The best places to go in February: Our top travel picks for a solo holiday
February is (apparently) the month of romance with Valentine’s Day on the horizon. But don’t let the Hallmark cards and heart-shaped balloons dictate what you do with your month. Especially if you’re single, there’s no better time to book a solo adventure. How about white-water rafting to get your adrenaline pumping in Costa Rica? Or snorkelling in marbled, mirror-like waters off the Philippines?
Trace a line around the equator and you’ll find the tropics bask in dry, sunny days at this time of year, primed for hiking and snorkelling. In the southern reaches, South Africa is enjoying the height of summer, while the Northern Hemisphere is draped in atmospheric winter darkness. Here’s Flash Pack’s oh-so handy guide to help you discover the best places to escape to in February as a solo traveller.
Costa Rica
Average temperature: 26°C / 79°F
Why you should visit now:
It’s always good to travel somewhere just after peak season. The weather has barely changed, but the prices have dropped – and it’s a lot quieter. This is what makes February the perfect time to explore Costa Rica. From hiking through mysterious cloud forests to white-water rafting along the Pacuare River and surfing the Pacific beaches – especially around the Nicoya Peninsula – it’s a haven for adventurous travellers. Wildlife spotters should take a boat trip along the Río Tempisque – home to bird life, capuchin monkeys and crocodiles.
Expert tip:
Stop at Marisqueria Restauranticos on Route 34 (between Orotina and Herradura) for the best shrimp ceviche, doused in a spicy tomato sauce with citrus twist.
Philippines
Average temperature: 25°C / 77°F
Why you should visit now:
By February, typhoon season is a distant memory; expect low humidity and plenty of sunshine in the Philippines at this time of year. With 7,000 islands to explore, it’s hard to know where to begin. Sandwiched between El Nido and Coron, Ginto Island offers a real Robinson Crusoe-style, private-island experience with its silica white sand, fringed by the turquoise Indian Ocean. Venture out on a sea kayak to snorkel with a kaleidoscopic array of tropical fish, before returning for an icy beer at sunset.
Expert tip:
Embrace the bayanihan spirit, which means communal acts of kindness in the Philippines. As a traveller, tip generously and support local, independent businesses.
Egypt
Average temperature: 23°C / 73°F
Why you should visit now:
Cool temperatures make February a pleasant month to explore the spice-laden markets and ancient monuments of Egypt. Head to Abu Simbel to witness a natural phenomena – when the suns rays light up the normally dark central chamber – that only occurs twice a year. On 22 February, the sunlight shines directly through the entrance to the Temple of Ramses II, illuminating the pharaoh’s statue as well as the gods Ra-Horakhty and Amun Ra. Afterwards, escape the crowds on a private tour of the Nile, onboard a traditional felucca sailboat.
Expert tip:
Head to St Simon the Tanner Monastery in Cairo, a series of seven churches carved into the rocky Mokattam Hills – one of Egypt’s most impressive modern monuments.
Sri Lanka
Average temperature: 27°C / 81°F
Why you should visit now:
With bright sunny days and minimal rainfall, it’s easy to see why February is the best month to visit Sri Lanka. The mountainous central province is home to centuries-old Buddhist temples, especially around Kandy, and fragrant spice plantations, while the west coast is primed for surfing. Learn how to ride waves in Weligama before journeying north to cosmopolitan Galle. This former Dutch city comes alive in mid-February for Shankra Festival, a riotous celebration of psychedelic trance music, art installations and healing workshops.
Expert tip:
Head to Negombo Beach for their daily fish market, an atmospheric experience.
South Africa
Average temperature: 26°C / 79°F
Why you should visit now:
South Africa in February is hot, hot, hot. Travellers stepping off the plane in Cape Town tend to head east along the famous Garden Route – a 300km coastal road trip. However, intrepid adventurers should try the shorter, but no less rewarding, Chapman’s Peak Drive, stopping to snorkel with octopi, spot African penguins at Boulders Beach and journey along the upscale Atlantic Seaboard. No trip to South Africa would be complete without wine tasting, naturally. Sample cool-climate pinot noirs at the small-batch wineries in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, or try the cabinet sauvignon of the twin Cape Winelands towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.
Expert tip:
Learn some South African slang before you go. Lekker is Africaans for ‘great’ or ‘awesome’, while babbelas is an appropriate term for a hangover.
Mexico
Average temperature: 24°C / 75°F
Why you should visit now:
Mexico’s temperatures in February are like a just-toasted tamale (filled corn dough): not so hot you can’t explore the capital or nearby colonial-era cities such as Puebla; not so cool you can’t kick back on the beaches of the Pacific Coast. In fact, what does ‘cool’ even mean in a country so packed with spice and flavour? Take in Lucha Libre wrestling matches in Mexico City, sample street food and mezcal in Oaxaca, then slink off to the surfable waves of Puerto Escondido.
Expert tip:
The bohemian beach town of Sayulita hosts a film festival, where you can join the resident surfers and yogis for movie screenings, live music and more.
Australia
Average temperature: 28°C / 82°F
Why you should visit now:
Soak up the last month of summer in Australia during February. The school holidays are over and most locals are back to work, so popular destinations will be blissfully crowd-free. Adventure seekers will get their thrills at Stockton Bight Sand Dunes, north of Sydney in New South Wales – the largest moving dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Hurtle down the 40 metre-high sandy slopes on sandboards and quad bikes, before cooling off with a dip in the Tasman Sea afterwards.
Expert tip:
Head to Bremer Bay in Western Australia to spot hundreds of orcas in February, as they congregate annually to feast on squid in the inky-dark waters.
Ready to take off on your next adventure? Join Flash Pack today to discover group solo holidays with like-minded people in their 30s & 40s.
To find out where to go in March, read our expert travel tips, ideas and inspiration.
Images: Flash Pack
