Best Warm Places to Travel in December 2026

The best warm places to travel in December are Aruba, Punta Cana, and Cancun's Riviera Maya, three destinations that hold steady highs in the low-to-mid 80s, sit fully outside hurricane season, and have deep enough all-inclusive inventory to still offer real availability during the year's busiest booking window. Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Costa Rica's Guanacaste coast, and Maui round out the list for travelers who want to spread out beyond the usual Caribbean picks.

December splits into two very different booking windows. The first two weeks are still a relative value zone, warm weather without full holiday pricing. Everything from December 15 through New Year's is peak season across the board: the highest rates, the fullest resorts, and the earliest you need to book of any month all year. This is a sequel to our warm places to travel in November guide, and if your dates have any flexibility, that shoulder-season window is worth a look before you commit to December's holiday prices. Here's the ranked list, with real weather for each stop and a specific resort worth checking where one stands out.

Aruba

Aruba sits south of the hurricane belt off the coast of Venezuela, which keeps it one of the most consistently dry, warm destinations on this list even though December technically falls inside the island's wetter stretch that runs October through December. Highs hold around 82F with water in the low 80s, and rain comes through as short, heavy bursts, roughly ten days worth of scattered showers for the month, rather than settling in and ruining a beach day. Steady trade winds keep the heat from feeling heavy, which is a big part of why Aruba pulls such a large share of December bookings from travelers escaping cold weather up north.

Palm Beach and Eagle Beach carry most of the island's all-inclusive inventory, and rates here climb fast once the last two weeks of December arrive, so booking before Thanksgiving gives you the best shot at a fair price. For a specific shortlist of where to stay, our best all-inclusive resorts in Aruba roundup breaks down the top picks by beach and budget, and our best time to visit Aruba guide covers how December compares to the rest of the year.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Punta Cana is fully in its dry season by December, with daytime highs around 82 to 83F, water near 79F, and rainfall that stays light, about 3 inches for the whole month, spread across scattered days rather than washouts. This is also where the region's sheer size of all-inclusive supply matters most: Punta Cana has one of the deepest resort markets anywhere in the Caribbean, so even with December demand at its peak, there's usually still availability if you book a few weeks out rather than waiting until the last minute.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is a strong pick if you want a big, activity-heavy resort with a water park, an 18-hole golf course, and ten on-site restaurants to work through over a week-long stay. It books up fast for the back half of December, so lock in dates as early as you can.

[Check current rates for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana on Expedia](https://www.expedia.com/Punta-Cana-Hotels-Hard-Rock-Hotel-Casino-Punta-Cana-All-Inclusive.h2464251.Hotel-Information)

Cancun and the Riviera Maya, Mexico

Cancun and the Riviera Maya are solidly in their dry season by December, with highs around 82F, water near 81F, and rainfall dropping to roughly 3 inches for the month across about a week's worth of rainy days. Humidity is also lower here than in the summer stretch, which makes midday beach time feel easier even at the warmest part of the day.

The Zona Hotelera in Cancun has one of the largest concentrations of all-inclusive resorts anywhere in the region, and Moon Palace Cancun is a strong pick if you want a resort large enough that guests rarely need to leave the property, with a golf course, a marina, and 16 on-site restaurants to rotate through over a longer stay.

[Check current rates for Moon Palace Cancun on Expedia](https://www.expedia.com/Cancun-Hotels-Moon-Palace-Cancun-All-Inclusive.h428588.Hotel-Information)

Turks and Caicos

Providenciales holds steady in December, with highs around 81F, water close to the same temperature, and roughly 3.5 inches of rain spread across about 12 days. December through April is generally considered the island's best weather stretch, with lower humidity and calmer seas than the summer months, and Grace Bay's glassy, pale-blue water is a big part of why it consistently shows up on our best beaches in the Caribbean list.

Turks and Caicos runs pricier than Punta Cana or Cancun even in a normal month, and December pushes that further, so it's a better fit if you want fewer resorts and more space rather than the biggest all-inclusive selection. Beaches Turks & Caicos is the standout all-inclusive option on the island, with a full water park, 20 restaurants, and enough activities to fill a week without ever leaving the property, which matters here since dining options off-resort are thinner than in Mexico or the DR.

[Check current rates for Beaches Turks & Caicos on Expedia](https://www.expedia.com/Providenciales-Hotels-Beaches-Turks-Caicos-ALL-INCLUSIVE.h197859.Hotel-Information)

Jamaica

December is Jamaica's driest month, and it shows: Montego Bay runs highs around 84 to 86F with water near 83F, while Negril sits a touch cooler with highs in the low 80s, and rainfall across the island drops to under 2 inches for the entire month. Cloud cover also thins out compared to earlier in the fall, so you get more consistently sunny days than you would in September or October.

Negril and Montego Bay carry the bulk of Jamaica's all-inclusive inventory, with Negril's Seven Mile Beach generally the more laid-back pick and Montego Bay offering easier airport access. If you're still weighing Jamaica against other islands for a December trip, our best Caribbean islands roundup is a good next stop for comparing the full lineup.

The Bahamas

Nassau cools slightly compared to the deeper Caribbean, with highs dropping from around 80F early in the month to closer to 78F by New Year's, and lows in the mid-60s at night. Rainfall stays light, around 2 inches for the month, and December is one of the driest, sunniest stretches of the entire year here. Hurricane season wraps up November 30, so the Bahamas carries essentially none of the storm risk that shapes travel planning here in late summer and fall, one of several islands we cover in our hurricane-free Caribbean islands guide.

The tradeoff is that the Bahamas runs slightly cooler than Aruba, Punta Cana, or Jamaica, which makes it the pick on this list for travelers who want warm without the deepest tropical heat, plus close proximity to South Florida if you're looking to keep flight time short.

Costa Rica and Maui, Hawaii

Outside the Caribbean and Mexico, Costa Rica's Guanacaste coast is one of the better December bets. The region's dry season starts earlier than the rest of the country, and by December it's largely locked in, with daytime highs around 88 to 91F and rainfall dropping close to nothing, often under an inch for the whole month in spots like Tamarindo. Strong, steady "Christmas winds" pick up on the coast this time of year, which keeps the heat from feeling oppressive even at midday. Costa Rica isn't a resort-heavy destination the way the Caribbean is, so plan on pairing beach time with an inland day trip, Arenal Volcano or Manuel Antonio are both easy adds.

Maui runs a little cooler and considerably wetter in December than the destinations above, with highs around 82F but close to 8 inches of rain for the month as the island's wet season gets underway, so pack for occasional showers even on a beach-focused trip. What you get in exchange is whale season ramping up in Hawaiian waters and warmth that comes without Atlantic hurricane exposure of any kind, since Maui sits well outside that belt entirely.

FAQ

Where is the warmest place to travel in December? Costa Rica's Guanacaste coast runs the hottest on this list, with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. Within the Caribbean, Jamaica and Punta Cana both hold steady in the mid-80s.

Is December a good month to travel to the Caribbean? Yes, and it's arguably the most reliable weather month of the year since hurricane season has ended everywhere on this list. The tradeoff is price: December, especially the back half, is peak season, so book earlier than you would for a shoulder-season trip.

When does December get expensive to travel? Rates generally hold steady through the first two weeks of the month, then climb fast starting around December 15 as holiday and New Year's travel ramps up. Booking six to eight weeks out gives you the best shot at avoiding the worst of the surge.

Where can I find warm weather in December without going to the Caribbean? Costa Rica's Guanacaste coast and Maui both deliver real warmth outside the Caribbean and Mexico, though Maui runs cooler and wetter than the Pacific coast of Costa Rica this time of year.

If you want the safest bet on weather alone, Aruba and Punta Cana will not let you down. If you want value before the holiday surge, book the first half of December rather than the back half. And if a group trip or an exclusive rate is part of the plan, plan your trip with me and I'll help put together a package that fits your dates and budget. Wherever you land, December remains one of the most dependable months of the year to trade cold weather for warm, sunny days.