The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Guanacaste vs Negril

Guanacaste and Negril, 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 · Negril guide · How we score

By the numbers

GuanacasteNegril
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog53
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 4.5
Nightly rates$800+$300–$800/night
Adults-only resorts1 of 52 of 3
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonMay–November ('green season'), seriously wet September–OctoberMay–June and September–November
Sweet spotDecember–April, bone-dryDecember–April — with a sunset every night of the year
AirportLiberia (LIR) — Papagayo resorts 30–45 minSangster (MBJ) — ~75–90 min transfer
Best forNature + beach in one trip; reliable winter sunBeach purists, couples, long unhurried stays
SignatureWildlife everywhere; volcano and cloud-forest day tripsSunsets at Rick's Café; calm swimmable water

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
Negril — high °F838384858789898988878684
Guanacaste — rain (in)0.10.10.20.77.79.05.97.913.012.24.30.5
Negril — rain (in)0.80.60.71.34.23.82.63.85.57.03.21.4

Approximate climate normals for Papagayo / Guanacaste and Seven Mile Beach — 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 Negril

  1. 1.Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa — · ★ 4.6
  2. 2.Couples Swept Away — Negril, Jamaica · ★ 4.5
  3. 3.Sandals Negril — Negril, Jamaica · ★ 4.5

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

Full Negril guide

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