December is a tough month to be in most of the United States. The days are short, the temperatures are dropping, and if you live anywhere from the Midwest to the Northeast, you already know what the next three months look like. Cold, grey, and long.
The good news is that Americans have more warm-weather options in December than almost any other country’s travelers do. You have domestic destinations that require no passport, no currency exchange, and no customs line. You have the Caribbean sitting right off your coast. You have Mexico a short flight away. And if you want to go further, Southeast Asia and Central America are genuinely excellent in December.
I have put this guide together for one reason: to give you the full picture of where to actually go, what each place is like in December, and who each destination is right for. Not every warm place is the right warm place for every traveler. So I have broken this down by what kind of trip you are looking for.
One thing to know before we get into it: December is peak season for most warm destinations. Prices are higher than they are in the fall, crowds are bigger, and the good hotels book out early. If you are reading this close to your travel date, book fast. If you have lead time, use it.
Warm Places to Visit in December (For USA citizens)
Let’s start at home. There are genuinely excellent warm-weather destinations inside the United States in December, and they come with a significant advantage — no passport required, domestic flight prices, and no adjustment for currency or language.
Florida
Florida is the obvious answer and it earns that status. The entire state is warm in December — Miami, Orlando, Tampa, the Florida Keys, and everything in between.
Miami in December is one of the better versions of Miami. Temperatures sit in the low-to-mid 70s. The humidity that makes summer brutal is largely gone. South Beach is still lively but noticeably less packed than spring break season. Art Basel happens in early December and turns the city into one of the biggest art events in the world for a week — worth planning around if that interests you, worth avoiding if crowds are not your thing.
The Florida Keys in December are genuinely excellent. Key West sits at the end of the chain and runs warm all year — average highs in the low 70s in December, no rain to speak of, and a laid-back pace that feels nothing like the mainland. Snorkeling and diving are good, the sunsets are famous for a reason, and the food scene is better than most people expect.
Orlando is primarily about the theme parks, and December is one of the better months to visit them. The heat is gone, the summer crowds have thinned, and the holiday decorations at Walt Disney World and Universal are genuinely impressive. Lines are shorter than summer. Prices, however, are not — December holiday weeks are some of the most expensive times of year.
Naples and the Gulf Coast on the west side of Florida offer calm, warm beaches in December without the South Beach scene. Naples specifically attracts a quieter crowd, the water is calm and clear, and the town itself is well maintained and easy to enjoy.
Hawaii
Hawaii is warm every month of the year and December is no exception. Average temperatures across the islands run between 75°F and 82°F. It does rain more in winter on the windward sides of the islands, but the leeward coasts stay dry and sunny.
The question with Hawaii in December is which island.
Maui is the most popular for a reason. The beaches on the west and south shores — Kaanapali, Wailea — are excellent, well-protected from winter swells, and lined with good hotels and restaurants. The Road to Hana is one of the best drives in the country. Whale watching season starts in December as humpback whales begin arriving in Hawaiian waters — Maui is one of the best places in the world to see them.
Oahu has Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, and the most developed tourist infrastructure of any Hawaiian island. It is the easiest island to navigate, has the most flight options, and has the widest range of accommodation prices. The North Shore in winter hosts some of the biggest surf competitions in the world if you want to watch professional surfing.
Kauai is the most naturally beautiful of the main islands and the least developed. The Na Pali Coast is something that has to be seen to be believed. Wetter than Maui in winter on the north shore, but the south shore around Poipu stays reliably sunny.
The Big Island is the place if you want to see something genuinely unusual — active lava flows, black sand beaches, and one of the best stargazing sites on earth at the Mauna Kea summit. It is a different kind of Hawaii trip, less about beach lounging and more about landscape.
Hawaii in December is not cheap. It is never cheap. Round-trip flights from the mainland run $400–$800 or more depending on your departure city, and hotels are expensive. If budget is a consideration, the other options in this guide will go further for the money.
Arizona — Scottsdale and Sedona
This one surprises people, but Arizona in December is legitimately warm and dry. Scottsdale averages highs in the mid-60s in December, which is not beach weather, but it is absolutely comfortable outdoor weather. Sunny, dry, and nothing like the rest of the country.
Scottsdale is a well-developed resort destination with excellent golf, spas, restaurants, and hiking in the desert. It is a popular choice for people who want a warm, relaxing trip without a beach. The resort scene here is genuinely high quality.
Sedona is about two hours north of Scottsdale and sits higher in elevation, so it is cooler — but the red rock landscape in December with occasional dusting of snow on the peaks is one of the more striking natural scenes in the country. Hiking, jeep tours, and some genuinely good restaurants make it worth a few days.
These are not beach destinations. But if you want warm, dry weather, outdoor activity, and excellent food without leaving the country, Arizona in December delivers.
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San Diego
San Diego gets roughly 266 sunny days a year and December is no exception. Average highs sit in the low-to-mid 60s — comfortable for walking, exploring, and eating outside, though not warm enough for most people to swim.
What San Diego has in December: good weather, great food, excellent craft beer, the zoo, Balboa Park, and beaches that are pleasant to walk even if you are not getting in the water. It is a relaxed, easygoing city that does not overwhelm you the way Los Angeles can.
It is not a beach-swimming destination in December. But if you want warm-ish, sunny, and genuinely enjoyable, San Diego is one of the best options in the continental US.
The Caribbean in December
The Caribbean in December is at or near its best. The rainy season has ended across most of the region. Temperatures are warm but not oppressive. Trade winds keep things comfortable. And the water is still 80°F.
The tradeoff is price. December is peak season across the Caribbean and prices reflect that.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico deserves the top spot on any Caribbean list for American travelers in December, and for one specific reason: it is a domestic destination.
No passport. No currency exchange — US dollars work everywhere. Your phone works normally. You fly into San Juan the same way you fly into any US city.
December is one of the best months to visit Puerto Rico. The rainy season has ended, temperatures sit in the low-to-mid 80s, the trade winds keep things comfortable, and the island is genuinely beautiful in the dry season.
San Juan in December is alive in a way that is hard to explain until you experience it. The Christmas season here — known as La Navidad — runs from late November through mid-January and involves street parties, live music, food festivals, and a festive energy that goes beyond what most Americans associate with the holiday season. The San Sebastián Street Festival in January is one of the biggest street parties in the Caribbean, and the lead-up to it through December is worth being there for.
Beyond San Juan, the rest of the island is excellent in December. El Yunque rainforest, the beaches at Rincón and Cabo Rojo, the bioluminescent bays — all of it is accessible and at its best in the dry season.
The one thing to know: book early. December is Puerto Rico’s peak season and the good hotels — particularly in Old San Juan and Condado — fill up fast.
I have a complete separate guide to Puerto Rico that covers everything from where to stay to what to eat to the mistakes most first-time visitors make. Worth reading before you book.
The US Virgin Islands
The US Virgin Islands — St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix — are another passport-free option for American travelers. US citizens need only a government-issued ID to fly there.
December is excellent across all three islands. St. John has some of the most pristine beaches in the Caribbean — about 60% of the island is protected as a national park. St. Thomas has a more developed tourist infrastructure with duty-free shopping and more accommodation options. St. Croix is the quietest and most locally Caribbean-feeling of the three.
The USVI tend to be more expensive than Puerto Rico on a per-day basis, but they offer a genuinely remote Caribbean feel that is hard to replicate elsewhere without a passport.
Turks and Caicos
If you are willing to pull out a passport, Turks and Caicos is one of the best warm-weather destinations in December anywhere in the world.
Grace Bay Beach on Providenciales is consistently ranked among the best beaches on earth — powder white sand, water so clear and turquoise that first-time visitors genuinely stop and stare. December is dry season. Temperatures are in the low-to-mid 80s. The trade winds keep the heat from feeling heavy.
The honest caveat: Turks and Caicos is expensive. It is one of the pricier Caribbean destinations for both accommodation and dining. It suits people who want an upscale, quiet, beach-focused trip. It is not the right destination if you want nightlife, cultural depth, or budget-friendly options.
The Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic offers some of the best value in the Caribbean in December. Punta Cana on the east coast is lined with all-inclusive resorts that offer a complete vacation package — food, drinks, beach, pools — at prices significantly lower than most other Caribbean destinations.
December is dry season in Punta Cana. The weather is excellent — warm, sunny, with light breezes. The beaches are long, flat, and genuinely beautiful.
If you want a relaxed, all-inclusive beach vacation in December without spending a fortune, the Dominican Republic is one of the best answers on this list.
Jamaica
Jamaica in December is warm, mostly dry, and full of character. Temperatures run in the low-to-mid 80s. The island gets some of its most comfortable weather of the year in December.
Montego Bay and Negril are the main tourist areas. Negril’s Seven Mile Beach is one of the best stretches of beach in the Caribbean. Montego Bay has the most developed resort infrastructure and the easiest airport access.
Beyond the beach resorts, Jamaica has more cultural depth than almost any other Caribbean island — the food, the music, the people, the history. It rewards travelers who get out of the resort and spend time in the real island.
Barbados
Barbados is a small, well-run island on the eastern edge of the Caribbean and one of the most consistently pleasant destinations in the region in December.
The west coast — the Platinum Coast — has calm, clear water, white sand beaches, and some of the best restaurants in the Caribbean. The east coast is rougher and more dramatic. The interior is green, hilly, and full of local life.
December is dry season in Barbados and the island is at its best. It tends to attract a slightly older, more upscale traveler than some of the other islands, but the food and beaches justify the reputation.
Aruba
Aruba sits outside the hurricane belt, which means it avoids the weather risk that affects most of the Caribbean in late summer and fall. But in December, the whole Caribbean is in dry season anyway, so the hurricane belt distinction matters less.
What Aruba has: Eagle Beach and Palm Beach are excellent — long, calm, lined with beach bars and restaurants. The island is arid and desert-like in a way that surprises some visitors, but the beaches are among the best in the region. Water sports are well developed. The wind is constant, which makes it a top destination for windsurfers and kitesurfers.
It is a relatively developed, tourist-oriented island. It does not have the cultural depth of Jamaica or Barbados. But for a straightforward warm-beach December vacation, it delivers.
Mexico in December
Mexico in December is one of the best travel decisions an American can make. It is close, it is relatively affordable compared to the Caribbean, and it has such a range of destinations that there is a right version of Mexico for almost every type of traveler.
Los Cabos (Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo)
Los Cabos sits at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula and has some of the best December weather of any beach destination accessible to Americans. Average highs in the mid-to-upper 70s, almost no rain, and sunshine that feels different from the humid tropics.
Cabo San Lucas is the livelier end — marina, nightlife, restaurants, the famous El Arco rock formation at the tip of the peninsula. San José del Cabo, 20 miles up the coast, is quieter, more artsy, and better for people who want good food and a slower pace. The corridor between the two has most of the resort hotels.
The Pacific side of Cabo has rougher water — beautiful but not ideal for swimming. The protected bay at Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas is calmer. Snorkeling, whale watching (gray whales arrive in December), sport fishing, and ATV tours are all good here.
Los Cabos has become significantly more developed and expensive over the past decade. It is still more affordable than most Caribbean destinations, but budget it honestly.
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Cancún and the Riviera Maya
Cancún is the most visited beach destination in Mexico and December is one of its better months. Temperatures in the low-to-mid 80s, low humidity, and the tail end of the relatively quieter fall season before the full-scale holiday crowds arrive in the last two weeks of December.
The Riviera Maya stretches south from Cancún along the Caribbean coast. Playa del Carmen is the most developed town along it — a walkable downtown, good restaurants, a mix of tourists and expats. Tulum further south has shifted from a quiet beach town to a fully developed — and expensive — bohemian resort scene. Akumal and Puerto Morelos between Cancún and Playa del Carmen are quieter and more locally oriented.
The cenotes — natural freshwater sinkholes — are one of the genuinely unique things about this part of Mexico. Swimming and snorkeling in them is an experience that does not exist anywhere else quite like this.
December through February is also sea turtle nesting and hatching season on some of these beaches, which is worth looking into depending on where you stay.
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific coast is one of my personal favorites for December. The weather is nearly perfect — low-to-mid 80s, dry, with a reliable afternoon breeze. The rainy season ends in October and December is fully into the dry season.
The old town — El Centro — has cobblestone streets, good restaurants, a lively malecón waterfront, and a genuine Mexican city feel that the Cancún hotel zone does not have. The beaches in the bay are calm and accessible. The jungle behind the city is green and dramatic.
Humpback whales arrive in Banderas Bay in December and January in large numbers — whale watching tours here are excellent and the sightings are reliable.
Puerto Vallarta is more affordable than Cabo, more culturally interesting than the Cancún hotel zone, and in better weather in December than almost anywhere else. It is consistently underrated.
Oaxaca Coast — Huatulco and Puerto Escondido
This part of Mexico is further from the US than Cancún or Cabo, but the Oaxacan coast in December is exceptional.
Puerto Escondido is known for one thing in the surf world — Zicatela Beach, which produces some of the biggest and most powerful beach break waves in the world. It is not a beginner surf beach. But the town has grown into a genuinely interesting place with good food, a creative expat scene, and smaller beaches nearby that are calmer and swimmable.
Huatulco is quieter, more developed for resort tourism, and has a series of beautiful bays with calm, clear water. December is dry season here and the weather is excellent.
Both require a connecting flight from a major hub, which adds travel time. But the Oaxacan coast rewards the extra effort.
Central America in December
Central America in December is largely in its dry season and genuinely excellent. It is also significantly more affordable than the Caribbean or Hawaii.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica in December is split by region. The Pacific coast — Guanacaste in the northwest, the Nicoya Peninsula, the Central Pacific around Manuel Antonio — is in full dry season by December. Sunshine, warm temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s, and excellent wildlife viewing.
The Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, around Puerto Viejo and Cahuita, runs on a different weather pattern and gets more rain in December. Stick to the Pacific side.
What Costa Rica has that most beach destinations do not: genuine biodiversity. Manuel Antonio National Park has more wildlife per square mile than almost anywhere on earth that is accessible to tourists. Howler monkeys, sloths, toucans, and dozens of other species are visible on a short walk. Zip-lining, white-water rafting, and volcano tours are also well developed.
It is not a cheap destination anymore. Costa Rica has priced itself up significantly over the past decade. But it offers something that a standard beach resort cannot — actual nature that is genuinely impressive.
Belize
Belize in December is warm, mostly dry, and home to one of the most impressive reef systems in the Western Hemisphere. The Belize Barrier Reef is the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere and the second largest in the world. Snorkeling and diving here are world-class.
The islands — Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker — are the main beach destinations. Ambergris Caye is more developed with better accommodation options. Caye Caulker is smaller, slower, and cheaper — the unofficial motto is “go slow.”
Belize is small, English-speaking, and easy to navigate. It also has Mayan ruins in the interior that are genuinely impressive and far less crowded than the sites in Mexico.
It is not a budget destination, but for the quality of the reef experience, it is worth the cost.
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