By Fatma Younis
With winter approaching and days growing shorter, travelers seeking sunshine can skip the crowds and head to under-the-radar destinations recommended by travel experts.
Nicaragua – Central America’s overlooked gem
Tom Barber, co-founder and brand director of Voyageurs du Monde, says Nicaragua has become more stable in recent decades and offers a highlights reel of Central America: surf, Pacific beaches, wildlife, colonial cities, and volcanoes, with fewer crowds and lower costs than neighboring Costa Rica.
The compact country allows visitors to explore the colorful streets of Granada and León, hike the volcanoes of Ometepe Island in Lake Nicaragua, and peer into the glowing crater of Masaya Volcano.
Ometepe Island is also home to indigenous communities with centuries-old heritage, ancient petroglyphs, and surviving cultural practices.
Best time to visit is December to April, with temperatures typically 28–33°C on the Pacific coast, though drought and water shortages linked to El Niño should be monitored.
Dominica – the Caribbean’s wild side
Barber describes Dominica as a very green, quirky island distinct from the Dominican Republic, with 14% of its land as national parks and 70% forested.
The 115-mile Waitukubuli National Trail, the longest hiking trail in the Caribbean, traverses the island in 14 sections, while the UNESCO-listed Morne Trois Pitons National Park features the Boiling Lake.
Dominica hosts the Kalinago, the largest remaining population of Caribbean indigenous inhabitants, on a 3,700-acre territory where visitors can learn traditions and crafts.
The island offers unique diving with a resident community of sperm whales, and in 2025 established the world’s first marine reserve dedicated to protecting them.
Best time to visit is January to April, with temperatures typically 27–30°C, though tropical showers are possible year-round.
Tunisia – North Africa’s overlooked cultural gem
Barber notes that Tunis, the capital, offers an atmospheric medina and a burgeoning contemporary culture scene, less hectic than Morocco’s Marrakesh.
Nearby Sidi Bou Said features white-washed houses, blue doors, Mediterranean views, and remnants of Carthage, destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC.
Tunisia’s layered Phoenician, Roman, Arab, Ottoman, and French influences provide a wealth of archaeological treasures that receive far less attention than sites in Italy or Greece.
The country also served as a filming location for the original Star Wars movie, and its beaches are a shorter flight from the UK than transatlantic destinations.
Best time for winter travel is February to March, with comfortable sightseeing temperatures of 15–20°C in the north and 18–23°C in the south.
Uruguay – small and sophisticated South America
Hamish Van Gruisen, director of The Ultimate Travel Company, calls Uruguay a small gem offering golden beaches, world-class food and wine, and warm, dry summers ideal for a relaxed winter sun escape.
The country is compact, safe, and easy to explore without internal flights, inviting travelers to discover boutique vineyards like Cordano and El Legado, the vibrant capital Montevideo, and chic coastal towns.
Best time for winter travel is November to March, with temperatures typically 25–32°C.
The Algarve, Portugal – a close-to-home escape
Portugal’s southern Algarve region, often associated with summer beach breaks, can be warmer than expected in winter and far less crowded.
Visitors can enjoy alfresco lunches, deserted beaches, coastal walks, and spectacular sunsets, with activities including salt pan and oyster farm visits, dolphin-watching boat trips, horseback riding, and golf or tennis lessons.
Luxury options include the five-star W Algarve in Albufeira and the renovated boutique Octant Praia Verde in the eastern Algarve, featuring private heated plunge pools amid pine forests and sand dunes.
Best time for winter travel is February, with temperatures around 17°C, noticeably less rainfall, and plenty of sunny days.
