Which country to visit in February with sunshine, hiking, and beautiful sights?
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Translated into English.

Original post
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hi, I’m looking for a country to visit for 10 days in February. What do you recommend for a trip with some sunshine, hiking, and sightseeing?

Thanks for your help
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
Hi there,

For a 10-day trip, a country that’s not too far away would be ideal.

Hiking, some sunshine, and villages: the Canary Islands.

Tenerife + La Gomera or El Hierro

Lanzarote + Fuerteventura

Madeira should also fit the bill, but I haven’t been there.
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
SE Sebastoudu31 Regular ·
Thanks so much! What do you think about Cape Verde?
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
I haven’t been there yet, but I’d started looking into it for a trip in March. Some islands would be great for hiking and sunshine, while others are purely beach destinations.

It’s farther away and harder to get to. The flight is significantly more expensive.

Personally, I think it’s a destination best saved for a longer trip.
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
SE Sebastoudu31 Regular ·
thanks so much for your reply! I’ve got some questions about the temperature I often see that the Canary Islands have a mild climate
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
Mild on the plains and by the sea, but temperatures drop with altitude. Especially at night.

In short, during the day, it’s very pleasant to spring-like. In the evening, bring a sweater, a fleece, or even a puffer jacket depending on the altitude.

It’s best to choose accommodations that aren’t too high up this season, as heating is often nonexistent.
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
MA Mathews Globetrotter ·
Hey, you should head to southern Morocco or even "do" a bit of the desert. There’s tons to see in Morocco.
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
For hiking in Morocco, it's best to head to the mountains.

February isn’t the right time for that.

In the desert, it’ll be freezing at night too.
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
What do you think of Cape Verde?

Hi there, In February, if you're looking for pleasant temperatures (neither too hot nor too cold, between 19°C and 25°C), sunshine, and little to no rain, Cape Verde is the place to go. Fly to São Vicente; spend 2 or 3 days there, then take the ferry (1-hour crossing) to Santo Antão. It’s a stunning island, perfect for hiking. The east and north have lush green valleys (Paul Valley, Ribeira da Torre Valley, Ribeira Grande Valley, Ribeira da Garça Valley), while the west is more arid, with its dramatic, jagged landscapes and vertigo-inducing paved paths carved into the cliffs. The locals are lovely. At the end of your trip, spend 2 nights in Tarafal de Monte Trigo for its "end-of-the-world" beach (a dead-end spot) with very few tourists. Stay at Mar Tranquilidad, right by the beach at the village entrance.

Madeira is another option, but it’ll be cooler and rainier. You can still enjoy great hikes, but there are no beaches—except on the neighboring island of Porto Santo, though there’s not much to do there besides relax on the beach. The Canary Islands are similar in terms of cooler, wetter weather.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
SE Sebastoudu31 Regular ·
hi there thanks so much! you recommend I go first to São Vicente and then to Santo Antão for the hikes? can I count on sunshine, and is there a warmer spot at this time of year?
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
There are 9 inhabited islands in Cape Verde. Some are flat and arid like Sal and Boa Vista, mainly attracting visitors interested in beach holidays (relaxation or kite surfing). Beaches and large resorts...

Inter-island travel is complicated and relatively expensive by plane, and rather uncomfortable and long by ferry.

One or two islands are ideal for hiking, including Santo Antão. The easiest way to get there is to first fly from France to São Vicente. This island is worth spending a few days on. Its main city, Mindelo (the city of artists), is very lively, and the island has many interesting sites and places to explore.

Santo Antão is just across from Mindelo, a 50-minute ferry ride away. It has retained a special charm and is still relatively untouched by tourism. You’ll find modest accommodations across the island for hikers, as well as some charming hotels and guesthouses...

If you only have 10 days, you’ll need to make choices, and the São Vicente/Santo Antão combo seems like the best option. You could also arrive in Praia (on Santiago Island)—that’s what I did... for 3 weeks—but you’d then need to take two inter-island flights, which is a big time-waster and costs an extra 200 €...

PS: The sunniest and warmest spot on Santo Antão is the far west: Tarafal de Monte Trigo. It’s a small fishing village (a dead end) whose access road was only recently paved... By car, taxi, or bus, the last kilometer is on the beach sand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
MA Mathews Globetrotter ·
hi,

For hiking in Morocco, it's best to head to the mountains.

not necessarily. The Draa Delta area can be interesting. I had a great time crossing this region. Plus, there are traditional cultivated plots—lots of beautiful spots to discover.

In the desert, it’ll also be freezing at night.

True, but if you’re sleeping in a hotel, the nighttime chill doesn’t really matter, right?
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
If you're sleeping in a hotel, the nighttime chill doesn't really matter, right?

Have you never slept in a place without heating? 😮

I have. (Especially in Morocco, and not exactly in budget accommodations...)

Near or below freezing temps can be a bit harsh.
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
MA Mathews Globetrotter ·
You've never slept in a place without heating? 😮

I’ve even slept in the snow in Norway one winter—talk about cold! Right below Myrdal station, to be exact. Another time, in the Jura, snow fell all night, and I slept on the floor in a simple cabin (the "citerne cabin" in the Risoux forest, if you want specifics). I’ve got plenty of stories like that. So yeah, I know what cold is...
AT Attila Globetrotter ·
So you're indestructible, huh?

Not me.

Same as the rest of us mortals, though. 🤪
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
Hello

The Draa delta area can be interesting. I had a great time crossing this zone

As far as I know, there’s no Draa delta. The only mouth of the Draa is north of Tan Tan (south of Plage Blanche) and is dry most of the time except during heavy rains. The area is just sand and pebbles with a few small dunes. The nearest village, El Ouatia, is over 30 km away... Could you describe a hike you did in this area? Which "zone" did you actually cross? From exactly where, and how did you get there? I’m curious.

And there are small cultivated plots—it’s done traditionally

A mirage, maybe?

Okay, and if you’re staying in a hotel, the nighttime coolness doesn’t matter much, right?

Where did you spend the night in the "Draa delta"? 😏
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
MA Mathews Globetrotter ·
Where exactly did you spend the night in the "Draa delta"?😏

Actually, it's more commonly called the Draa Hamada. So yeah, not really a delta—I mixed up the term. Apologies to Sebastoudu31, but I can't edit my previous message.
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
Actually, we usually call it the Hamada of Draa.

?? The Hamada of Draa is a completely desert area straddling Morocco and Algeria, with the Draa acting as the border. Just so you know, no one goes there—it’s forbidden (Moroccan-Algerian border). At most, travel agencies based in M’hamid take tourists to the Chegaga dunes, but not on foot!.. From there to the mouth of the Draa on the Atlantic near TanTan, there are about 700 km of sand and rocks. The road from M’hamid to Zagora, Foum Zguid, and Tata passes 40 km north of the Hamada of Draa.. I can’t imagine hiking in this vast "area"! As for finding cultivated spots there, I’d be very surprised. But maybe you meant the middle Draa Valley, which is very green and tourist-friendly between Ouarzazate and Zagora?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
MA Mathews Globetrotter ·
But maybe you meant the middle Draa Valley, which is very green and touristy between Ouarzazate and Zagora?

Yes, that’s the area I was talking about. It’s been a long time since I was there; I left from a village north of Ouarzazate and walked east across the plain. After that, I remember crossing a road, and in the distance, there was a village with a ksar. But I don’t remember where it was. As for places with a bit of culture, you can spot them on Google Maps. And I know what I’m talking about—I even walked through one, and a farmer yelled at me!
DJ Djalma Globetrotter ·
I set off from a village north of Ouarzazate and walked east across the plain.

Just so you know, the Draa River starts a few kilometers east of Ouarzazate. We’re pretty far from its "delta"! Ouarzazate is over 1,000 meters above sea level—it’s not very warm there in February 🙁

After that, I remember crossing a road, and in the distance, there was a village with a ksar. But I can’t remember where it was.

Is this the kind of info you’re using to give someone hiking advice?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY
MA Mathews Globetrotter ·
That’s the kind of info you’re using to recommend hikes to someone?

We’re getting off-topic, sorry. If you want to start a new discussion, go ahead!

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