The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Portugal vs Riviera Maya

Portugal 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.

Portugal guide · Riviera Maya guide · How we score

By the numbers

PortugalRiviera Maya
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 1: Exercise Normal PrecautionsLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog18
Average guest rating★ 4.6★ 4.5
Nightly rates$500–$800+/night$300–$800+/night
Adults-only resorts0 of 13 of 8
Hurricane exposureNo hurricane seasonIn the hurricane belt
Rainy seasonNovember–MarchJune–October, heaviest September–October
Sweet spotJune–September (the ocean stays refreshingly cool all year)December–April
CurrencyEuro (EUR) – cards widely acceptedMexican 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
Portugal — high °F616265687279848480746762
Riviera Maya — high °F828385878990909189878482
Portugal — rain (in)3.12.61.61.50.80.20.10.21.12.63.33.9
Riviera Maya — rain (in)3.52.01.51.54.06.54.04.58.58.54.03.5

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

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Portugal

  1. 1.Pine Cliffs Resort — Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal · ★ 4.6

Chains here: The Luxury Collection

Full Portugal 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

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