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Destinations · Head-to-head

Guanacaste vs Punta Cana

Guanacaste and Punta Cana, 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 · Punta Cana guide · How we score

By the numbers

GuanacastePunta Cana
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog520
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 4.6
Nightly rates$800+Under $300–$800+/night
Adults-only resorts1 of 58 of 20
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonMay–November ('green season'), seriously wet September–OctoberMay and August–October, mostly brief tropical downpours
Sweet spotDecember–April, bone-dryDecember–April
AirportLiberia (LIR) — Papagayo resorts 30–45 minPunta Cana (PUJ) — most resorts 15–30 min away
Best forNature + beach in one trip; reliable winter sunValue, families, groups, first-time all-inclusive trips

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
Punta Cana — high °F848485868788898988878684
Guanacaste — rain (in)0.10.10.20.77.79.05.97.913.012.24.30.5
Punta Cana — rain (in)2.01.71.72.54.53.02.53.53.54.53.52.5

Approximate climate normals for Papagayo / Guanacaste and Punta Cana / Bávaro — 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 Punta Cana

  1. 1.Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa — Cap Cana, Dominican Republic · ★ 4.6
  2. 2.Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection Resort — Cap Cana, Dominican Republic · ★ 4.5
  3. 3.Excellence Punta Cana — · ★ 4.9

Chains here: Secrets · Barceló Hotels & Resorts · The Luxury Collection

Full Punta Cana guide

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