Where to Go in January for Sun: 10 Warm Destinations Ranked by Sea and Rain
Where to find 85°F-plus and warm water in January, from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, based on official climate normals from national weather services.
- 10 destinations compared
- 75 to 90°F average afternoon highs
- 4 of 10 with sea at 82°F or more
- Jan 18 MLK Day long weekend 2027
Where is it warm in January? Closest to the US, Cancún and the Riviera Maya average 82°F with a sea around 77°F, but January is one of their wetter winter months. For 90°F and water around 82°F, look further: Phuket, Zanzibar, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, with Phuket the driest. Southern Vietnam and Cape Town have the clearest skies, without warm water.
The figures are climate normals published by each country’s national weather service and collected by the World Meteorological Organization: 20 to 30 year averages that describe a typical January, not the forecast for your trip. Stations are listed in the sources.
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- Which destination for which trip
- Caribbean and Mexico
- Sea at 82°F: Indian Ocean and Andaman
- Dry sun: Vietnam, Cape Town, Cape Verde
- Comparison table
- Dates, insurance and data
- FAQ
- Sources
Which warm destination for which kind of January trip
- Short flight from the US: Cancún, Playa del Carmen and Tulum (82°F), or the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe (84°F).
- Dry tropical beach: Phuket and Thailand’s Andaman coast, 90°F, 0.9 in of rain and a sea around 82°F.
- Warmest sea: Zanzibar, 90°F and water around 84°F, between its two rainy seasons.
- Touring plus beach: Sri Lanka’s west and south coasts, or southern Vietnam (90°F, 0.5 in of rain).
- Summer road trip: Cape Town and the Winelands, 79°F under clear skies.
January rainfall at a glance:
- Sal 0.2 in
- Ho Chi Minh City 0.5 in
- Cape Town 0.6 in
- Phuket 0.9 in
- Colombo 2.3 in
- Havana 2.5 in
- Guadeloupe 3.3 in
- Malé 4.5 in
- Cancún 5.4 in
Average January rainfall. Yellow: under 2.4 in (60 mm). Light blue: 2.4 to 6 in. Zanzibar is not shown: the Tanzanian service publishes rainy days (7 in January) but no usable monthly total.
Closest to the US: the Caribbean and Mexico
Hurricane season ended on November 30. In January these destinations are warm rather than hot, and they differ mostly in rainfall and sea temperature.
1. Mexico: Cancún and the Riviera Maya
Cancún: 82°F in the afternoon, 69°F at night, 5.4 in of rain over 10 to 11 days, sea around 77°F.
The Caribbean coast keeps a warm sea in midwinter, and Maya sites such as Tulum and Chichén Itzá are pleasant to visit without the summer heat.
Good to know: according to Mexico’s national weather service, January is much wetter than the following months in Cancún: 5.4 in, against 1.8 in in February and 1.5 in in April.
Places to stay in Playa del Carmen: recent prices and reviews
2. Guadeloupe (French Caribbean)
Pointe-à-Pitre, Le Raizet airport: 84°F in the afternoon, 68°F at night, 3.3 in of rain, sea around 81°F.
Rain drops from December (5.4 in) and keeps falling in February (2.5 in), according to Météo-France. The sea is the warmest of the three Caribbean picks.
Good to know: showers are frequent but usually short. Flat Grande-Terre generally gets less rain than mountainous Basse-Terre. Guadeloupe uses the euro.
3. Cuba
Havana: 78°F in the afternoon, 65°F at night, 2.5 in of rain over 5 days, sea around 77°F.
January falls in Cuba’s dry season, with nearly three times less rain in Havana than in June, according to Cuba’s Institute of Meteorology. It is also the coolest month of the year.
Good to know: US law restricts travel to Cuba by US citizens and residents. Check the current rules on the State Department’s Cuba page before booking.
Sea at 82°F and up: Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea
Four destinations where afternoons reach 87 to 90°F and the water is around 82°F. These are January’s true tropical beach picks, worth the long flight.
4. Thailand’s Andaman coast: Phuket and Krabi
Phuket: 90°F in the afternoon, 75°F at night, 0.9 in of rain over 4 days, sea around 82°F.
January and February are Phuket’s two driest months, according to the Thai Meteorological Department: 0.9 in, against 6.8 in in November. Bangkok is 90°F with a single rainy day on average; see where to stay in Bangkok for a stopover.
Good to know: this is peak season on the Andaman coast, and beachfront rooms book up early.
5. Zanzibar (Tanzania)
Zanzibar: 90°F in the afternoon, 74°F at night, 7 rainy days on average, sea around 84°F.
January sits between two wet periods: the short rains of November and December (13 rainy days a month) and the long rains of March to May, peaking in April with 17 days, according to the Tanzania Meteorological Agency.
Good to know: January and February are the hottest months, and February the driest (4 rainy days). The sea is the warmest on this list.
Hotels in Nungwi, northern Zanzibar: recent prices and reviews
6. Sri Lanka, west and south coasts
Colombo: 88°F in the afternoon, 72°F at night, 2.3 in of rain over 5 days, sea around 82°F.
January is Colombo’s driest month, according to Sri Lanka’s national meteorological center: 2.3 in, against more than 14 in in October and November. It is beach season on the south coast, from Galle to Mirissa.
Good to know: these figures apply to the west coast. The east coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay) follows a different pattern and gets its rain at this time of year.
7. Maldives
Malé: 87°F in the afternoon, 78°F at night, 4.5 in of rain over 6 days, sea around 82°F.
Rain drops sharply from December: 4.5 in in January against 8.5 in the month before, according to the Maldives Meteorological Service.
Good to know: February is the driest month of the year, with 1.5 in over 3 days. If your dates are flexible, aim for late January or February.
Resorts and guesthouses in the Maldives: recent prices and reviews
The map below shows available places to stay and their rates for your dates.
Dry sun: Vietnam, Cape Town, Cape Verde
Three destinations where rain is rare in January. Swimming is not the main draw, except in Cape Verde.
8. Southern Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City: 90°F in the afternoon, 74°F at night, 0.5 in of rain over 2 days.
January is the heart of the dry season in the south: 2 rainy days on average, against 13 to 19 a month from May to October, according to Vietnam’s meteorological administration (1991-2020 normals).
Good to know: central Vietnam (Hué, Hoi An) can still be rainy in January. For the beach, head south to Phu Quoc.
9. South Africa: Cape Town
Cape Town: 79°F in the afternoon, 60°F at night, 0.6 in of rain over 5 to 6 days, ocean around 66°F.
In South Africa, January is midsummer and, with November, one of the driest months in Cape Town. The Stellenbosch Winelands, the Cape Peninsula and the Garden Route are best explored under these clear skies.
Good to know: the ocean stays cold and the wind is often strong.
10. Cape Verde: Sal island
Sal: 75°F in the afternoon, 0.2 in of rain on 1 day, sea around 75°F.
One of the driest places on this list in January, with a single rainy day on average, according to Cape Verde’s national weather institute.
Good to know: at 75°F with steady trade winds, it is the coolest of the ten. Great for kitesurfing, less so for sunbathing out of the wind.
Tours to book before you go
Cenote swims in the Yucatán, a day trip to the Phi Phi islands, a Safari Blue boat trip in Zanzibar or the Mekong Delta: in high season, the most popular tours sell out, and our partner GetYourGuide lets you book them ahead. Check the meeting point and cancellation terms before paying.
See all activities on GetYourGuide
Comparison table: January in figures
The ten destinations, from warmest to coolest sea.
| Station | High / low | Rain (days) | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zanzibar (Tanzania) | 90 / 74°F | (7) | 84°F |
| Phuket (Thailand) | 90 / 75°F | 0.9 in (4) | 82°F |
| Malé (Maldives) | 87 / 78°F | 4.5 in (6) | 82°F |
| Colombo (Sri Lanka) | 88 / 72°F | 2.3 in (5) | 82°F |
| Guadeloupe | 84 / 68°F | 3.3 in | 81°F |
| Cancún (Mexico) | 82 / 69°F | 5.4 in (11) | 77°F |
| Havana (Cuba) | 78 / 65°F | 2.5 in (5) | 77°F |
| Sal (Cape Verde) | 75°F / not published | 0.2 in (1) | 75°F |
| Cape Town (South Africa) | 79 / 60°F | 0.6 in (6) | 66°F |
| Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) | 90 / 74°F | 0.5 in (2) | n/a |
Temperatures converted from Celsius and rounded. Rainy days are days with at least 0.04 in (1 mm); they are not published for Guadeloupe.
Dates, travel insurance and mobile data
- After New Year’s: once the holiday rush ends in the first days of January, flights and hotels are often easier to find.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 18, 2027, a three-day weekend.
- Presidents’ Day: Monday, February 15, 2027, if you can wait for drier skies in February.
Many US health plans offer limited or no coverage abroad, and a hospital stay can be expensive. Check your health plan and credit card benefits first. For medical expenses and medical evacuation, our partner Chapka offers Cap Assistance 24/7: coverage and limits are listed on the policy page.
To have mobile data as soon as you land, without hunting for a local SIM card, a Yesim e-SIM, our partner, can be set up before you leave. Check on its page that your destination is covered and what it costs.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the hottest place to go in January?
On this list, Zanzibar, Phuket and Ho Chi Minh City average 90°F in the afternoon, Colombo 88°F and Malé 87°F.
Where can I go in January to avoid rain?
Sal in Cape Verde gets 0.2 in of rain in January, Ho Chi Minh City 0.5 in and Cape Town 0.6 in. Among destinations with very warm water, Phuket is the driest at 0.9 in.
Is it warm in Cancun in January?
Yes, but not hot: 82°F in the afternoon, 69°F at night and a sea around 77°F. January is wetter than February and March, with 5.4 in of rain over 10 to 11 days.
Is it better to go in January or February?
For rain, February is better in several places: 1.5 in in Malé (4.5 in January), 1.8 in in Cancún (5.4), 2.5 in in Guadeloupe (3.3). See also where to go in February for sun.
Where to go for sun in other months
February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Sources
Pages checked on October 21, 2026. Climate normals come from the World Meteorological Organization’s World Weather Information Service, which publishes data supplied by each national weather service; the reference period is given for each station.
- Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (Mexico), via WMO: Cancún (1971-2000).
- Météo-France, via WMO: Le Raizet, Guadeloupe (1961-1990).
- Instituto de Meteorología (Cuba), via WMO: Havana (1961-1990).
- Thai Meteorological Department, via WMO: Phuket and Bangkok (1961-1990).
- Tanzania Meteorological Agency, via WMO: Zanzibar (1971-2000).
- National Meteorological Centre (Sri Lanka), via WMO: Colombo (1961-1990).
- Maldives Meteorological Service, via WMO: Malé (1981-2000).
- Viet Nam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, via WMO: Ho Chi Minh City (1991-2020).
- South African Weather Service, via WMO: Cape Town (1961-1990).
- National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (Cape Verde), via WMO: Sal (1961-1990).
- World Sea Temperatures, average January sea temperatures: Zanzibar, Phuket, Malé, Colombo, Pointe-à-Pitre, Havana and Cape Town, plus Cancún and Santa Maria (Sal) on the same site.
- NOAA, National Hurricane Center: Atlantic hurricane season dates.
Maintained by the Advised Traveler team. Climate averages do not predict the weather during your trip: check the forecast before you go. Spotted an error? Let us know.