The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Barbados vs Riviera Maya

Barbados 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.

Barbados guide · Riviera Maya guide · How we score

By the numbers

BarbadosRiviera Maya
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 1: Exercise Normal PrecautionsLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog88
Average guest rating★ 4.2★ 4.5
Nightly rates$500–$800+/night$300–$800+/night
Adults-only resorts3 of 83 of 8
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonJune–November, typically short heavy showersJune–October, heaviest September–October
Sweet spotDecember–AprilDecember–April
CurrencyBarbados dollar (pegged 2:1 to USD)Mexican 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
Barbados — high °F838384868787878888878684
Riviera Maya — high °F828385878990909189878482
Barbados — rain (in)2.61.61.31.42.34.45.85.86.77.06.13.8
Riviera Maya — rain (in)3.52.01.51.54.06.54.04.58.58.54.03.5

Approximate climate normals for West & south coasts and Playa del Carmen–Tulum — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Barbados

  1. 1.Sugar Bay Barbados — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Mango Bay Hotel — · ★ 4.4
  3. 3.Waves Resort & Spa, Barbados, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort — · ★ 4.4

Chains here: Sandals · Sugar Bay · Mango Bay

Full Barbados 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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