The Best Beaches to Visit in December for a Warm Weather Escape

With summer long gone and the chill of winter setting in, December is the perfect time for a beach getaway. Whether it’s for the holidays or to take advantage of fewer crowds and potentially discounted hotel rates earlier in the month, there are plenty of options. 

The best beaches in December can be found everywhere from destinations closer to home to stretches on exotic tropical islands and throughout the Southern Hemisphere, where the month marks the arrival of summer. No matter which destination you choose from this list, you’re likely to have plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures for enjoying the sand and the surf.

For glamour, luxury, and French influence that’s combined with the tropics, it’s hard to beat St. Barths. It’s renowned for its beautiful beaches and opulent resorts, drawing many of the rich (and often famous). Saint-Jean Beach is just minutes from the capital and main town of Gustavia on the north coast, with the village of Saint-Jean behind it offering a wide range of shops, restaurants, and hotels. It may best be known for its unique airport with the runway ending right on the sand, an attraction in itself for many. 

All sorts of activities in and on brilliant aquamarine water can be enjoyed at Saint-Jean, including stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and snorkeling with the reef sheltering the area from the wind. When it’s time to relax, beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent, or you might unwind with a drink at one of the bistros with seating on the sand.

December is the start of the dry season in Costa Rica, a time when the beaches become even more inviting. At Manuel Antonio National Park along the central Pacific coast, you can enjoy picturesque stretches of white sands backed by lush rainforest, home to abundant wildlife, from sloths and iguanas to capuchins and howler monkeys. Playa Espadilla is particularly ideal, winding along the coast for more than a mile. It’s divided into two main sections: Espadilla Norte, which is free to access just outside the park entrance, and Espadilla Sur, which is inside the park and requires an entrance fee.

From either beach, you can often spot dolphins and whales that pass through the area from December through March. Swimming is one of the most popular activities, with the water often calm, but SUP and kayaking can be enjoyed too. Rentals are available from vendors nearby. Plus, if you want to spend most of your time here, there are several hotels that are just steps from the sand.

Playa Medano is the most central and most swimmable beach in Cabo San Lucas. Located right downtown, there are multiple beachfront hotels and resorts, along with some famous bar/restaurants like Mango Deck and The Office. Stretching two miles from the entrance of the marina to Villa del Palmar, there’s a lot to do on the sand and in the calm, clear turquoise water. A roped-off swimming area makes for enjoyable dips, and a wide range of water sports rentals are on offer, including paddleboards, kayaks, jet skis, and even flyboards. Plus, you can take a water taxi right from the beach out to the famous El Arco (arch) at Land’s End. Glass-bottom boat tours depart from here as well, ideal for those who want to see colorful fish without getting in the water.

Santa Cruz is a year-round destination. In fact, living in the area for many years, winter was my favorite time to go to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the beach that fronts it. Simply referred to as Main Beach, December isn’t the best time for swimming, but if you bring a wetsuit, you can take advantage of the excellent surfing or boogie boarding. Stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking are popular too, with the waves typically calmer here than at the surfing hotspots nearby, like Pleasure Point just south and Steamer Lane, its neighbor to the north. 

There’s another reason to visit Main Beach in December: the annual Winter Wonderland event. After 5 p.m., the rides at the boardwalk are only $2 each, and there will be lots of twinkling lights and holiday decor. The kids can even take photos with Santa and roast S’mores at the firepits. Plus, you can enjoy waterfront dining on fresh seafood at restaurants on the pier. Before or after, watch the countless sea lions that swim and lounge around on the rafters beneath. 

Poipu Beach is a great destination to plan your December trip around. It’s one of the best on Kauai for all types of beachgoers, including couples and families with children. There’s something for everyone here, including the little ones, with a protected cove on the left side of a sandbar that creates a natural pool for safe splashing and swimming. There’s even a playground when they’re ready for a break from the sand and the sea. 

Older kids, teens, and adults can enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and outstanding snorkeling with a vibrant coral reef just offshore, inhabited by everything from Hawaiian sea turtles to a wide range of tropical fish. While on the beach, you might see the rare Hawaiian monk seal basking in the sun. Poipu is also part of a popular resort area with many accommodation options. There are several restaurants nearby, or bring your own supplies for a picnic with shaded tables available on-site.

Located about a 30-minute drive from central Cape Town in Hout Bay village, Hout Bay Beach divides Hout Bay Harbour and the cliffs of Chapman’s Peak. It’s a stunner with a backdrop of emerald mountains, white powdery sands that span about two-thirds of a mile, and calm turquoise water.  Swimming, kayaking, and other water sports can be enjoyed here, along with horseback riding and beach strolls. Of course, you can always just relax and take in the scenery with many beachside bars and restaurants. Sunset cocktails are especially popular with Mother Nature creating a beautiful painting in the sky every day at dusk. If you’d like to spend most of your time here, there are several hotels right across the road from the beach. 

The charming fishing village of Celestún on the west coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, 60 miles southwest of Merida, has a nearly two-mile-long stretch of pristine white sands edged by aqua blue water and a large population of flamingos. It’s not a place most tourists make it to, with visitors largely made up of the locals from Merida who enjoy weekends in Celestún. It’s the perfect place to relax and take advantage of a wealth of activities, with the most popular being a boat tour through the Ria CelestúnBiospheree Reserve to observe the bright pink birds. In fact, December is one of the best months for the flamingos, with winter the prime viewing season as a large population congregates here. 

Right at the beach, you can swim comfortably all year long with the temperature of the water rarely dipping below 75 degrees, even in the winter. All sorts of water sports can be enjoyed too, including stand-up paddleboarding, parasailing, and jet skiing. While you can stay in Merida and take a day trip to Celestún, there are multiple accommodation options here, from budget-friendly to the more upscale. 

Puerto Rico is a great choice if you want a Caribbean getaway but don’t have enough time to get a passport or renew one that’s expired. This U.S. territory has over 140 islands and islets, including Culebra. It’s less than 20 miles from the main island and home to Flamenco Beach, which is often listed among the best in the world, with silky white sands and clear cobalt water. The beach has also become famous for its abandoned tanks that were left behind by the U.S. military. Today, they’re artfully decorated in bright colors with Caribbean-inspired patterns. 

The beach stretches alongside the entire horseshoe-shaped bay and is renowned for snorkeling. Exploring with a snorkel and mask brings the chance to swim among abundant marine life, including green sea turtles, rays, moray eels, and colorful fish like blue tangs and parrotfish. Divers will find plenty too, including underwater caves and shipwrecks. If you want to spend most of your time here, Villa Flamenco Beach is only steps from the sands, offering studio apartment rentals. Most accommodations are a bit farther away, but you’ll find plenty throughout the island, including various types of vacation rentals, guesthouses, and hotels. 

Martinique is known for its lush rainforest and its expansive beaches with stretches of both black and white sands. Les Salines is one of its most famous, a long stretch of white sands dotted with coconut palms and lapped by sparkling turquoise water: quintessential Caribbean paradise. Calm and clear, it’s good for swimming and snorkeling as well as being safe for kids to splash around and play. Plus, food vendors walk the sand hawking drinks, souvenirs, and delicious local treats like the highly recommended coco ice cream. 

There are several restaurants within easy reach of Les Salines, and you’ll find restrooms and showers right on-site. While it’s not possible to stay right along the beachfront, a variety of accommodation options are available in Sainte-Anne, including B&Bs, vacation rentals, boutique hotels, resorts, and guesthouses.

Summer arrives in December, here in the Southern Hemisphere. For a trip to the Land Down Under that includes beautiful beaches and unique wildlife like wallabies and kangaroos, Pebbly Beach in Murramarang National Park makes a great base. There are beach house rentals just steps from the sand, or you can stay nearby with multiple options within a 20-minute drive. Throughout this area, some of Australia’s most famous animals can be seen hopping around the beach and might even find a spot to lounge right next to you. There are so many, it’s not uncommon for them to be in the locals’ front yards. Just down from Pebbly Beach, The Tanks are a set of rock pools that are popular for swimming and snorkeling.

The Bahamas can easily be reached from many cities in the U.S. and Canada. With hundreds of islands, you have lots of choices here, but if you want to enjoy a spectacular natural setting away from the crowds and sprawling resorts at popular Grand Bahama, consider Harbour Island in The Abacos. This string of barrier islands is the most accessible of the Out Islands, and Harbour Island is renowned for its pink sandy beach, aptly named “Pink Sands Beach.” A three-mile-long stretch, its color comes from microscopic, red-shelled foraminifera mixed in with the white sand. Sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, and beach strolls are just a few of the popular things to do here.

There are accommodation options throughout the island, but if you stay at Pink Sands Resort, you’ll be just a short walk away from the beach. The resort also offers tours to swim with the famously friendly swimming pigs on Meek’s Patch Island. 

Aruba is home to some of the most breathtaking beaches in the Caribbean, mostly made up of powdery white sand. But Eagle Beach is often named among the world’s most beautiful, and it lies just northwest of the capital city, Oranjestad. There are several resorts that will put you steps from the sand and the calm, crystal-clear blue water that’s ideal for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. In fact, there’s even a shipwreck that’s accessible to both snorkelers and divers. The SS Antilla, or “Ghost Ship” as it’s often called, was a German cargo ship that sank during WWII. It’s the largest of its kind in the Caribbean and is covered by coral formations and tube sponges that are inhabited by all sorts of tropical fish. Kayaking, jet skiing, and parasailing can all be enjoyed too.