When to go › January

Coast and lakes: where to go in January

20 of 85 destinations scored for coast and lakes are prime in January — 80 or better on conditions alone. Highest: Krabi & Railay (99), Kerala (98), Sri Lanka South Coast (98). In December 17 are prime; in February, 23.

26 worth considering

January · Lakes & Coastline

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

Krabi & RailayThailand · Asia · prime November to March
prime99
KeralaIndia · Asia · prime November to February
prime98
Sri Lanka South CoastSri Lanka · Asia · prime December to March
prime98
The MaldivesMaldives · Asia · prime January to March
prime93
El Calafate & the Perito Moreno GlacierPatagonia, Argentina · South America · prime November to March
prime92
Manuel AntonioCosta Rica · Central America · prime December to March
prime92
Puerto RicoPuerto Rico · Caribbean · prime December to April
prime92
QueenstownNew Zealand · Oceania · prime November to March
prime92
BarilochePatagonia, Argentina · South America · prime December to March
prime91
ArubaAruba · Caribbean · prime December to April
prime90
OmanOman · Asia · prime November to March
prime90
TasmaniaAustralia · Oceania · prime January to February
prime90
Tulum & the Riviera MayaMexico · Caribbean · prime December to April
prime90
Turks & CaicosTurks & Caicos Islands · Caribbean · prime December to April
prime90
Wanaka & CardronaNew Zealand · Oceania · prime December to March
prime90
BarbadosBarbados · Caribbean · prime December to April
prime89
St. JohnUS Virgin Islands · Caribbean · prime January to April
prime89
The Florida KeysFlorida, USA · North America · prime December to April
prime89
Fiordland & Milford SoundNew Zealand · Oceania · prime December to February
prime86
Torres del PainePatagonia, Chile · South America · prime January to February
prime85
Belize: the Cayes & the Barrier ReefBelize · Central America · prime February to May
good75
Margaret RiverAustralia · Oceania · prime March to April and October to November
good73
Galápagos IslandsEcuador · South America · prime February to May
good66
SydneyAustralia · Oceania · prime March to April and October to November
good62
Rio de JaneiroBrazil · South America · prime March to April and November to December
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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