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Best sun destinations in January 2026 – where to go

Escape the northern winter chill — the tropics are at their sunniest with dry season in full swing across Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, and the Caribbean.

10

Avg UV Index

11

destinations

252

Avg sunny days/yr

Top 11 destinations for January

Ranked by optimal weather conditions, UV intensity and travel accessibility.

Maldives, Maldives
#1
UV 11
Maldives

Maldives

Paradise atolls with overwater bungalows and extreme equatorial sun exposure.

8 min burn
250 sunny days
Peak UV: 14
November - April
Dubai, UAE
#2
UV 10
UAE

Dubai

Futuristic desert city with extreme heat and dangerously high UV index.

9 min burn
350 sunny days
Peak UV: 13
November - March
Phuket, Thailand
#3
UV 10
Thailand

Phuket

Thailand's largest island with stunning beaches and strong tropical UV exposure.

9 min burn
200 sunny days
Peak UV: 13
November - April
Zanzibar, Tanzania
#4
UV 11
Tanzania

Zanzibar

Spice Island with pristine beaches and extreme equatorial sun exposure.

8 min burn
250 sunny days
Peak UV: 14
June - October
Cancún, Mexico
#5
UV 9
Mexico

Cancún

Crystal-clear waters and ancient Mayan ruins make Cancún a tropical paradise with intense Caribbean sun.

9 min burn
240 sunny days
Peak UV: 12
December - April
Tulum, Mexico
#6
UV 10
Mexico

Tulum

Mayan ruins overlooking Caribbean beaches.

9 min burn
240 sunny days
Peak UV: 13
December - April
Seychelles, Seychelles
#7
UV 11
Seychelles

Seychelles

Pristine archipelago with unique granite beaches.

8 min burn
260 sunny days
Peak UV: 14
April - May, October - November
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
#8
UV 10
Brazil

Rio de Janeiro

Marvelous city with famous beaches and intense summer sun.

9 min burn
260 sunny days
Peak UV: 14
May - October
Bali, Indonesia
#9
UV 9
Indonesia

Bali

Island of the Gods with lush rice terraces and powerful equatorial sunshine.

9 min burn
220 sunny days
Peak UV: 13
April - October
Koh Samui, Thailand
#10
UV 10
Thailand

Koh Samui

Palm-fringed beaches and luxury resorts in the Gulf of Thailand.

9 min burn
210 sunny days
Peak UV: 13
December - April
Aruba, Aruba
#11
UV 11
Aruba

Aruba

One Happy Island with constant trade winds but intense tropical sun year-round.

8 min burn
290 sunny days
Peak UV: 14
Year-round