The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Guanacaste vs South Africa

Guanacaste and South Africa, 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 · South Africa guide · How we score

By the numbers

GuanacasteSouth Africa
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog51
Average guest rating★ 4.4★ 4.7
Nightly rates$800+$500–$800+/night
Adults-only resorts1 of 50 of 1
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskNo hurricane season
Rainy seasonMay–November ('green season'), seriously wet September–OctoberNovember–March (southern-hemisphere summer thunderstorms)
Sweet spotDecember–April, bone-dryApril–September for dry, mild weather — also prime safari season inland

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
South Africa — high °F828382797774737475777981
Guanacaste — rain (in)0.10.10.20.77.79.05.97.913.012.24.30.5
South Africa — rain (in)5.34.84.82.92.21.11.51.92.94.34.84.0

Approximate climate normals for Papagayo / Guanacaste and KwaZulu-Natal coast (Durban) — 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 South Africa

  1. 1.Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari — KZN North Coast, South Africa · ★ 4.7

Chains here: Club Med

Full South Africa guide

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