The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Aruba vs Riviera Maya

Aruba and Riviera Maya, side by side: live travel advisories, our resort catalog's real guest data, and each destination's honest weather picture — everything you need to break the tie.

Aruba guide · Riviera Maya guide · How we score

By the numbers

ArubaRiviera Maya
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 1: Exercise Normal PrecautionsLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog108
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 4.5
Nightly ratesUnder $300–$500/night$300–$800+/night
Adults-only resorts2 of 103 of 8
Hurricane exposureOutside the hurricane beltIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonOctober–December, and 'rainy' is generous — this is one of the driest islands in the CaribbeanJune–October, heaviest September–October
Sweet spotYear-round; January–March is peak season and priced like itDecember–April
CurrencyAruban florin — USD universally acceptedMexican peso — USD widely accepted in resort corridors

Advisory levels sync from travel.state.gov; catalog figures reflect the resorts we've researched, not every hotel in the country.

Weather, month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aruba — high °F858586878889899090898785
Riviera Maya — high °F828385878990909189878482
Aruba — rain (in)1.50.80.40.50.60.71.31.01.83.03.73.2
Riviera Maya — rain (in)3.52.01.51.54.06.54.04.58.58.54.03.5

Approximate climate normals for Palm Beach / Eagle Beach and Playa del Carmen–Tulum — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Aruba

  1. 1.Barceló Aruba - All Inclusive — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort — · ★ 4.5
  3. 3.Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive — · ★ 4.5

Chains here: Divi Resorts · RIU Hotels & Resorts · Barceló

Full Aruba guide

Best of Riviera Maya

  1. 1.Barceló Maya Riviera - All Inclusive Adults Only — · ★ 4.9
  2. 2.Grand Velas Riviera Maya — Playa del Carmen, Mexico · ★ 4.8
  3. 3.UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya — Riviera Maya, Mexico · ★ 4.6

Chains here: Barceló · Grand Velas · UNICO Hotel Collection

Full Riviera Maya guide

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