Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Acapulco de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena?
Acapulco de Juarez
Located on the southwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico is the beautiful beach city of Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco is one of the original travel and resort destinations in Mexico, and it's still considered a popular spring break destination for Americans. Known as simply "Acapulco" to many travelers, this region is a popular spot for cruise lines to stop and timeshares to grow. Thanks to those cruise lines and timeshares, tourist activities like water parks and jet skis have experienced considerable growth.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAcapulco de Juarez $81La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Acapulco de Juarez is $81, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Acapulco de Juarez and La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAcapulco de Juarez $39La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAcapulco de Juarez $78La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Acapulco de Juarez and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Acapulco de Juarez Hotel Prices and La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $16La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Acapulco de Juarez
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Acapulco de Juarez:
- Transfer in private minivan from Bahía de Acapulco -Acapulco Airport (ACA): $32
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Bahía de Acapulco - Acapulco Airport (ACA): $24
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Acapulco Airport (ACA) -Bahía de Acapulco: $24
- Shared transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA) - Acapulco: $6.00
- Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Acapulco Airport (ACA) - Bahia de Acapulco: $49
- Private Airport Transfer &on 2nd Day 4Hr TourAll AttractionsCombo: $90
- Airport Transfer in Suburban: $65
- Acapulco hotels to Acapulco Airport (ACA) – Departure Private Transfer : $20
- Acapulco Airport Transfer: $10
- Private Best Round Trip Airport - Hotel - Airport Transfer : $70
- Private - One Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $66
Is it cheaper to fly into Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena and Acapulco de Juarez change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAcapulco de Juarez $29La Serena $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Acapulco de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Acapulco de Juarez.
- High Divers DeLuxe Three Course Dinner +Three Drinks plus SUNSET: $49
- Cliff Divers Exhibition 2 Drinks + Tacos al Pastor Dinner & Beer: $55
- Cliff Diver De Luxe 3 Course Dinner at "La Quebrada" in Acapulco: $56
- Cliff Divers Show With Dinner At Acapulco: $72
- Wrestling-Lucha Libre Experience Tacos Beer Dinner Only SUNDAY: $84
- Off the Beaten Path Mexican Cooking Class Lagoon Boatride &Lunch: $89
- Hands ON - Mex Cooking Class Experience - City Market & Lunch : $90
- Hands On Mexican Cooking Class with Food Tasting & Market Visit: $100
- Mexican Fiesta Show & Dinner: $115
- Bella Vista PRIVATE Al Fresco 3 Course Dinner Cliff Diver3Drinks: $191
- Super DeLuxe Bella Vista Dinner &1 Drink +2 Drinks at CliffDivers: $193
- Divers Show and Luxury Dinner in Acapulco: $199
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $18La Serena $24
Tours and Activities in Acapulco de Juarez
Here are a few actual costs in Acapulco de Juarez for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4Hrs City Tour Exclusively for Hotels, Divers, Chapel & Mural.: $44
- 6Hr Walking Tour San Diego Fort Museum Cliff Divers Zocalo: $68
- Small-Group or Private All Inclusive 4 Hours City Tour & Divers: $36
- 4 Hrs Exclusive to Cruise Ship Passengers Sightseeing Experience : $62
- 4-6Hrs Acapulco City Tour With a Fun Guide. Diver Show, Mex Lunch: $47
- 4Hrs Small Group Half Day City Tour with Lunch at High Divers: $85
- 4hr City Tour For Cruises or Hotels Diver Peace Chapel & Mural: $40
- 6Hr City Tour Cruise or Hotel Turtle Nesting High Diver & Market: $51
- 6Hr Cruise or Hotels City Tour, Divers, Baby Turtles Peace Chapel: $51
- 6Hr Cruisers or Hotels High Diver Peace Chapel BabyTurtleRelease: $50
- Acapulco City Tour : $35
- Acapulco Historical Tour with Cliff Divers Show: $65
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- Full day Tour to Elqui Valley : $80
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Tour to Valle del Encanto Archeology, Petroglyphs, Flora, Fauna and Springs: $140
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAcapulco de Juarez $11La Serena $22
When comparing the travel costs between Acapulco de Juarez and La Serena, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Acapulco de Juarez is in North America and La Serena is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Acapulco de Juarez Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena?
Acapulco de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of La Serena. When comparing the sizes of Acapulco de Juarez and La Serena, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena?
Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. La Serena is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Acapulco de Juarez has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Acapulco de Juarez as well as La Serena. The beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Acapulco de Juarez this time of year.
In the summer, Acapulco de Juarez is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez in July average around 29°C (83°F), and La Serena averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Serena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Acapulco de Juarez this time of the year. In the summer, Acapulco de Juarez often gets less sunshine than La Serenain January. Acapulco de Juarez gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun.
Acapulco de Juarez receives a lot of rain in the summer. Acapulco de Juarez usually gets more rain in July than La Serenain January. Acapulco de Juarez gets 209 mm (8.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryAcapulco de Juarez 29°C (83°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena in the Autumn?
Both La Serena and Acapulco de Juarez are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Acapulco de Juarez for the shopping scene.
In October, Acapulco de Juarez is generally much warmer than La Serenain April. Daily temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez average around 28°C (83°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco de Juarez usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during autumn. Acapulco de Juarez gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Acapulco de Juarez. In October, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives more rain than La Serenain April. Acapulco de Juarez gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilAcapulco de Juarez 28°C (83°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Acapulco de Juarez during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Acapulco de Juarez is much warmer than La Serena in the winter. The daily temperature in Acapulco de Juarez averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Acapulco de Juarez. In the winter, Acapulco de Juarez often gets more sunshine than La Serenain July. Acapulco de Juarez gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun.
Acapulco de Juarez usually gets more rain in January than La Serenain July. Acapulco de Juarez gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyAcapulco de Juarez 26°C (79°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or La Serena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Acapulco de Juarez and La Serena. Most visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez for the beaches during these months.
In the spring, Acapulco de Juarez is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez in April average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
In Acapulco de Juarez, it's very sunny this time of the year. Acapulco de Juarez usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during spring. Acapulco de Juarez gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives around the same amount of rain as La Serenain October. Acapulco de Juarez gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberAcapulco de Juarez 27°C (81°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Acapulco de Juarez
| Acapulco de Juarez | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (80°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 271 mm (10.7 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 209 mm (8.2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 341 mm (13.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.