In another blog post we suggested some ideal places to visit to enjoy a 360º winter, with its snow, coats, fireplaces and hot cocoa. But… what if you are one of those who don’t like the cold? Did you know that you have a whole hemisphere to escape the low temperatures? It is difficult to choose one in particular, here I leave you a personal selection, if you have been in any of the places mentioned, how was your experience?
Australia
In Australia, summer lasts from December to March, with average temperatures of 29ºC (79ºF).
You can visit Tasmania and attend the world’s most spectacular food and wine festivals. Or head to Perth and soak up the long, sweeping beaches. Or travel to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkelling, scuba diving and other water activities.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is the centre of it all, the physical and spiritual heart of Australia. A remote place in the middle of the desert that shines in the middle of the Australian outback of profound cultural significance. Uluru, the sacred Aboriginal monolith, is a special pilgrimage, but this national park offers so much more; apart from the Kata Tjuta (Mount Olga), there are mystical walks, sublime sunsets, starry night skies, luxury hotels and ancient desert cultures to discover.
Thailand
This country is perhaps one of the most spectacular on this list in terms of beaches and scenery, but if I had to choose one thing to visit in this country, it might be Sukhothai. The Sukhothai Archaeological Park (13th-16th c.) is for many the most beautiful in Thailand, both for the remains of the temples and statues themselves and for the fact that the ruins are surrounded by trees and lawns in a charming green area.
If we feel restless to stay in one place, we can always take boat transfers to the Phi Phi islands,
Phi Phi, are actually four islands: Koh Phi Phi Don, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Koh Pai also known as Bamboo Island, and Koh Yung, or Mosquito Island. 100% recommended
New Zealand
If you’re one of those who has holidays at Christmas and you’re sitting at home attending a parade of relatives, lavish dinners and boring engagements, maybe it’s time to pack your bags and travel to this amazing country.
Many say that Queenstown is the most beautiful place to see in New Zealand. It is undoubtedly one of the most visited by tourists. It is a small town located on the South Island, on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. One of its attractions is Lake Hayes, one of the most photographed lakes in the country.
The general recommendation is that you don’t limit yourself to visiting just one place. It’s a relatively small country and in a couple of weeks you can cover the whole country.
Cape Verde
Sun and sand are guaranteed all year round in the Atlantic archipelago. Each of its ten islands has charming corners, colourful houses and truly deserted beaches. It is also a highly recommended place for surfing.
Salt Island is one of the must-see and best-known islands, with resorts and an international airport. It is the tourist island par excellence with an ideal temperature all year round. It is undoubtedly the most famous and popular island of Cape Verde and where you will find the most tourists.
South Africa
It’s always summer on the African continent. We recommend a trip south to South Africa for an incredible Christmas holiday. You will find the best beaches in the area of Port Elizabeth, Knysna and along the so-called Garden Route. Cape Town is the country’s most beautiful city and another of the most interesting places to visit in South Africa.
Inland, the Kruger National Park is a safari destination, populated by big game. The Western Cape has beaches, abundant vineyards around Stellenbosch and Paarl, rugged cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope, forests and lagoons along the Garden Route, and Cape Town, beneath Table Mountain and its flat top.
Cuba
Spend at least a long week in this destination or you’ll miss a lot.
You must visit Havana, Cuba’s capital and soul. The centre is a small architectural gem, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss the other, more out-of-the-way neighbourhoods. You will find a decadent city, however, you will fall in love with its atmosphere, its colours and its people. There is no other city like it in the world. The Viñales Valley is one of the most beautiful places to see in Cuba, as well as being one of the most visited natural spaces in the country. In fact, it was declared a National Monument and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We’d love to know what you’re going to do this winter, are you going anywhere?