The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Cancún vs Guanacaste

Cancún and Guanacaste, 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.

Cancún guide · Guanacaste guide · How we score

By the numbers

CancúnGuanacaste
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog75
Average guest rating★ 4.5★ 4.4
Nightly rates$300–$800+/night$800+
Adults-only resorts3 of 71 of 5
Hurricane exposureIn the hurricane beltLow hurricane risk
Rainy seasonJune–October, heaviest September–OctoberMay–November ('green season'), seriously wet September–October
Sweet spotDecember–AprilDecember–April, bone-dry
AirportCancún (CUN) — Hotel Zone 20–30 min, Costa Mujeres ~40 minLiberia (LIR) — Papagayo resorts 30–45 min
Best forFirst trips, nightlife + beach combos, nonstop-flight convenienceNature + beach in one trip; reliable winter sun

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
Cancún — high °F828385878990909189878482
Guanacaste — high °F919293939188888887868789
Cancún — rain (in)3.52.01.51.54.06.54.04.58.58.54.03.5
Guanacaste — rain (in)0.10.10.20.77.79.05.97.913.012.24.30.5

Approximate climate normals for Cancún hotel zone and Papagayo / Guanacaste — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Cancún

  1. 1.Hotel Mousai Cancun — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Excellence Playa Mujeres — Playa Mujeres, Mexico · ★ 4.9
  3. 3.Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancún — Cancun, Mexico · ★ 4.6

Chains here: TAFER Hotels & Resorts · Excellence Resorts · Live Aqua

Full Cancún guide

Best of Guanacaste

  1. 1.The Westin Reserva Conchal, an All-Inclusive Golf Resort & Spa — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Planet Hollywood Costa Rica by Royalton, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort — · ★ 4.4
  3. 3.Secrets Papagayo Costa Rica — · ★ 4.4

Chains here: Westin · Planet Hollywood Hotels & Resorts · Secrets Resorts & Spas

Full Guanacaste guide

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