WHERE TO GO WHEN

JANUARY

Best for…wolf watching

YELLOWSTONE NP, USA

It might seem contrary to visit Yellowstone National Park in winter, when it’s mostly closed, but this is a special month – as wildlife watchers know. The thick snows of January and February put the park’s famous wolves in focus, their grey-black fur easier to spot against a white background. Winter tours follow the life-and-death antics of the packs of the Lamar Valley, while snowshoeing side-trips reveal the other side of life in the park: the tough winter ahead for the herds of elk, bison and pronghorn antelope.

Best for… close encounters

BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO

In January, grey whales complete the longest migration by a mammal on Earth – around 12,000km – heading down the North American coast to arrive in the Sea of Cortez. Here they arrive to breed in the shallow waters of Magdalena Bay and the lagoons of Ojo de Liebre and San Ignacio where panga boats take visitors out to observe them until April. It’s a remarkable encounter, with friendly whales often rubbing up against the hulls or feeling for the hands of visitors to encourage a quick scratch.

Best for… volcanic walks

TENERIFE, CANARY ISLANDS

Forget those fly-and-flop preconceptions. Savvy travellers know that the Canary Islands are a revelation when explored on foot. Tenerife has nearly 1,000kms of trails to help you discover its particularly diverse landscapes. Think Mount Teide and lunar landscapes, white-washed villages, pine forests, rugged ravines and coastal views. With its mild winters, this is the ideal time to don walking boots and work up a decent appetite before enjoying the local gastronomy at night.

FEBRUARY

Best for… an epic road trip

PATAGONIA, CHILE

Chile’s Route of Parks is the ultimate road trip: 17 national parks split across 2,800km. It would require months and an affinity for