28–30°C and the dry season running December through April. Prices spike most sharply around the Tet holiday. The south runs on the simplest pattern of the three regions: dry December through April, wet May through November. See our full Vietnam guide.

Kerala, India

January is Kerala’s driest month with just 25mm of rain, and Kochi highs run 23.1–31.9°C. December and January carry the steepest premiums. The guide calls December through February the driest, most comfortable stretch of the year. See our full India guide.

The Maldives

January to March brings the driest, sunniest and calmest weather via the northeast monsoon, with typical highs of 30–32°C. Resort rates stay at their most expensive through January 5, with February the driest month. See our full Maldives guide.

Jamaica

January is dry across most of Jamaica, with daytime highs around 29–30°C. The main drawbacks are peak rates and a still-wet northeast around Port Antonio. It falls in the drier December-to-April stretch. See our full Jamaica guide.

Where Is Warm in January, With a Catch?

Mexico’s Caribbean Coast

Cancún runs 19.2–27.6°C in January with 65mm of rain, though Norte winds can bring cloudy, windy spells. December 15 to January 5 is the year’s priciest fortnight. On the coasts there’s no real winter: Cancún runs 19–28°C even in December. See our full Mexico guide.

Hawaii

January runs 65–80°F statewide with moderate rain. The second half of January is the smart window, with fares typically dropping 15–20% from the Christmas peak. Humpback whale sightings build through December before hitting full activity in January through March. See our full Hawaii guide.

Fiji

January to March brings the wettest months and the peak of cyclone season, so avoid it for dry beach weather. Prices are at their lowest from January to April. Fiji’s weather is warm all year, with Nadi’s average high between 28°C and 31°C. See our full Fiji guide.

Bora Bora

January brings the year’s heaviest rainfall, around 306mm across roughly 12 rainy days, with highs near 30°C. Prices drop to the year’s lowest tier from mid-January, and January is also the emptiest month. See our full Bora Bora guide and our Bora Bora in January page.

Mauritius

January and February are the warmest months with average daytime highs of 29.2°C, but cyclone season means a storm could disrupt flights and boat excursions. See our full Mauritius guide.

Where Is Mild, Not Hot, in January?

If you want pleasant rather than hot weather, Spain’s Canary Islands, Morocco’s Marrakech and Egypt’s Luxor sit around 19-23°C in January. Morocco even pairs mild Marrakech days with High Atlas ski season at Oukaimeden.

Spain’s Canary Islands

The Canary Islands average January highs around 20–21°C (68–70°F) — cooler than summer but still beach-viable. Winter is peak season in the Canaries, priced accordingly — a stark contrast to Madrid’s near-freezing nights. See our full Spain guide.

Morocco

Marrakech sits around 19°C (66°F) in January with cold nights near 5°C, and January–February brings lower prices and thinner crowds. Above the city, Oukaimeden’s ski season runs late December through February. See our full Morocco guide.

Egypt’s Luxor

Luxor’s average January afternoon is about 23°C (73°F), and Luxor goes most years with virtually no rain. Prices run highest from December to February. The main Nile cruise season runs October to April, busiest November through February. See our full Egypt guide.

How Do You Choose Where to Go in January?

Pick your coast or side before your country. Thailand’s Andaman coast is at its best while the Gulf coast sits in its wettest stretch, and Costa Rica’s Pacific coast is at peak dry while the Caribbean side is wetter — the guides state both contrasts outright. The Philippines is uniformly calm and dry in January, from Boracay to Palawan.

January prices split two ways. Hawaii’s second half of January drops fares 15–20% from the Christmas peak and Bora Bora’s prices fall from mid-January, but the Maldives stays priciest through January 5 and the Philippines and Kerala hold peak-season premiums all month.

If heat isn’t the priority, the mild list is short: the Canary Islands at 20–21°C, Marrakech at about 19°C and Luxor at about 23°C — pleasant, cheaper, and far less crowded than the hot list.

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