The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Guanacaste vs Ocho Rios

Guanacaste and Ocho Rios, 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 · Ocho Rios guide · How we score

By the numbers

GuanacasteOcho Rios
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog52
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 4.5
Nightly rates$800+—
Adults-only resorts1 of 51 of 2
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonMay–November ('green season'), seriously wet September–OctoberMay–June and September–November — the rain is why it's this green
Sweet spotDecember–April, bone-dryDecember–April
AirportLiberia (LIR) — Papagayo resorts 30–45 minSangster (MBJ) ~90 min, or Ian Fleming (OCJ) for small aircraft
The coastPapagayo Peninsula, Playas del Coco, Conchal, Flamingo, TamarindoRunaway Bay → Ocho Rios town → Oracabessa
Best forNature + beach in one trip; reliable winter sunWaterfalls + gardens + excursions; couples classics
SignatureWildlife everywhere; volcano and cloud-forest day tripsDunn's River Falls; Blue Hole; Fern Gully

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
Ocho Rios — high °F828283848688888888878583
Guanacaste — rain (in)0.10.10.20.77.79.05.97.913.012.24.30.5
Ocho Rios — rain (in)1.51.21.21.84.54.03.04.25.57.54.02.2

Approximate climate normals for Papagayo / Guanacaste and Ocho Rios / St. Ann — 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 Ocho Rios

  1. 1.Sandals Dunn's River — · ★ 4.8
  2. 2.Moon Palace Jamaica — · ★ 4.2

Chains here: Sandals Resorts · Palace Resorts

Full Ocho Rios guide

More destination head-to-heads

Jamaica vs Dominican RepublicJamaica vs ArubaMexico vs Dominican RepublicJamaica vs MexicoAruba vs Turks & CaicosAruba vs CuraçaoJamaica vs St. LuciaMaldives vs MauritiusGreece vs TurkeyMaldives vs French PolynesiaCancún vs Punta CanaCancún vs Riviera MayaPunta Cana vs Riviera MayaMontego Bay vs NegrilLos Cabos vs Puerto Vallarta