The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Riviera Maya vs Tanzania

Riviera Maya and Tanzania, 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.

Riviera Maya guide · Tanzania guide · How we score

By the numbers

Riviera MayaTanzania
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 3: Reconsider Travel
Resorts in our catalog81
Average guest rating★ 4.5★ 4.7
Nightly rates$300–$800+/night$800+
Adults-only resorts3 of 80 of 1
Hurricane exposureIn the hurricane beltNo hurricane season
Rainy seasonJune–October, heaviest September–OctoberLong rains mid-March–May (April is seriously wet), short rains November
Sweet spotDecember–AprilJune–October and December–February
CurrencyMexican peso — USD widely accepted in resort corridorsTanzanian shilling (TZS); USD widely accepted

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
Riviera Maya — high °F828385878990909189878482
Tanzania — high °F899090878484838384868889
Riviera Maya — rain (in)3.52.01.51.54.06.54.04.58.58.54.03.5
Tanzania — rain (in)3.02.45.915.37.81.91.11.42.03.58.05.5

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

Where you'd actually stay

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

Best of Tanzania

  1. 1.Baraza Resort & Spa — Bwejuu Beach, Zanzibar, Tanzania · ★ 4.7

Chains here: The Zanzibar Collection

Full Tanzania guide

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