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If you want to soak in some vitamin D and avoid the crowds, January is a great time to jet off on an exotic getaway.
From the white beaches of Mexico to the sand dunes of Cape Verde, here are seven places you can get a winter tan.
1. Cancun
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“If you want to soak in some vitamin D and avoid the crowds, January is a great time to jet off on an exotic getaway”
Average temperature: 28°C
Average hours of sunshine: 6 hrs
Average flight time: 11 hrs
It might be a long-haul flight, but it's worth it for the white sandy beaches and scorching sunshine.
Playa Las Perlas and Playa Linda are superb for watersports, while nearby Isla Holbox is one of the best place to go whale watching in the world.
And there are excellent diving tours in the area and a turtle farm close to Isla Mujeres.
2. Costa Rica
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Average temperature: 27°C
Average hours of sunshine: 7 hrs
Average flight time: 11.5 hrs
This Central American country is one of the best places in the world to spot wildlife. The rain forests of Costa Rica are bustling with monkeys, birds, brightly coloured frogs and even wildcats such as jaguars.
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, it is also a great place to spot dolphins and green sea turtles.
You can gaze at both bodies of water simultaneously from the top of the Irazú volcano – but also enjoy cosmopolitan afternoons in the national capital San José.
3. Grenada
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Average temperature: 25°C
Average hours of sunshine: 8 hrs
Average flight time: 11.5 hrs
Rolling jade-green hills tumble into powder-white beaches fringed with nutmeg trees, on the beautiful island of Grenada.
Known as the Spice Island, it's the ultimate relaxation destination and the calm crystal-clear Caribbean sea means it’s a haven for water-sports enthusiasts.
With more than 45 sandy beaches, Grenada is a dream-like holiday or honeymoon destination all year round. And it's a great spot to soak up some January sun.
4. Maldives
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Average temperature: 27°C
Average hours of sunshine: 9 hrs
Average flight time: 10 hrs 20 minutes
The sugar-soft sand, coconut-palm-fringed beaches and impossibly clear waters, make the Maldives a dream destination.
The Indian Ocean’s most celebrated cluster of islands also boasts nine hours of sunshine in January.
5. Cape Verde
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Average temperature: 24°C
Average hours of sunshine: 7 hrs
Average flight time: 6 hrs
Located 500km off the coast of West Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Verde is an eclectic hybrid of African and Portuguese cultural influences.
With stunning beaches, looming sand dunes and hillsides layered with frozen lava, Cape Verde offers something for everyone.
6. The Canary Islands
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Average temperature: 22°C
Average hours of sunshine: 6 hrs
Average flight time: 4.5 hrs
With seven islands to choose from, the Canaries are a great (and affordable) place to soak in some winter sun.
Just a four hour flight from the UK, Tenerife has everything from beaches, to volcanoes and its also home to some of the best windsurfing in the world.
While Lanzarote and Gran Canaria provide the perfect beach resorts for families.
7. Florida
Average temperature: 23°C
Average hours of sunshine: 7 hrs
Average flight time: 9.5 hrs
Swim with dolphins, ride roller coasters and visit the penguins in Florida. Home to Disneyworld and Universal Orlando, it's a great place to take the kids, it's also an amazing playground for adults.
What's more its a pleasant 23°C in January and it's less than 10 hours away!