Winter sunshine: our top 5 hot spots!

Ok, so winter isn’t for everyone. Dark evenings, short days, piling on the layers…even the most festive among us can feel a bit gloomy at times. So whether you’re planning a great escape or just a sneaky pick-me-up, check out our top holidays this winter where you can be sure of some sunshine!

1. Phuket, Thailand

As the wind howls outside and the heating clicks in, a CELTA course in Thailand is a sure-fire way to make your friends back home green with envy. You will be learning to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in the tropical island paradise of Phuket, learning valuable new skills on your course and enjoying golden sandy beaches outside class. Of course, you don’t have to come home afterwards – and many don’t. The school can help you graduate on to paid teaching work within Thailand, and your winter adventure can continue as long as you like…

4-week CELTA course in Phuket

2. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Argentina is the perfect place to go during the winter as its Southern Hemisphere location guarantees plenty of sunshine and warmth. A popular destination for a Spanish course, our 12-week Spanish & Volunteer programme is the ultimate way to learn the language and take part in rewarding local volunteer work; placements cover social work, education, health care and environmental work. If you’re looking for a feel-good Latin adventure this winter, this could be it.

12-week Spanish & Volunteer in Buenos Aires

3. Guadeloupe

There aren’t many places where you can learn the language in the morning, chill out on a palm-fringed Caribbean beach in the afternoon, and enjoy traditional Creole culture by night. Yet in Guadeloupe all this is possible and more. Just don’t forget to send a postcard to all your friends back home to make sure they know how hard, er, you’re working.

French course in Guadeloupe

4. Salvador de Bahia, Brasil

This city is hot in more ways than climatic. Known for its beaches, festivals and carnivals, Salvador de Bahia is the place to come to party, pose and purr over delicious tropical food and drink. If you can time it right don’t miss Salvador’s infamous Carnaval, starting March 3rd 2011 – arguably one of the world’s best parties. Whatever you do, you’ll be doing it surrounded by beautiful 17th century architecture and immersed in a unique Afro-Brazilian culture. Learn the lingo even for just one week and you’ll get so much more out of your stay – the locals will really be impressed if you learn the traditional art of capoeira at the same time.

Portuguese & Capoeira course in Salvador da Bahia

5. La Ceiba, Honduras

Honduras’ Bay Islands are well-known in the diving world, and with reason. Paradisical islands set in clear blue Caribbean waters make them perfect – and economical – places to explore the colourful underwater world. This course gives you the unique opportunity to learn Spanish one-to-one in the mainland city of La Ceiba, and then take a one-week PADI diving course on the Bay island of Utila. A once-in-a-lifetime package of sun, sea, sport and learning.

Spanish & Diving course in La Ceiba



Cactus offers language courses in over 500 destinations worldwide, which can be combined with a range of activities from volunteering to activity courses, and TEFL/TESOL courses across the globe.