The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Guanacaste vs Rodney Bay

Guanacaste and Rodney Bay, 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 · Rodney Bay guide · How we score

By the numbers

GuanacasteRodney Bay
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Resorts in our catalog55
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 4.3
Nightly rates$800+—
Adults-only resorts1 of 51 of 5
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonMay–November ('green season'), seriously wet September–OctoberJune–November, heaviest September–October
Sweet spotDecember–April, bone-dryDecember–April
Best forNature + beach in one trip; reliable winter sunFirst St. Lucia trips, families, walk-to-dinner travelers

Advisory levels sync from travel.state.gov; catalog figures reflect the resorts we've researched, not every hotel in the country.

On the map

Map of Guanacaste resorts
Guanacaste
Map of Rodney Bay resorts
Rodney Bay

Weather, month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Guanacaste — high °F919293939188888887868789
Rodney Bay — high °F848485878888888888878684
Guanacaste — rain (in)0.10.10.20.77.79.05.97.913.012.24.30.5
Rodney Bay — rain (in)3.72.62.43.44.47.58.18.98.49.27.75.2

Approximate climate normals for Papagayo / Guanacaste and Rodney Bay / Gros Islet — 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 Rodney Bay

  1. 1.Sandals Grande St. Lucian — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences — · ★ 4.5
  3. 3.Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa — · ★ 4.3

Chains here: Sandals Resorts · Bay Gardens Resorts · Coco Resorts

Full Rodney Bay guide

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