UPTOURIST

Looking to visit a destination with reliable, temperate weather conditions this year? This list is my own personal picks. If you disagree, leave a quick comment after reading and please tell me your favorite great weather destination.

1. Cyprus

The island of Cyprus has one of the gentlest of all tropical climates I’ve ever experienced. The beauty of this place, weather-wise, is that the humidex never inches above 50. If you despise the soggy, steamy, sticky tropical heat that can be found most days on most islands in the Pacific, you’ll feel like you’ve landed in heaven when you get there. Most days of the year, the temperature hovers in the mid to high 70’s and at night will usually drop in to the high 60’s. Summer temps usually stay well under 100 on the worst days. The water’s warm too, with average water temps in the sea water surrounding the island reaching 68°F during the cool months and over 80°F in August! If you’ve ever found yourself yearning to see where Hercules gets his power, Mount Olympus and its adjoining mountain ranges aren’t hard to find. The main attraction might seem like it would be the sandy beaches, exclusive resorts, and Mediterranean cuisine, but for this guy it’s all about the historical sites like Choirokoitia, the Venetian walls surrounding Nicosia, Phaphos Castle, and the amazing city of Kourion. So much amazing early history here to be enjoyed, in a climate that’s very forgiving most months of the year.

2. Canary Islands

Truly a wonderful retreat from the every day! The Canaries have something magical contained in her 7 island chain that just draws you in. The weather’s warm during the day and gets much cooler in the evenings. The temperature never drops below 60°F. Humidity is hard to avoid on the smaller islands where the laurasilva forests grow on La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma. The larger islands of Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote are much more arid and sandy with dry hot days and cool, breezy evenings. Mount Teidi National Park on Tenerife holds the largest mountain in Spain, and is considered among the most visited national parks on the planet. Snorkeling and scuba diving centers are hard to miss in this tourist driven place, with tons of different species of shark, fish, whale, turtle and my favorite, the bottlenose dolphins that will come right up and interact with you in the water! The canaries are cool too.

3. Brazil

From the endless sandy beaches to the most biologically-diverse rainforest ecosystem on the planet, the Amazon Jungle, Brazil offers excellent climate diversity too. Head to the more arid regions in the north like Boa Vista, Belem, or Manaus and you’ll enjoy average warm tropical temperatures of around 77°F. Head south to Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro and cool off a bit with average temp of just 65°F. Great for keeping cool while lounging on the sand or playing some beach volleyball with the locals! The potential for robbery is high in most urban centers of the country and this is often a concern for first time travelers to the country. Keep in mind that most happen at night, usually in discreet areas where a tourist allows themselves to wander into a secluded, poorly lit area. Stay in the public eye, don’t flash your wealth, and you’ll find your trip to be a trouble-free one.

4. Arizona

Most years boast up to 300 total sunny days in this dry, arid western U.S. state. I’m not going to lie to those of you who’ve never been. Arizona has very hot summers! Typically, from late fall to early spring, the weather is mild, averaging a minimum of 60 °F and reaching well over 100°F on most July days. November through February are the coldest months, with temperatures typically ranging from 40 to 75 °F. The Grand Canyon is the most famous attraction to be found here and for good reason. I really get a kick out of imagining myself traveling through history while examining the 2-billion plus years of geological history displayed in the rocks, such as the Vishnu Schist found at the bottom of the Inner Gorge. Let yourself imagine the power the Colorado River once had to cut through over 6000 feet of rock, as you’re hurdling down the rapids. This is also a place where you’re more likely to die flying in a plane or helicopter; with nearly 250 of the total 600 deaths over the last 150 years coming from flying related deaths.

5. Ireland

Temps here in this temperate oceanic climate rarely go above 90°F on the hottest days, while some winter days can briefly, but rarely dip into the high 40’s. It might come as a surprise to see this little slice of Gaelic heaven listed among a list of much warmer destinations, but I just love at least some variation in weather between seasons, without the heat of Africa or the extreme cold found in climates to the far north. Those who’ve never been tend to lump Ireland in with the rest of the often overcast British Isles, but it’s unique placement smack dab in the middle of the North Atlantic Current, which keeps the island much warmer than Great Britain and others that share its latitude. Because of this, Ireland doesn’t suffer extreme temperature shifts from one season to the next. Nor does it suffer catastrophic tropical storms like those found in the Caribbean isles or Southeast Asia. This place is a golfer’s paradise when the sun’s shining, attracting over 250,000 golfers every year. Make sure to take in a game of rugby while you’re there and then follow up by laying a few pounds down to bet at the nearest greyhound stadium (the Irish breed some of the very best in the world).

 

Main Image Credit: Lefteris Katsouromallis/Flickr