A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basse-Terre vs. Leon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Leon?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Leon? 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: Basse-Terre or Leon?

Basse-Terre

In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.

Leon

Leon is one of the oldest city's in Nicaragua and you can see hints of its colonial past in the architecture around town. Tourism is not a major part of the economy in Leon, but the city is gaining popularity with budget travelers and backpackers and more recently tour groups are including Leon in their itinerary.

With a population of just over 200,000, Leon is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. During the university season the population grows dramatically as there is a heavy presence of students in Leon. It is a popular university town, and this young population gives the city plenty of energy and entertainment.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Leon, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Leon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Leon is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Leon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leon and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre than you might in Leon.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basse-Terre Expensive? and Is Leon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Leon?

Leon has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Leon, 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 Basse-Terre or Leon?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Leon in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Leon. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Leon receives a lot of rain in the summer. Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives around the same amount of rain as Leon. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Leon receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Leon during summer. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.

Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Leon in the summer. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Leon fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Leon in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Leon. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Leon. Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Leon. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Leon receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the autumn, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Leon. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 195 hours of full sun.

In the autumn, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Leon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Basse-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Leon averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Leon in the Winter?

Both Leon and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Leon. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Leon receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Leon. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Leon during winter. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Leon receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Leon. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and Leon fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Leon in the Spring?

Both Leon and Basse-Terre during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Leon. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Leon receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Leon, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Leon. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Leon receives 242 hours of full sun.

Basse-Terre is cooler than Leon in the spring. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Leon fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

Typical Weather for Leon and Basse-Terre