Warm Winter Getaways: 8 Luxury Resorts in 7 Warm Destinations (2026-27)

Key takeaways

• Punta Mita, Mexico is our top destination for winter 2026-27. It pairs dry-season weather with humpback whale season, and Puerto Vallarta's airport has nonstop flights from many US cities.

• Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita is the pick for families and golfers. It has two Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses, a complimentary kids' club for ages five to 12 and a 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating.

• Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort is the pick for couples. It's a separate, adults-only, all-inclusive resort of 15 tents on the Punta Mita peninsula, with a whale weekend led by a marine biologist on December 18 to 20, 2026.

• Mexico's Pacific coast is drier than the Caribbean in winter. Puerto Vallarta sees about an inch of rain a month or less from December to March, while St. Barts and Barbados average around nine to 12 rainy days a month.

• The Caribbean is warmest, but harder to reach. Highs reach the low to mid 80s on most islands, but St. Barts, Anguilla and Turks & Caicos often need a connection or a small plane.

Where to go for a warm winter escape

If you live in the northern US or Canada, the warm places closest to home in winter fall into three groups: Mexico's Pacific coast, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. All three are warm from December to March, but they differ in how much rain falls, how long it takes to get there, and what you can do only at that time of year.

Mexico's Pacific coast is in the middle of its dry season and has humpback whales in winter. Hawaii has the same whales and needs no passport for US travelers. The Caribbean runs a little warmer but gets more passing showers, and many of its smaller luxury resorts are on islands that take a connection to reach.

We ranked seven destinations on winter weather (using official climate normals where they exist), what's possible there only in winter, and how easy they are to reach from the US. We picked one luxury resort in each, and two in Punta Mita, where Four Seasons runs two separate properties for different kinds of trips. Every resort entry names its main downside, and every Mexican destination on the list is in a state the US State Department rates at Level 2.

Winter weather at a glance

1. Punta Mita, Mexico: Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita

Punta Mita sits at the northern tip of Banderas Bay, about 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta's airport, which has nonstop flights from many US cities. Winter is the dry season: Puerto Vallarta's 1991-2020 normals show December to March highs of 80°F to 81°F and about an inch of rain a month or less. It's also whale season. Mexico's environment ministry set the 2025-26 Banderas Bay season at December 8 to March 23, and boats are barred from the coast between Punta Mita and the Río Ameca because mothers and calves gather there.

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita opened in 1999 on a private peninsula and has 177 rooms and suites in casitas, plus villas and residences. It has two swimmable beaches, and its two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses include the Tail of the Whale, an optional hole whose green sits on a natural rock island. Kids For All Seasons is complimentary for ages five to 12, and the resort holds a 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating. In winter it runs private whale-watching trips and surf lessons for beginners.

Best for: Families, multi-generational groups and golfers who want whale season and dry weather on a short flight.

Winter weather: Highs around 80°F to 81°F, lows in the high 50s, sea about 75°F to 77°F.

Downside: It isn't all-inclusive, so dining is billed separately, and it's a large property built for families and events rather than a quiet hideaway.

2. Punta Mita, Mexico: Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort

Naviva opened in December 2022 on 48 forested acres at the edge of the Punta Mita peninsula, with its own beach, La Solana. There are just 15 tented bungalows, each with a plunge pool, an outdoor shower and roll-up canvas walls. Naviva is adults-only and all-inclusive: rates cover food and drink, one 90-minute spa journey per guest per stay, and daily experiences such as group temazcal ceremonies and sound healing.

Its December 2026 calendar includes a whale weekend led by a marine biologist from December 18 to 20 and a winter solstice feast on December 21. Condé Nast Traveler named it to its 2026 Gold List.

Best for: Couples on a honeymoon or anniversary trip who want privacy and a wellness focus during whale season.

Winter weather: Highs around 80°F to 81°F, lows in the high 50s, sea about 75°F to 77°F.

Downside: With only 15 tents, holiday dates book up early, and the all-inclusive rate is high.

3. Maui, Hawaii: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

The shallow waters around Maui are among the best places in Hawaii to see humpbacks, and NOAA's marine sanctuary says the whales are most numerous from January to March. Kahului's 1991-2020 normals show winter highs of about 82°F to 83°F, and the south shore around Wailea is drier than the island's windward side.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea has 383 rooms, 71 of them suites, and three pools, including the adults-only Serenity Pool. Kids For All Seasons takes children from age five.

Best for: US travelers who want whale season without a passport, and families who want a full-service beach resort.

Winter weather: Highs around 82°F to 83°F, drier on the south shore.

Downside: It's a large resort, and the cabanas at the Serenity Pool cost extra.

4. Big Island, Hawaii: Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

The Kona coast is the driest resort area in Hawaii in winter. NOAA's normals for Kona's airport show highs of about 81°F to 82°F and roughly 1 to 1.4 inches of rain a month from December to March, against 8 to 13 inches in Hilo on the island's wet side.

Kona Village first opened in 1966, closed after the 2011 tsunami, and reopened as a Rosewood resort in July 2023. It has 150 bungalows, suites and villas on 81 acres, and the rooms have no TVs.

Best for: Travelers who want a quiet, unplugged stay on a dry coast.

Winter weather: Highs around 81°F to 82°F, little rain.

Downside: A nightly resort fee, airport transfers and valet parking are charged on top of the room rate, and you'll want a car to see the island.

5. St. Barts: Eden Rock - St Barths

Météo-France normals for Gustavia show winter highs of about 83°F to 84°F. It's also wetter: December and January average about 12 rainy days each, though most are short showers. The St. Barths Bucket Regatta, a race for large sailing yachts, runs March 17 to 21, 2027.

Eden Rock, run by the Oetker Collection, sits on a rocky point in St. Jean Bay and has 37 rooms, suites and villas.

Best for: A small, social island with a busy restaurant scene.

Winter weather: Highs around 83°F to 84°F, frequent brief showers.

Downside: The island's short runway takes only small planes, so most travelers connect through St. Maarten.

6. Anguilla: Belmond Cap Juluca

Anguilla is a flat, quiet island known for long beaches. Belmond Cap Juluca sits on Maundays Bay and reopened in November 2018 after a renovation. It has a kids' club and a Cipriani restaurant, and it's 10 to 20 minutes from Anguilla's airport or a 25- to 40-minute boat ride from St. Maarten.

Best for: A quiet, beach-focused week.

Winter weather: Highs around 84°F, brief showers.

Downside: Reaching the island usually means connecting through St. Maarten.

7. Barbados: Sandy Lane

Barbados has nonstop flights from several US cities and highs of about 84°F to 85°F in winter. Its official normals show December as the wettest month of the season, with about 3.6 inches of rain over 11 days, easing to fewer than 2 inches by February and March.

Sandy Lane opened in 1961 on the island's west coast and has 113 rooms, suites and penthouses, a 47,000-square-foot spa and three golf courses, including the Tom Fazio-designed Green Monkey, which is reserved for resort guests.

Best for: Golfers and travelers who want a long-established resort with easy flights.

Winter weather: Highs around 84°F to 85°F, wetter in December.

Downside: December is the rainiest month of the winter window, and caddie fees are charged on the main courses.

8. Turks & Caicos: Amanyara

Providenciales averages highs of about 81°F in January, and humpback whales pass the islands from January to April, though they're seen mostly off Salt Cay and Grand Turk rather than Providenciales.

Amanyara sits beside Northwest Point Marine National Park on Providenciales, about 25 minutes from the airport. It's closed for upgrades until November 1, 2026, so the 2026-27 season will be its first after the work.

Best for: Travelers who want seclusion and snorkeling from the shore.

Winter weather: Highs around 81°F, brief showers.

Downside: It's far from Grace Bay's restaurants, and you'll need a boat trip to see the whales.

How to choose a warm winter getaway

Pick the one thing you most want from the trip, then match it to a region.

• For whales and dry weather, go to Mexico's Pacific coast. Punta Mita has calving humpbacks close to shore from December, and it's in the middle of the dry season.

• For no passport, go to Hawaii. Stay on the leeward side: Wailea on Maui or the Kona coast on the Big Island.

• For the warmest days, go to the Caribbean. Expect short showers and, for the smaller islands, a connecting flight.

• For the holidays, book early everywhere. Rooms for the weeks around Christmas and New Year's go first, often months ahead.

Frequently asked questions about warm winter getaways

Where is warm in December and January?

Mexico's Pacific coast, Hawaii and the Caribbean all have highs around 80°F to 85°F in December and January. Of the places on this list, the Caribbean islands are warmest, and Punta Mita and the Kona coast are driest.

What is the best warm winter getaway from the US?

We rank Punta Mita, Mexico first: it's dry from December to March, humpback whales are in the bay, and Puerto Vallarta's airport has nonstop flights from many US cities. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita is our pick there for families and golfers.

Is Mexico or the Caribbean better in winter?

Mexico's Pacific coast gets less rain from December to March and has whale season, while the Caribbean's highs run a degree or two warmer. Many Caribbean islands also need a connection, whereas Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos have nonstop flights from many US cities.

When is whale season in Mexico and Hawaii?

Humpbacks are in Banderas Bay, near Punta Mita and Puerto Vallarta, from December to March; the 2025-26 official season ran December 8 to March 23. They're off Los Cabos from December to April, and most are in Hawaii from January to March.

Is it safe to travel to Mexico in winter?

The US State Department rates Mexico overall at Level 2, and Nayarit (Punta Mita) and Baja California Sur (Los Cabos) are also at Level 2. Jalisco, where Puerto Vallarta's airport is, is at Level 3. Check the advisory before you book.

Where should families stay in Punta Mita?

Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita is the full-service choice for families and golfers, with a complimentary kids' club, two swimmable beaches and two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses. Our guide to the best luxury resorts in Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita compares eight options around the bay.

Is there an adults-only resort in Punta Mita?

Yes. Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort of 15 tents on the Punta Mita peninsula, with its own beach and a daily program of wellness experiences.