When to go › December

Coast and lakes: where to go in December

17 of 85 destinations scored for coast and lakes are prime in December — 80 or better on conditions alone. Highest: Kerala (95), Krabi & Railay (95), Bariloche (90). In November 10 are prime; in January, 20.

27 worth considering

December · Lakes & Coastline

Every destination scoring 55 or better for coast and lakes in December, highest first. Ties are listed alphabetically.

KeralaIndia · Asia · prime November to February
prime95
Krabi & RailayThailand · Asia · prime November to March
prime95
BarilochePatagonia, Argentina · South America · prime December to March
prime90
Manuel AntonioCosta Rica · Central America · prime December to March
prime90
OmanOman · Asia · prime November to March
prime90
QueenstownNew Zealand · Oceania · prime November to March
prime90
BarbadosBarbados · Caribbean · prime December to April
prime89
El Calafate & the Perito Moreno GlacierPatagonia, Argentina · South America · prime November to March
prime89
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico · Caribbean · prime December to April
prime89
The Florida KeysFlorida, USA · North America · prime December to April
prime89
Tulum & the Riviera MayaMexico · Caribbean · prime December to April
prime89
Turks & CaicosTurks & Caicos Islands · Caribbean · prime December to April
prime89
Wanaka & CardronaNew Zealand · Oceania · prime December to March
prime89
ArubaAruba · Caribbean · prime December to April
prime87
Rio de JaneiroBrazil · South America · prime March to April and November to December
prime85
Fiordland & Milford SoundNew Zealand · Oceania · prime December to February
prime84
Sri Lanka South CoastSri Lanka · Asia · prime December to March
prime81
Margaret RiverAustralia · Oceania · prime March to April and October to November
good72
The MaldivesMaldives · Asia · prime January to March
good71
SydneyAustralia · Oceania · prime March to April and October to November
good68
Torres del PainePatagonia, Chile · South America · prime January to February
good67
Galápagos IslandsEcuador · South America · prime February to May
good66
St. JohnUS Virgin Islands · Caribbean · prime January to April
good66
TasmaniaAustralia · Oceania · prime January to February
good66
Belize: the Cayes & the Barrier ReefBelize · Central America · prime February to May
good64
San DiegoCalifornia, USA · North America · prime April to June and September to November
good56
Lanzarote & FuerteventuraCanary Islands, Spain · Europe · prime February to April and October to November
good55
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Know before you book

Most places have one or two months that are genuinely better — and a booking moment that comes a lot earlier than the trip. I’ll write when one of those is coming up. No schedule, no filler.

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