Tropical Living: 9 Warm Destinations to Escape the Winter

The long, dark night of winter solstice is behind us, but the short, dark days of early 2023 could try even the sunniest of souls.

Surely springtime and summer are just over the horizon—but it still feels like an eternity before they come. So, rather than await brighter days here in the Northern Hemisphere, why not go meet them in sunny lands nearer the equator? 

Herewith, in this Luxury Defined edition, we head south to nine warm destinations to find the perfect home in the sun. Choose a a seaside compound at the tip of Africa or a sun-soaked villa in Dubai, a dream beachfront home in the Bahamas, or a far-flung escape to the jungles of Costa Rica.

So let the patient planet tilt its northern faces slowly back to warmer days and ways. For the moment, though, let’s escape to the tropical lifestyle and follow the sun. 

1. Chatalet in Hout Bay, Western Cape, South Africa 

One of the most beautiful, biodiverse regions on Earth, South Africa’s Cape Peninsula spans 32 miles southward from Mouille Point to Cape Point, the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent. 

Much of the peninsula is protected reserve, including Table Mountain and Cape Point national parks. Its fynbos biome—shrubland typical of Mediterranean climates and rocky soils—offers a treasury of unique fauna and flora, including 9,000 plant species (two thirds of them found nowhere else on Earth). 

This private coastal compound is in Hout Bay, about 15 miles south of Mouille Point. Set high in the mountains of the Cape Peninsula, Chatalet is a one-of-a-kind seaside estate overlooking the picturesque fishing harbor and Hout Bay Beach. 

The property encompasses more than 75,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor living space across four separate dwellings.

The main residence is on nearly an acre of parklike gardens with an entertainment pavilion, floodlit tennis court, and a 50-foot-long heated rim-flow pool with a jaw-dropping view of mountains, the beach, and the bay. 

The pool terrace is a sun seeker’s haven surrounded by tropical vegetation and fruit trees. There’s also a charming stone pavilion with lounge seating and a barbecue grill. The ancillary dwellings include a self-contained cottage, guest apartment, and guard house.

The property has been scrupulously maintained over the years and its views, which are protected from property development, will be enjoyed for generations to come. 

2. Apsara on Old Fort Bay, New Providence, Bahamas

The 700 islands and 2,400 cays of the Bahamas are fringed by coral reefs and azure seas.

The archipelago begins at Bimini, just 45 miles off the coast of Miami, and stretches southwest for 500 miles to the islands of Great Inagua and Little Inagua. Nassau, the capital, is on the island of New Providence. 

On the western shore of the island is the private waterfront community of Old Fort Bay, which surrounds a restored 18th-century fort built by the British to fend off pirates. Apsara, a stunning beachfront villa spans a one-acre sea-to-sea parcel with a private beach and 150 feet of canal frontage. 

This luxurious eight-bedroom, 10-bathroom home offers 18,500 square feet of living space under roof and 12,600 square feet of outdoor space. Oversized sliding doors with impact-resistant glass allow a seamless transition between the interior and exterior spaces. 

A koi pond, outdoor steam room, infinity pool, private sandy beach, and a protected dock with boat lift and boathouse are among the home’s resort-style amenities. The property also includes a two-bedroom guest/staff suite, two-car garage, elevator, and generator. 

3. Villa Rose in Lurin, Saint Barthélemy

One of the world’s most exclusive tropical escapes, the Caribbean island of Saint Barthélemy blends French sophistication with a breathtaking landscape of palm-clad hillsides, vast stretches of white sand, and turquoise bays filled with superyachts.  

Gouverneur Beach, on the southern cape of the island, is a picture-postcard white-sand cove.

It’s rumored that the notorious 17th-century buccaneer Captain Montbars, “The Exterminator,” buried his stolen treasure in a hidden cave nearby. In the hills above the beach stands Villa Rose, a serene hilltop compound designed by architect François Pécard. 

The property is at one with its lush surroundings. The Italian-style kitchen, dining room, and airy living room with vast glass doors are connected via a covered terrace bordered by a Japanese-style pond, mirror pool, and sun deck facing the sea. 

A palm-lined path through the gardens leads to the private quarters, housed in three separate pavilions, all with private pools, sun terraces, and covered sitting areas.

The decor, a blend of beautiful wood finishes, white tones, and minimalist furniture by interior designer Catherine Pawson, lends to the atmosphere of chic, laid-back luxury. 

4. Paradiso Del Mar in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 

There are more than 40 islands and cays in the Turks and Caicos archipelago. The main island is Providenciales, home to Grace Bay Beach, which forms part of the Princess Alexandra National Park barrier reef—one of the best places in the world to scuba dive. 

Turtle Tail, an exclusive residential enclave on the south coast of the island, is the setting for Paradiso Del Mar. The lavish 24,000-square-foot beachfront villa unfolds across three levels of contemporary living space, clad with floor-to-ceiling glass to capture the sea views. 

At the top is a deluxe penthouse suite (one of 10 bedrooms) with a wraparound deck, delivering unparalleled ocean vistas in every direction. 

Paradiso Del Mar has every conceivable amenity for the resort lifestyle. The stylish, open-plan living area, with lounge, dining area, and kitchen, flows out to a vast infinity-edge pool, lap pool, lounge pool, and wading pool. 

Adding to the glamour is a tropical beachfront entertaining area with cabanas, firepits, a yoga deck, and an outdoor screening area. When night falls, this lavish hideaway, the ultimate venue for grand-scale events. 

Just beyond is a 119-foot stretch of private, powder-sand beach leading into the calm, turquoise waters of the Caicos Banks. 

Related: Your Ultimate Guide to Buying a Private Island

5. Palm Harbor in Islamorada, Florida Keys

Spanning 200 nautical miles, the Florida Keys arc southwest from Virginia Key in the Atlantic Ocean (just south of Miami Beach) to Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, a remote seven-island archipelago in the Gulf of Mexico, 70 miles off Key West. 

Palm Harbor is one of the Keys’ finest properties. This gated, 6.5-acre compound occupies a private peninsula on in Islamorada on Upper Matecumbe Key.

The property comes with an unrivaled 2,000 feet of waterfront, including 150 feet of sandy beach and a 2.5-acre deepwater harbor with 500 feet of dockage and two lifts. 

The main house extends to more than 7,500 square feet with four bedrooms and four full bathrooms. There’s also a guest house with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, two garage bays, and a caretaker’s office.  

Beyond are a palm-shaded pool, summer kitchen, and meandering gardens with an orchid house, a secret garden, and a miniature replica of Stonehenge.  

A second gated entrance is ideal for catered events, and the residence is walking distance from some of the finest restaurants in Islamorada. There also is access to some of the best backcountry bonefishing in the world.  

6. Villa Shanti in Phang-Nga, Thailand 

Tropical rainforests, white sand beaches, and cerulean seas with coral reefs and limestone karsts are just part of the appeal of Thailand’s Phang-Nga province. Furthering the allure of this beautiful region on the Andaman Sea are luxury beach resorts and private villas, such as Villa Shanti, situated just steps from the sand and sea. 

Villa Shanti features five contemporary Thai-style pavilions housing six elegant en suite bedrooms, a spacious “Great Room” for lounging and dining, a family room, and a vast modern kitchen. 

The indoor and outdoor living spaces balance comfort and simplicity with rich teakwood features, crisp white lines, and lush gardens that reflect the rural landscape of the region. 

The pavilions are all connected by a series of walkways leading toward an immense garden interspersed with soaring coconut palms and views of the Andaman Sea. 

A stylish, black-tiled infinity pool sits at the center of the estate, with breezy covered living spaces either side for elegant alfresco dining poolside, or massage treatments by the beach.  

Villa Shanti is an idyllic setting for special events and comes fully staffed with a villa manager, attendants, and a live-in chef. 

7. Casa Chameleon at Mal País, Puntarenas, Costa Rica 

The Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is one of seven Blue Zones (areas of the world in which people live exceptionally long lives). It’s also an international wellness destination. 

Among the area’s holistic resorts is Casa Chameleon at Mal Pais, a luxury wellness retreat envisioned to create a balance with nature. This lush tropical oasis, situated between the surfing mecca of Santa Teresa and the Cabo Blanco Nature Preserve, could also be reimagined as a private family compound or corporate retreat. 

The property comprises 10 elegant villas, each with a private swimming pool, open-plan living areas with glass walls and verandas to capture the sea and jungle views, and gardens alive with native flora and fauna. 

​​Accessible only by 4×4 vehicle, the property is secluded under a rainforest canopy with the sandy shores just beyond. Nearby is the coastal town of Mal País, as well as two international airports, medical centers, and English-speaking private schools. 

Related: Explore Tropical Luxury Villas with a View

8. Reef House on Oil Nut Bay, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands 

Virgin Gorda, the third-largest island in the British Virgin Islands is internationally renowned for its powder-sand beaches, hidden coves, and world-famous Baths, a boulder-strewn beach on the southern end of the island. 

On Virgin Gorda’s eastern tip is Oil Nut Bay, an ultra-exclusive beachfront community accessible only by boat or helicopter. Reef House is built into a palm-clad hillside above the bay, with uninterrupted vistas of Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island and Eustatia Sound.  

The pod-style layout ensures maximum privacy for residents and guests. Four separate bedroom suites have private bathrooms (with indoor and outdoor showers) and private balconies.  

The heart of the home is the great room: Its floor-to-ceiling windows take in the surrounding islands and tropical reefs. It looks onto a veranda with a spectacular heated infinity lap pool with tiki huts at either end, one for sitting and relaxing, the other for outdoor dining. 

Adjacent is the chef’s kitchen, equipped with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. The cozy media room has a full bathroom, and doubles as a children’s bedroom. 

The property is offered fully furnished with pieces sourced from around the world—and includes a 40-foot boat slip. 

9. Beachfront Villa in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Dubai, the first Middle Eastern city designated a UNESCO “creative city of design,” is a bustling microcosm of commerce and cultures from across the world; and, it’s a hub for entertainment and a paradise for adventure-seekers, offering everything from golf and indoor skiing, to horse racing and Formula One motorsport.  

Just off the coast is one of Dubai’s most desirable addresses, Palm Jumeirah island. This opulent, four-story villa overlooks Palm Jumeirah Beach with the Dubai skyline in the distance.  

Its 9,343 square feet of light-infused living spaces open to private balconies and sun terraces. The living room, a grand affair with Louis XVI–style antique furnishings and crystal chandeliers, opens to a card room and media lounge. The formal dining room is equally opulent. 

An elevator with golden doors rises to the private quarters. All four bedrooms are en suite. The primary bedroom has a beautiful bathroom clad in rare Rosa Portogallo marble. 

The amenities that truly entice here include a vast garden with tropical plants, direct access to the beach with white sand imported from the Maldives, and a private pool, all encouraging luxurious and lively entertaining.