Best Places to go in February

1. New Orleans, US Why go in February? For the biggest of parties in the home of good times Old-world streets decked out in green, purple and gold announce the arrival of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The two weeks leading up to Shrove Tuesday see a crescendo of parades and parties by krewes (carnival clubs), with lots of floats, jazz and body paint. It’s a busy time to visit, but much less humid than in Louisiana’s summer months, when temperatures are generally in the high 20s. You’ll find a more local vibe to Mardi Gras away from the heritage facades and tourist traps of the French Quarter. 2. Koh Samui, Thailand Why go in February? For a later start to perfect beach weather Koh Samui and its neighbouring islands in the southern Gulf of Thailand are at their driest in February, after a short but intense wet season from October to December. You’ll find some of the biggest full moon parties on the island of Koh Pha-ngan, while the northeast of this jungle-clad island is quieter, as is smaller Koh Tao to the north, best for diving and snorkelling. Koh Samui itself is a gateway to both and Thailand’s second-largest island after Phuket, so there’s plenty of variety in its beaches, activities and hotels. 3. Lofoten Islands, Norway Why go in February? For a meeting of land and sea under the aurora It takes only three months for the Lofoten Islands, above the Arctic Circle, to catch their first glimpse of the midnight sun after many weeks of 24-hour night or twilight, and February sits in the middle of the period when it all starts to shift. This is the month to balance having enough darkness to hope for a sighting of the northern lights, with at least a few hours of sun to light up these majestic islands, where mountain ranges meet the ocean. 4. Baja California, Mexico Why go in February? For extraordinary wildlife encounters This is a generally dry and slightly cooler time of year across Mexico. Winter sun aside, the best reason to visit in February is to catch some incredible animal migrations. Millions of monarch butterflies are getting ready to fly north after their winter stay in the forested mountains of the Michoacan-Mexico State border. And in the lagoons on the coast of Baja California, grey whales come right up to visitor boats in some of the world’s most well-managed wildlife encounters. 5. Ari Atoll, Maldives Why go in February? For beach time and underwater discoveries in the best conditions The almost 1,200 tropical islands of the Maldives experience their driest month in February. They are grouped into 26 atolls that lie in an elongated loop, like necklaces within a necklace, suspended in the midst of the Indian Ocean. Whale sharks tend to move to the eastern atolls around December and back west again in May, but at Ari Atoll on the western side these gentle giants can be spotted year-round and March is a great time for diving visibility generally and high season for escapes to white-sand beaches. 6. Luxor, Egypt Why go in February? To follow in ancient footsteps along the banks of the Nile Winter in Egypt means packing something a little warmer to wear outside in the evenings. Summer temperatures regularly top 40C, so if your sights are set more on temples and pyramids than diving in the Red Sea, go in February for pleasant conditions under the desert sun. The pay-off gets bigger the further up the Nile you go and in Luxor (annual rainfall: less than 1mm) you’ll find an outstanding concentration of historic sites in and around one of ancient Egypt’s capitals. February is the time to explore the Valley of the Kings without feeling as parched as the mummies its painted tombs once held. 7. Quebec, Canada Why go in February? For joie de vivre in sub-zero temperatures It’s the second-coldest month of the year in Quebec, but the province’s inhabitants are ready to party. In the capital, Quebec City, the Winter Carnival runs over ten days, usually in early February, and features parades, snow sculptures and winter sports such as ice canoeing. Overlapping with this, La Poutine Week glorifies the national dish of Canada — chips, cheese curds and gravy — in a festival that began in Montreal and has spread nationwide. Outside the cities, now is also the season for skiing (downhill and cross-country) in resorts such as Mont-Tremblant. 8. Palawan, Philippines Why go in February? For tropical island-hopping at the most comfortable time of year With more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines defies easy categorisation, but it’s true that apart from along a narrow eastern fringe, February sees the lowest rainfall of the year. It’s still high season and there are fewer tourists than in the New Year period, plus there’s a host of celebrations including Baguio’s flower festival, making February a great time to explore. Inland attractions include the Banaue Rice Terraces and the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, but the call of white sands and turquoise waters speaks loudest. The province of Palawan has world-class wreck diving. 9. Eastern Cape, South Africa Why go in February? For inspiring scenery and safaris in South Africa’s second-largest province Summer in South Africa is both the driest time of year around Cape Town in the southwest and the wettest as you go northeast towards Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park. The picture is more diverse in the province of the Eastern Cape and variety — not just in climate — is key to its appeal. Its boundaries encompass coastal trails at the eastern end of the Garden Route, the semi-desert surrounds of the Karoo inland and wildlife-spotting, including all (with luck) of the big five at Addo Elephant National Park and other preserves. The Wild Coast to the east is green and rugged as the name suggests. 10. Puntarenas, Costa Rica Why go in February? For rainforest wildlife and unspoiled sandy beaches Central America’s ecotourism star gets tropical downpours throughout the year in most places (hence its resplendent rainforest) but if you’re on the Pacific coast, February is a drier time — busy, but less so than January or Easter. Puntarenas Province covers most of Costa Rica’s western shore, including the tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, with relaxed beach vibes around the town of Montezuma, and further along, two of the country’s top national parks: Manuel Antonio (small and accessible, and very biodiverse) and more remote but stunning Corcovado on the Osa Peninsula.