The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Maldives vs Riviera Maya

Maldives and Riviera Maya, 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.

Maldives guide · Riviera Maya guide · How we score

By the numbers

MaldivesRiviera Maya
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog138
Average guest rating★ 4.8★ 4.5
Nightly rates$500–$800+/night$300–$800+/night
Adults-only resorts0 of 133 of 8
Hurricane exposureNo hurricane seasonIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonMay–November (southwest monsoon), wettest September–NovemberJune–October, heaviest September–October
Sweet spotJanuary–MarchDecember–April
CurrencyRufiyaa — resorts run on USDMexican peso — USD widely accepted in resort corridors

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
Maldives — high °F868788888786868686868686
Riviera Maya — high °F828385878990909189878482
Maldives — rain (in)4.52.02.95.28.56.55.86.99.68.79.19.0
Riviera Maya — rain (in)3.52.01.51.54.06.54.04.58.58.54.03.5

Approximate climate normals for Malé atolls and Playa del Carmen–Tulum — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Maldives

  1. 1.Constance Halaveli — North Ari Atoll, Maldives · ★ 4.9
  2. 2.Pullman Maldives Maamutaa — · ★ 4.9
  3. 3.Club Med Kani — North Malé Atoll, Maldives · ★ 4.8

Chains here: Constance Hotels & Resorts · Pullman · Club Med

Full Maldives guide

Best of Riviera Maya

  1. 1.Barceló Maya Riviera - All Inclusive Adults Only — · ★ 4.9
  2. 2.Grand Velas Riviera Maya — Playa del Carmen, Mexico · ★ 4.8
  3. 3.UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya — Riviera Maya, Mexico · ★ 4.6

Chains here: Barceló · Grand Velas · UNICO Hotel Collection

Full Riviera Maya 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