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Destinations · Head-to-head

Barbados West Coast vs Riviera Maya

Barbados West Coast 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 West Coast guide · Riviera Maya guide · How we score

By the numbers

Barbados West CoastRiviera Maya
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 1: Exercise Normal PrecautionsLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog38
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 4.5
Nightly rates—$300–$800+/night
Adults-only resorts1 of 33 of 8
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonJune–November, typically short heavy showersJune–October, heaviest September–October
Sweet spotDecember–AprilDecember–April
AirportBridgetown (BGI) — 30–40 min up the coast roadCancún (CUN) — transfers run 25–90 min depending how far south
Best forCouples, calm-water swimmers, quiet polishCenotes + ruins + beach in one trip; low-rise seclusion

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

On the map

Map of Barbados West Coast resorts
Barbados West Coast
Map of Riviera Maya resorts
Riviera Maya

Weather, month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Barbados West Coast — high °F838384868787878888878684
Riviera Maya — high °F828385878990909189878482
Barbados West Coast — 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 Holetown (west coast) and Playa del Carmen–Tulum — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Barbados West Coast

  1. 1.Mango Bay Hotel — · ★ 4.4
  2. 2.Waves Resort & Spa, Barbados, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort — · ★ 4.4
  3. 3.The Club Barbados Resort & Spa — · ★ 4.3

Chains here: Mango Bay · Autograph Collection · Elite Island Resorts

Full Barbados West Coast 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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