Where to Travel in November

This coastal archaeological site sits on twelve meter tall cliffs along the Caribbean Sea. It served as a major port for the inland city of Coba during the late Mayan period. The ruins are some of the best preserved coastal Maya structures in the region. In November, the rainy season ends and the heavy winter crowds have not yet arrived. The humidity drops to comfortable levels, making it much easier to walk among the stone temples. You can explore the ruins in the morning and spend the afternoon on the beach below. The site was inhabited for about seventy years after the Spanish first explored Mexico. It was completely abandoned by the end of the sixteenth century. Today, it is highly accessible but can get crowded by midday when tour buses arrive from nearby resorts.

This city sits on the southern shores of Lake Rotorua in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand. Te Arawa Maori people first settled the area in the fourteenth century. They established a fortified settlement called a pa at Ohinemutu. November brings late spring weather to the North Island. Temperatures are warm enough for outdoor walking, but the summer peak season has not started. This means you will find shorter lines at local parks and lower accommodation rates. The city is the thirteenth largest urban area in the country. It has a distinct geothermal landscape with hot springs and geysers. The underground activity gives the entire town a strong sulfur smell that some visitors find hard to tolerate.

This national park in southern Chilean Patagonia features a landscape of mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers. The Cordillera del Paine mountain group sits at the center of the park. The area acts as a transition zone between subpolar forests and the dry Patagonian steppes. November is the start of the trekking season in Patagonia. The weather is milder than in winter, and the long daylight hours give you more time to complete long trail hikes. The famous strong winds of the region are already active, so you must pack windproof gear. The park was established in 1959. The word Paine comes from the native Tehuelche language and translates to blue. It is located over one hundred kilometers north of Puerto Natales, requiring a long bus ride to access.

This is the legislative capital of South Africa and its oldest city. It sits on the shore of Table Bay with Table Mountain rising directly behind the urban streets. The city center is known as the City Bowl and holds a significant portion of the region's cultural heritage. November marks the beginning of the warm, dry summer season. You will experience pleasant temperatures for hiking up to Cape Point or exploring the harbor. It is much less crowded than the peak months of December and January. The city is part of a large metropolitan municipality. While the natural setting is impressive, visitors should be aware of the stark social inequality. Some neighborhoods require high vigilance regarding personal safety, especially after dark.

This massive ice formation is located in Los Glaciares National Park in southwest Argentina. It measures thirty kilometers in length and covers two hundred and fifty square kilometers. The glacier is fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, which is the third largest reserve of fresh water on Earth. Visiting in November allows you to walk the viewing platforms in comfortable spring temperatures. The ice is highly active at this time of year, and you can often watch large chunks break off into the water. This process creates a loud cracking sound that echoes across the lake. The glacier originates in the Magallanes Region and is shared with Chile. It is one of the few glaciers in the world that is not actively retreating. Access is relatively straightforward from the nearby town of El Calafate.

This city on the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf is the most populous in the United Arab Emirates. It began as a small pearling and fishing settlement in the early eighteenth century. Today, it is a global trade hub with a population of four million people, most of whom are expatriates. November is the start of the comfortable winter season. The extreme summer heat has faded, with daytime temperatures dropping to around thirty degrees Celsius. This makes walking outside and visiting the beach pleasant again. The city expanded rapidly after declaring itself a free port in 1901 and receiving modest oil revenues in the late twentieth century. It is highly modernized, but the heavy reliance on air conditioning and car travel means it lacks a traditional pedestrian layout.

This large pre Columbian city was built by the Maya people in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. It served as a major regional center from about 600 to 1200 AD. The site displays a mix of architectural styles from central Mexico and the local northern lowlands. November offers cooler weather than the scorching summer months. The rainy season has cleared, leaving the surrounding jungle green and lush. Visiting now helps you avoid the massive winter crowds that arrive in December. The site is located in the Tinum Municipality. It is one of the most visited archaeological ruins in the country, which means it is heavily commercialized. You will encounter many persistent souvenir vendors lining the pathways inside the park.

This archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean consists of twenty six atolls stretching across the equator. It is the smallest country in Asia by land area, with just under three hundred square kilometers of ground. However, this land is spread across ninety thousand square kilometers of ocean water. November is the transition month from the wet southwest monsoon to the dry northeast monsoon. You can get lower resort rates than in the peak winter season, though you might still experience occasional short rain showers. The sea temperatures remain warm and comfortable for snorkeling. Most resorts are located on private islands, which means you are limited to the dining and activities offered by your specific hotel. This makes the destination highly peaceful but potentially isolating for active travelers.

This archipelagic province is the largest in the Philippines by total area. It lies at the crossroads of the Visayas and Luzon island groups. The capital is Puerto Princesa, which is managed independently from the rest of the province. November marks the beginning of the dry season in this region. The seas are calmer, making island hopping tours much safer and more comfortable. The landscape remains incredibly green after the recent monsoon rains. The province is often called the last frontier of the country due to its low population density and forested hills. Traveling between towns like El Nido and Coron requires long rides in minivans over winding roads, which can cause motion sickness.

This large natural body of water is situated in the southwestern highlands of Guatemala. It lies within the Sierra Madre mountain range in the Solola Department. Reaching a maximum depth of three hundred and forty meters, it is the deepest lake in Central America. November is the start of the dry season, offering clear blue skies and sunny days. The morning air is crisp and cool, while the afternoons are warm enough for boat travel between the lakeside villages. The rainy season mudslides are no longer a threat. The lake is surrounded by three volcanoes and several indigenous villages. While the scenery is peaceful, some villages have issues with wastewater runoff, which affects the water quality near the shores.