Cold weather will be here soon, and I know I’m already planning my winter escape. But I’m not exactly a ‘sit-at-the-beach-for-a-week’ kind of person. Yes, a lot of the best national parks are pretty cold in the winter, but not all of them. And there are national parks and outdoor adventures beyond the U.S. as well that are warm and tropical.
If you want to plan a winter escape that also involves some scenic mountain, coastal, or volcanic views, here are some of my top recommendations.
If you want more than beaches, there are plenty of warm-weather destinations where you can hike, snorkel, kayak, explore volcanoes, see wildlife, and still have time to relax by the water.
Everglades, Dry Tortugas, and Biscayne National Parks: Best for Wildlife and Water Adventures
There’s obviously plenty to do in Florida if you like beaches and theme parks, but there are also three national parks waiting to be visited.
Everglades National Park is a unique subtropical wilderness and the only place on Earth where American alligators and American crocodiles live together in the wild. You’ll likely see manatees, and you can kayak or take an airboat through the mangroves to see wildlife as well.
Winter is the dry season here, bringing cooler temperatures, lower humidity, fewer mosquitoes, and excellent conditions for exploring the park.
Nearby Biscayne National Park is almost entirely water, so the best way to experience it is from a boat or in the water. You can snorkel, paddle, boat, fish, and explore the coral reefs and undeveloped islands protected within the park. Dry Tortugas National Park is also largely underwater and accessible via a boat from Key West.
Three national parks in one winter trip, with Miami and the Florida Keys nearby if you want to add beach time, restaurants, or a few days of relaxation.
Best outdoor adventures: Wildlife viewing, kayaking, airboat rides, snorkeling, boating, and fishing
Best time to visit: December through April
Where to stay: You can stay inside Everglades National Park at Flamingo Adventures or use the Miami/Homestead area as a base. If Biscayne is a priority, staying farther south also puts you in a good position to continue into the Florida Keys.
Virgin Islands National Park: Best for Hiking and Snorkeling
St. John may look like a Caribbean beach vacation, but much of the island is protected as Virgin Islands National Park, making it a great choice for those who want a little adventure with their beach time.
Virgin Islands National Park has more than 20 hiking trails ranging from accessible boardwalks to more adventurous routes through tropical forest, past historic ruins, and down to secluded beaches. More than 40 percent of Virgin Islands National Park is underwater, so there are plenty of boating and snorkeling opportunities.
With a range of resorts and great food options, this is a something-for-everyone type of destination with long or short hikes, easy beach days, and water adventures.
Best outdoor adventures: Hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, and boating
Best time to visit: December through April
Where to stay: Cruz Bay has the most restaurants, shops, and easy access to ferries and excursions. Coral Bay is quieter and gives you a more laid-back side of St. John.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: Best for Volcanic Landscapes
There are few places where you can walk through rainforest and across a volcanic crater on the same vacation.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island protects a landscape shaped by two of the world’s most famous volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Hiking options range from relatively short walks through lava landscapes to challenging backcountry adventures.
One of the park’s signature hikes, Kīlauea Iki, descends through lush rainforest before crossing the floor of a solidified lava lake. Other trails cross old lava flows, climb cinder cones, or take you into the park’s backcountry.
You don’t have to be a serious hiker to appreciate Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. Scenic drives, overlooks, lava fields, and short walks make the park accessible to travelers with a wide range of activity levels.
The Big Island also gives you plenty to do outside the national park. Depending on how you plan your trip, you can add snorkeling, beaches, waterfalls, stargazing, kayaking, swimming with manta rays, or other outdoor adventures.
Of course, there’s no guarantee you’ll see lava, but even without it, Volcanoes National Park is worth visiting.
Best outdoor adventures: Hiking, volcanic landscapes, scenic drives, snorkeling, and stargazing
Best time to visit: Hawaii is generally great year-round, but winter is a great time to escape colder weather at home.
Where to stay: Staying near Volcano gives you convenient access to the national park. You can also split your stay between the Volcano area and the Kona or Kohala Coast to combine the park with warmer beaches and water activities.
Haleakalā National Park: Best for Mountain and Coastal Adventures
Maui probably conjures up images of romantic beaches and luxury resorts, but you could also build a vacation around the national park and other outdoor adventures.
Haleakalā National Park stretches from the summit of Haleakalā down toward the coast at Kīpahulu, creating two very different areas to explore. At the summit, you are surrounded by an enormous volcanic landscape more than 10,000 feet above sea level. Sunrise gets most of the attention, but you can also explore overlooks and trails throughout the summit area.
The Kīpahulu District feels like another world. Located along the Road to Hana, this lush coastal section of the park has waterfalls, ocean views, and the Pīpīwai Trail, which travels through a diverse forest and its famous bamboo forest.
Don’t forget that Maui’s warm weather doesn’t generally extend to the mountain summit. Haleakalā’s elevation creates dramatically different conditions, so bring layers!
Best outdoor adventures: Hiking, volcanic scenery, waterfalls, snorkeling, whale watching, and kayaking
Best time to visit: December through April is especially appealing if you want to combine outdoor adventures with winter whale watching
Where to stay: Most travelers will want to stay near the beach in Wailea, Kihei, or West Maui and visit Haleakalā as part of a broader Maui vacation.
Costa Rica: Best for Rainforests, Volcanoes and Wildlife
If I said the Big Island is one of the few places to experience rainforests and volcanoes in the same vacation, Costa Rica is another one. If you are looking for outdoor adventure, Costa Rica is hard to beat.
The country’s dry season generally runs from mid-December through late April, although conditions vary considerably by region. Warm temperatures and lower rainfall across much of the country make winter an especially popular time to visit.
Around Arenal, you can hike near the volcano, explore the rainforest, walk across hanging bridges, zipline through the canopy, go whitewater rafting, look for sloths and monkeys, and relax in natural hot springs.
From there, you can continue to another part of the country for a completely different experience. Costa Rica has cloud forests, beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, national parks, waterfalls, wildlife reserves, rivers, and some of the most biodiverse landscapes in the world.
Costa Rica may look small on a map, but driving between regions can take longer than you expect (despite the influx of tourism, the road conditions still aren’t great). You can’t do it all in a week, but there are so many amazing parts of Costa Rica, it’s hard to go wrong.
Best outdoor adventures: Volcano hiking, rainforest walks, hanging bridges, ziplining, whitewater rafting, wildlife viewing, surfing and hot springs
Best time to visit: Mid-December through April for the driest weather across much of the country
Where to stay: Arenal is an excellent choice for volcanoes, rainforest, and adventure activities. Pair it with a second destination such as Manuel Antonio, Guanacaste, or another coastal area for wildlife and beach time.
Check out hotel and home rentals near Arenal
Riviera Maya, Mexico: Best for Cenotes and Adventure Parks
This one may be a hot take, as anything around Cancun typically doesn’t get associated with outdoor adventure. And theme parks also don’t scream outdoor adventure, but this trip was a huge hit for both my son and me.
Xcaret has an all-inclusive resort, but it also has 7 theme parks and tours, and this is not Disney. At Xplor, you can zipline over the jungle, drive amphibious vehicles through jungle trails and caves, paddle underground rafts, and swim through underground rivers surrounded by stalactites.
On the Xenotes tour, you will rappel, zipline, kayak, jump, and swim in beautiful cenotes (a pool of natural water created by a sinkhole). Xenses has a Superman-style “bird flight” zipline, mud rivers in caves, and more.
Xcaret has underground rivers and caves as well as opportunities to swim with dolphins, sharks, rays, and more. Xel-Há is built around a large inlet where underground rivers meet the Caribbean. You can snorkel, float down the river in an inner tube, bike through jungle paths, and try a variety of water activities.
So if your family is debating between a beach vacation, a theme park vacation, or an adventure trip, you can have it all at Xcaret. And you don’t have to stay at Xcaret to access the parks. There’s a range of all-inclusive and boutique hotels to fit any budget.
Best outdoor adventures: Cenotes, underground rivers, snorkeling, ziplining, rappelling, jungle adventures, and swimming
Best time to visit: December through April
Where to stay: Playa del Carmen gives you convenient access to many of the Xcaret parks along with restaurants and beaches.
Playa del Carmen has a huge range of options from luxury all-inclusives to boutique hotels
Frequently Asked Questions About National Parks and Outdoor Adventures in the Winter
What are the best national parks and destinations for outdoor adventures in the winter?
Some of the best warm winter outdoor vacation destinations include South Florida’s Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Haleakalā National Park, Costa Rica, and Mexico’s Riviera Maya. All offer plenty of outdoor adventure beyond beaches that allow you to escape from winter at home.
What are the best national parks to visit in winter for warm weather?
Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and Virgin Islands National Park are excellent choices if warm weather is a priority. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes and Haleakalā are also excellent winter destinations, although temperatures within both Hawaiian parks can be considerably cooler at higher elevations.
Where can I go for an active winter vacation without snow?
Consider Costa Rica for rainforests, volcanoes, rafting, and wildlife; St. John for hiking and snorkeling; the Riviera Maya for cenotes and adventure parks; or Hawaii for hiking, volcanoes, and water activities.
Is Costa Rica a good winter vacation destination?
Yes. Costa Rica’s dry season generally runs from mid-December through late April, making winter one of the most popular times to visit. The country offers hiking, wildlife viewing, volcanoes, rainforests, rafting, ziplining, beaches, and hot springs.
Which warm winter destination is best for families?
The Riviera Maya is particularly good for families because there are activities for a wide range of ages and interests. Xcaret and Xel-Há offer swimming, snorkeling, underground rivers, and more relaxed activities, while Xplor has zip lines, amphibious vehicles, and underground adventures. Costa Rica and St. John are also great choices for active families.
Where can I combine a beach vacation with outdoor adventure in winter?
St. John, Maui, Costa Rica, and the Riviera Maya are all strong choices. Each gives you easy access to beaches while also offering hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, wildlife, or other outdoor adventures.
If you are still planning for fall trips, or thinking ahead to spring, check out my ideas for those, including the Mighty 5 in Utah! And yes, it’s not too early to think about summer, especially if you are looking at one of the more popular parks, like Yellowstone or Glacier.
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