A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Buzios vs. Santa Elena for Backpackers, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Buzios or Santa Elena?

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

Should I visit Buzios or Santa Elena? 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.

Buzios

It's also popular because of the food. See Buzios travel costs.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a tranquil, outdoorsy, and scenic town. Santa Elena is a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the hiking and shopping. See Santa Elena travel costs.

Buzios and Santa Elena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Buzios or Santa Elena?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Santa Elena. Although Buzios and Santa Elena are both popular with visitors, Santa Elena has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Santa Elena is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Buzios is known for its food. Santa Elena is more touristy than Buzios and is known for its birdwatching and environmental conservation. It is also home to Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. Buzios is popular for

How is Buzios different from Santa Elena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Elena and Buzios. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Buzios or Santa Elena?

Santa Elena is mediocre for its historical sights. However, Buzios does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Santa Elena. The area is filled with outdoor gardens, parks, and nature reserves, but there are few museums to visit.

Buzios does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Buzios or Santa Elena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Buzios is a good destination for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Buzios is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find fresh seafood, Brazilian flavors, and international cuisine. Many beachfront restaurants serve dishes like grilled fish, moqueca (Brazilian seafood stew), and shrimp pastéis. Rua das Pedras, the town's main street, is packed with places to eat. There's everything from fine dining to casual eateries that offer pizza, sushi, and Argentine barbecue. The city also has many street vendors where you can grab a meal for very little money.

Santa Elena offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find some basic but good restaurants around town. Many offer pasta, pizza, and typical Costa Rican dishes.

Is Buzios or Santa Elena Better for Nightlife?

Santa Elena is adequate for nightlife and partying. However, Buzios is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Santa Elena doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There's a couple of bars but not much else for nightlife in town.

Buzios is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Buzios or Santa Elena Better for Hiking?

Santa Elena is a great town for hiking. However, Buzios is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Santa Elena for the hiking trails. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a range of trails including a walk along the Continental Divide. There's also the famous red hanging bridge.

Buzios is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Buzios or Santa Elena?

Santa Elena is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Buzios is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Santa Elena. There are some art galleries and artisan shops around town where you can pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Buzios is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Buzios or Santa Elena More Beautiful?

Santa Elena is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Buzios is not a destination known for its beauty.

Santa Elena is a beautiful place to visit, too. The cloud forest and canopy walks give you access to breathtaking views and unique wildlife.

Buzios is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Buzios or Santa Elena Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Buzios or Santa Elena.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Buzios is very family-friendly. Families enjoy hanging out at Ferradura Beach, which usually has calm waters where you can swim and play. A boat tour around the peninsula lets families explore hidden beaches, snorkel in crystal-clear waters, and even spot marine life. Strolling down Rua das Pedras in the evening offers a mix of delicious restaurants, ice cream shops, and lively street performances. For a bit of adventure, families can take a buggy ride to explore the scenic coastline and visit panoramic viewpoints like Mirante do Forno.

Santa Elena is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Monteverde has many canopy walks, zipline courses, and animal parks that the kids will love. The nature and wildlife make this a fun and educational destination for everyone.

Is Buzios or Santa Elena Better for Couples?

Santa Elena is a great town for its romantic activities. Also, Buzios is not as popular, but is still a nice for couples.

Santa Elena is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. The cloud forest is filled with romantic views and unique landscapes. Couples who enjoy the outdoors will fall in love with this magical setting.

Buzios is a good for couples to visit. There are sunset cruises along the coast that offer champagne and beautiful views. You can also take a stroll down the charming Rua das Pedras and enjoy a meal at a cozy restaurant. A day at the beach is a fun activity and adventure-loving couples can explore hidden coves on a boat tour, go snorkeling together, or take a scenic hike to Mirante do Forno for stunning panoramic views.

Is Buzios or Santa Elena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Elena is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Buzios is not as popular, but is still a nice for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Santa Elena is extremely popular for backpackers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and affordable activities. There are also many hostels with social activities that make this a great backpacker-friendly destination.

Buzios is a very popular for backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels, beaches, and a variety of activities that backpackers can enjoy. With over 20 beaches and plenty of affordable street food, this is a great spot for budget travelers. You'll also find many other backpackers in the area.

Is Buzios or Santa Elena Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Elena is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Buzios does not have public transit.

While Santa Elena offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses through town that travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Buzios does not have public transit.

Is Buzios or Santa Elena a more walkable city?

Santa Elena is a popular place for its high level of walkability. However, Buzios is not a walkable destination.

Santa Elena is a somewhat walkable place. It's relatively easy to walk around, but you will need to take a bus to Monteverde.

Buzios is not a walkable destination.

Should I spend more time in Santa Elena or Buzios?

How long in Buzios or Santa Elena?

It's fun to spend time in either Buzios or Santa Elena. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Buzios due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Buzios, and 2-4 days is enough time in Santa Elena.

Families should spend more time in Santa Elena than Buzios. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Santa Elena, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Santa Elena than Buzios. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Santa Elena that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Elena than Buzios if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Santa Elena.

One day in Buzios or Santa Elena?

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Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the of Buzios. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping when visiting the destination of Santa Elena. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Buzios or Santa Elena?

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Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the destination of Buzios. This offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Santa Elena is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Buzios or Santa Elena?

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Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the of Buzios. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Elena. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Buzios or Santa Elena?

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Many people enjoy the food when visiting Buzios. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping when visiting the scenic destination of Santa Elena. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena is more expensive. And not only is Buzios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Buzios is in South America and Santa Elena 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 Buzios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buzios 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena than you might in Buzios.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.