The Best Places to Visit in February for Couples: Weather & Travel Guide

December and January may be the happiest times of the year, but between family travel, gift-giving and end-of-year scrambles at work, they can also be the most stressful. That makes February a great time to travel. And the best places to visit in February can help you both recuperate from a busy month and build excitement for the year ahead.

Wanderlust seekers eager to escape the winter blues will want to consider a February vacation to warm destinations like the sun-kissed beaches of St. Barts or coastal wineries of Santa Barbara. But cold and cooler-weather destinations are also at their peak, as February is the best month to travel to remote regions like Patagonia. No matter what travel trends you usually follow, you'll find that the best countries to visit in February celebrate everything from culture and outdoor adventure to annual festivals. While there's rarely a bad place to go on vacation, the 10 destinations below highlight some of the very best places to visit in February for an enviable winter getaway.

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Maui, Hawaii

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Hawaii is considered one of the best places to travel in February for several reasons. While all of the main islands—Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island—offer unique experiences, Maui usually has the highest number of migrating humpback whales. These majestic creatures travel from Alaskan waters to the warm Hawaiian seas to give birth and mate. Maui becomes a prime location for whale watching during this time. The Maui Whale Festival lasts all month, with educational programs, parades, boat tours and shoreline events. Maui is also one of the best honeymoon destinations in February—it's hard to beat a private Valentine's Day dinner on the beach, after all.

Note: The devastating wildfires in 2023 destroyed Lahaina and parts of West Maui, so exercise caution if you're visiting that area. (Tourism to most of West Maui reopened on Nov. 1, 2023. However, it's still important to be respectful, and especially cautious and compassionate when visiting that part of the island.)

Things to Do: Aside from whale watching tours with amenities like underwater microphones and an open bar, February's cooler weather also makes it a nice time for land-based activities. Consider taking a pineapple tour or learning to make chocolate at a cacao farm, or hiking through gorgeous natural areas like Waiʻānapanapa State Park and Haleakalā National Park.

Places to Stay: If there's one island where you'll find no shortage of amazing hotels, it's Maui. For a luxurious splurge stay, book a few nights at the sprawling Ritz-Carlton Kapalua or the adults-only Hotel Wailea, with rooms that feel quite private thanks to lush gardens and trees. If you want something more unique (and budget-friendly), you may want to rent a glamping cabin at Camp Olowalu or the Paia Inn, walkable to fabulous beaches and the cute surf town of Paia.

Madeira, Portugal

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Fly to the warm and sunny Portuguese island of Madeira this winter, and it won't take long to see why it's one of the best places to visit in February. Aside from the island's year-round perfect weather (it's off the coast of Morocco) and lower-than-the-mainland prices, February is alive with Carnival celebrations—and the island knows how to party. In February, the streets of Funchal and other popular towns come alive before Fat Tuesday with more than a week of theme parties, parades, special events, live music and more. That makes Madeira one of the best places to vacation in February if you want to fill your days with outdoor adventure and your nights with dancing, live music and special events.

Things to Do: Aside from celebrating at the various Carnival events, Madeira also offers a plethora of outdoor adventures, as well as hundreds of miles of hiking trails to scenic vistas (called vereda hikes) and along lush water canals (called levada hikes). You can swim in gorgeous natural swimming pools, taste the island's famous port-like wine, take a canyoning tour through inland waterfalls, or take advantage of the island's high peaks on an intro mountain bike tour.

Madeira restaurants are also exceptionally good, and you'll want to make a reservation at a highly regarded restaurant like Villa Cipriani or Galáxia Skybar at Savoy Palace, which looks out across the entire island and Atlantic Ocean.

Places to Stay: Reid's Palace is a gorgeous, bright-pink beacon on cliffs, with tiered pools and gardens that cascade toward the shimmering Atlantic. Quinta do Furao is a boutique hotel on a vineyard on the island's northern coast (near plenty of wine-tasting opportunities). Barcelo Funchal Downtown offers high-end and reasonably priced rooms in the center of downtown Funchal. And check out the Caju Hotel for pretty rooms in a historic building near the center of Funchal's Carnival celebrations.

Belize

Photo: Schafer & Hill

Belize is one of the best countries to visit in February, especially because it's easy to reach from the US, making it a great last-minute adventure trip. The combination of favorable weather and low rainfall makes it a great time to explore both mainland attractions—like Mayan ruins and rainforest tours—and the coastal gems of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. February is also the start of Belize's annual bird migration season and peak whale shark season, making it possible to see the huge creatures at the Gladden Spit Marine Reserve.

Depending on your dates, you may be able to party at the San Pedro Carnival or Fiesta de Carnaval, both celebrated in the town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. And if you're there for snorkeling and diving, February is as good a time as any to go underwater, since the ocean conditions are reliably impressive year-round (think warm water and visibility between 50 and 80 feet).

Things to Do: There's not enough time to describe all the things you can do in Belize in February in one article, but here goes: go scuba diving or snorkeling at the Blue Hole, or snorkel with shark rays at Shark Ray Alley. You can tour Mayan ruins at Caracol or Xunantunich, or swim through an underground cave deep in the rainforest. There's also the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary, river and cave tubing tours, chocolate and rum pairing classes and plenty of sunset sailing dinner tours.

Places to Stay: The newly opened Alaia Belize on Ambergris Caye has three pools (including one just for adults) and an on-site scuba diving center that offers certifications and trips to the famous Blue Hole. On the mainland, Blancaneaux Lodge and Chaa Creek offer luxe accommodations near many of the country's best rainforest adventures. Almost every hotel offers some kind of all-inclusive package, including ones tailored to divers (Cayo Espanto), as well as birders, fly fishers and honeymooners (Copal Tree Lodge).

Rwanda

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If you've always dreamed of seeing the extremely endangered mountain gorillas studied by primatologist Dian Fossey, you'll want to consider visiting Rwanda in February. February is the last month of the winter dry season in Rwanda, making it an ideal time to explore the country without the threat of heavy rains (plus slightly lower prices than in January). That also means it's the best time to visit the famous Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, which is much, much more pleasant on a sunny and dry day—treks to find the rare gorillas can be extremely muddy and slippery in the wet season. It's also the best time for other outdoor activities offered in the small country, like cycling tours or visits to Akagera National Park.

Things to Do: Because Rwanda is a relatively small county with a brand new highway system, it's possible to see almost all of it in one trip. While gorilla trekking is quite pricey (and should be booked well in advance), many other outdoor adventures are quite affordable. You can go on a boat safari in Akagera National Park for less than $40 per person, or take a class and tasting lesson of the country's famously good coffee for $50 a person. Of course, there are plenty of bucket-list activities available in February, too, like a sunrise safari hot air balloon ride over national parks.

Places to Stay: Good luck choosing just one place to stay in Rwanda—the country has some of the most gorgeous lodges and resorts on the entire continent. Near Volcanoes National Park, you can stay at romantic lodges like the One and Only Gorillas Nest, or the slightly more budget-friendly Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel. In Kigali, consider The Retreat (villas have private plunge pools) or the luxe Hôtel des Mille Collines, where they filmed 2005's Hotel Rwanda.

Chile

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Chile is one of the best places to visit in February for a multitude of reasons, but one notable highlight is the weather. February marks the peak of the Southern Hemisphere summer, providing long hours of daylight and different experiences, based on where you want to go. It's the best time to visit Southern Chile (Patagonia) for hiking, trekking, horseback riding, fly fishing and other warm-weather adventures. The weather in Santiago is warm and perfect for sightseeing. Valparaíso comes alive with visitors hitting the beach, and February is the start of wine harvest season in the city's wine region, roughly an hour south of Santiago.

Things to Do: The challenge isn't finding things to do—it's figuring out how many you can pack into one trip. In Patagonia, you'll want to explore gorgeous Torres del Paine National Park, either by hiking, taking a boat tour or trekking across glaciers. Photographers and adventure seekers can also track the elusive puma, complete with a stay at an eco-camp.

In Santiago, the world's your oyster, as the metropolitan hub has everything from art museums to award-winning restaurants to dance festivals. Also available are everything from day trips to local wineries to horseback riding adventures with Chilean cowboys. And if you head to Valparaiso, be sure to visit Playa Cachagua, one of the most popular beaches in the region.

Places to stay: In Southern Patagonia, stay at the gorgeous Hotel Remota, which offers all-inclusive packages that include treks and adventures in and around Torres del Paine. You can also stay in a glamping dome in the park at EcoCamp Chile. In Santiago, Castillo Rojo is a boutique hotel housed inside a small castle in an artsy area of town, and the Singular Santiago is a posh resort walkable to Santiago gardens and restaurants.

St. Barts

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If you're looking for the best places to travel in February to live like a VIP for a few days, it's hard to think of an island more fitting than St. Barthelemy, i.e. St. Barts. While lodging and food on the island are quite pricey year round, February is less expensive than December and January—which are high season on the island—and less crowded than March, which hosts several regatta festivals.

You can reach St. Barts on a 35-minute ferry ride from St. Martin, making it surprisingly accessible among exclusive Caribbean islands. And since every beach on the island is both free and public, you can spend your days relaxing in the sun without dropping a dime. (You'll want to save those dimes for Le Sereno, Bonito or one of the island's many other in-demand restaurants, anyway.)

Things to Do: St. Barts beaches are all public, so if you rent a car, you'll be able to visit gorgeous shorelines like Shell Beach, Combier Beach and Saline Beach. Hikers should find the trail to the gorgeous natural pools (called the Grand Fond, near Saline Beach) and those who prefer to lounge in the sun should snag a day pass at beach clubs like Le Barthelemy or Gyp Sea Beach Club. Fortunately, St. Barts has perfect warm honeymoon weather basically year-round.

If you prefer to spend your time on (or in) the water, you can rent a boat for the day from MasterSki-Pilou, go scuba diving or snorkeling with Serial Divers, or book an afternoon of organic facials and beachfront massages at a luxurious spa like the one at Le Cheval Blanc.

Places to Stay: Most hotels on St. Barts are pricey, but hey, it's St. Barts. You can book absolutely stunning cliffside bungalows with eclectic decor at the Gyp Sea Hotel, or book more modern villas at the eco-friendly Hotel Manapany. Fleur de Lune is probably the only hotel on the island that could be considered affordable, and you can usually find rooms at Le Village starting in the $300s in winter.

Santa Barbara, California

Photo: San Ysidro Ranch

If you're wondering where to travel in February in the US, Santa Barbara is a no-brainer for those interested in great wine, ideal weather for outdoor activities, or just a high-end wellness weekend. In February in Santa Barbara, visitors can catch the monarch butterfly migration at the Coronado Butterfly Preserve; have perfect weather for walking through the Spanish mission-style downtown; or even attend a showing at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Santa Barbara also has 283 wineries spread through seven wine areas, with plenty of ways to travel between them, from e-bike tours to riding in a motorcycle sidecar.

Things to Do: Most visitors to Santa Barbara will want to visit a few wineries or one of the downtown tasting rooms, and the Botanical Garden is a beautiful spot for a leisurely morning in February. The city has quite the history, which you can learn about on a trolley tour (or ghost tour, if you prefer your history to be a little more macabre). The Presidio is worth a visit for history buffs, and you can even take a boat trip (or whale watching trip) out to Channel Islands National Park on the official Island Packers Cruises.

Places to Stay: Santa Barbara's San Ysidro Ranch is probably one of the most beloved hotels for a romantic getaway in California, with comfortable cottages covered in lush gardens. The Ritz-Carlton Santa Barbara has two beaches and three infinity pools, and the Agave Inn is a colorful, comfortable and budget-friendly place to stay for visitors who plan to spend most of their vacation time exploring Southern California.

Sun Valley, Idaho

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Where to travel in February is an easy answer if you're a skier looking for great conditions and small crowds. There's usually abundant snowfall in Sun Valley, Idaho, in February, giving you a good chance of having fresh tracks every day.

One of the unique advantages of visiting Sun Valley in February is the combination of favorable weather conditions and fewer crowds compared to the peak holiday season. This means shorter lift lines, more room to explore the vast terrain, and an easier time getting into nearby restaurants in Ketchum.

The resort of Sun Valley has about 2,400 skiable acres, split nicely between more advanced terrain at Bald Mountain and beginner-friendly gentle groomers at Dollar Mountain (though it has some great tree runs, too). Lift tickets start around $121, making them far less expensive than other comparable resorts.

Things to Do: The country's first heli-ski operation was in Sun Valley and will still whisk you and three advanced skiers or boarders up to some of the best backcountry lines in the mountains. Sleigh rides and ice skating are available all winter at the resort (weather pending, of course), and Galena Lodge is known for snowshoeing (rentals and tours). The Sawtooth Botanical Gardens also hosts "Dark Sky Dinners" in February, with dinner under the stars, fire pits, a snow bar and on-site astronomy experts to assist guests as they stare at the stars.

Places to Stay: Limelight Ketchum has huge outdoor hot tubs, modern rooms and a free ski shuttle all winter long. Hotel Ketchum has mountain-modern rooms and a gear garage with free use of everything from snowshoes to telescopes for guests. But if you just want a comfortable, clean and budget-friendly hotel near the slopes, consider some of the area chain hotels like Fairfield Inn and Suites or the Best Western Plus, both of which are close to the resort and have rooms starting around $150 a night.

Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

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It's no secret that Canadian ski destinations like Banff and Whistler can get pretty crowded. But for travelers willing to drive a smidge further, Jasper National Park is one of the best places to visit in February—especially if you love winter but don't want to spend every day skiing. Jasper is an international dark sky park (and yes, you can sometimes see the Northern Lights). The town of Jasper is small enough to be walkable—even in winter—and since most skiers stop in Banff, you'll have the protected winter wonderland mostly to yourselves. It's an unbeatable place to visit in February if you're keen on reconnecting with nature in a cozy cabin (and maybe seeing elk and moose walk by).

Things to Do: From Jasper, you can walk through a frozen ice canyon, take a winter wildlife photo safari or pick from all kinds of stargazing dinner events. February is also the Jasper Beer and Spirits Festival at the park's pretty Fairmont Lodge.

Other winter activities include hiking in a frozen ice canyon, driving the gorgeous Icefields Parkway, trying out fat biking on snowy trails, or taking a downtown tour of some of the town's best food and drink. Of course, if it's an anniversary trip, you'll likely want to spend most of your time relaxing by the oversized fireplaces or fire pits at your hotel (perhaps with a beverage or two from local Jasper Brewing Co.).

Places to Stay: The most luxurious hotel in town is no doubt the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, with rooms and cabins with sweeping views of the mountains. Pyramid Lake Lodge is also quite popular, especially for people keen on winter ice skating and snowshoeing.

If you're traveling to Jasper in February for a classic winter wonderland experience, you may want to book a log cabin at Alpine Village Resort, The Overlander Mountain Lodge or Bear Hill Lodge, which is walkable to downtown Jasper.

Cancun, Mexico

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Cancun may have a reputation for being a bit of a party zone, with lots of travelers sitting at beach hotels taking advantage of free drinks all day. While there's nothing wrong with a few days of relaxing on the beach at one of Cancun's many all-inclusive resorts, the Mexican beach town actually offers way more to do. And February is one of the best times to visit, when the temperatures are coolest and humidity is lowest.

Near Cancun, you can visit Mayan ruins, swim in cenotes and even see migrating whale sharks north of the town near Isla Holbox. The water visibility is usually at its best in February, making it an ideal time for snorkeling. And with reliable, inexpensive and quick flights from many US cities, it's a great spot for a last-minute February vacation.

Things to Do: If you prefer spending time on the water, consider visiting Playa Langosta. It's near the hotel zone and has a wide, sandy area with minimal waves and perfectly placed palm trees. You can also take tours to snorkel on a shipwreck or take a lunchtime sailing tour to Isla Mujeres (open bar included). On land, you'll want to visit the massive Mayan archaeological site at Chichen Itza, visit a few hidden cenotes deep in the jungle, and take an afternoon tequila and taco tour.

Places to Stay: Excellence Riviera Cancun is an hacienda-style, adults-only resort with six pools and 12 bars. NIZUC Resort and Spa has high-end villas with private pools spread across 29 beachfront acres, and Temptation Cancun is an adult-focused resort with endless opportunities for romance. If you're looking for all-inclusive hotels, consider Secrets the Vine Cancun (which includes all restaurants in the plan) or the Iberostar Cancun, which offers the adults only "coral level" for more exclusive services.