The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Guanacaste vs Jamaica

Guanacaste and Jamaica, 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.

Guanacaste guide · Jamaica guide · How we score

By the numbers

GuanacasteJamaica
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog58
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 4.6
Nightly rates$800+$300–$800/night
Adults-only resorts1 of 54 of 8
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonMay–November ('green season'), seriously wet September–OctoberMay–June and September–November, mostly short afternoon bursts
Sweet spotDecember–April, bone-dryDecember–April

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
Guanacaste — high °F919293939188888887868789
Jamaica — high °F828283848688888888878583
Guanacaste — rain (in)0.10.10.20.77.79.05.97.913.012.24.30.5
Jamaica — rain (in)0.90.60.61.14.03.52.43.55.17.13.01.5

Approximate climate normals for Papagayo / Guanacaste and Montego Bay — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

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

Best of Jamaica

  1. 1.Excellence Oyster Bay — · ★ 4.9
  2. 2.Sandals Dunn's River — · ★ 4.8
  3. 3.Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa — · ★ 4.6

Chains here: Sandals Resorts · Excellence Resorts · Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts

Full Jamaica guide

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