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Destinations · Head-to-head

Costa Rica vs U.S. Virgin Islands

Costa Rica and U.S. Virgin Islands, 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.

Costa Rica guide · U.S. Virgin Islands guide · How we score

By the numbers

Costa RicaU.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution—
Resorts in our catalog52
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 3.5
Nightly rates$800+—
Adults-only resorts1 of 52 of 2
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonMay–November ('green season'), with September–October seriously wetSeptember–November
Sweet spotDecember–April, bone-dry in GuanacasteDecember–April
CurrencyCosta Rican colón – USD widely acceptedU.S. dollar; U.S. phone plans work
DrivingOn the rightOn the left — in U.S.-spec cars

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
Costa Rica — high °F919293939188888887868789
U.S. Virgin Islands — high °F848485868788898989888685
Costa Rica — rain (in)0.10.10.20.77.79.05.97.913.012.24.30.5
U.S. Virgin Islands — rain (in)2.01.51.52.53.52.52.53.55.55.55.03.0

Approximate climate normals for Guanacaste / Papagayo and St. Croix / St. Thomas — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Costa Rica

  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 Costa Rica guide

Best of U.S. Virgin Islands

  1. 1.Carina Bay Boutique All-Inclusive Resort & Casino — · ★ 3.7
  2. 2.Oceans at Carina Bay — · ★ 3.4

Chains here: Divi Resorts

Full U.S. Virgin Islands guide

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