The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Crete vs Guanacaste

Crete 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.

Crete guide · Guanacaste guide · How we score

By the numbers

CreteGuanacaste
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 1: Exercise Normal PrecautionsLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog45
Average guest rating★ 4.7★ 4.4
Nightly rates$300–$800+/night$800+
Adults-only resorts2 of 41 of 5
Hurricane exposureNo hurricane seasonLow hurricane risk
Rainy seasonNovember–FebruaryMay–November ('green season'), seriously wet September–October
Sweet spotJune and September; July–August is hottest and busiestDecember–April, bone-dry
Best forFood-driven beach trips, history day trips, long seasonsNature + 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
Crete — high °F606164697683858581746862
Guanacaste — high °F919293939188888887868789
Crete — rain (in)3.53.02.21.00.60.10.10.10.82.72.33.0
Guanacaste — rain (in)0.10.10.20.77.79.05.97.913.012.24.30.5

Approximate climate normals for Crete (north coast) and Papagayo / Guanacaste — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Crete

  1. 1.Grecotel Caramel Boutique Resort — Rethymno, Crete, Greece · ★ 4.8
  2. 2.Ikos Kissamos — Kissamos, Crete, Greece · ★ 4.7
  3. 3.TUI BLUE Atlantica Crete — Agia Pelagia, Crete, Greece · ★ 4.6

Chains here: Grecotel · Ikos Resorts · TUI BLUE

Full Crete 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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