Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo or Cartagena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Cartagena or Puerto Viejo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Cartagena and Puerto Viejo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Cartagena or Puerto Viejo?
Cartagena
The capital of the Bolivar Department of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in the country. It sits on Colombia's northern coast by the Caribbean Sea. It's a port city with a population of almost 900,000, making it the fifth largest city in Colombia. The city has a rich history and was the first Spanish colony on the American continent. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas.
Puerto Viejo
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCartagena $48Puerto Viejo $145
The average daily cost (per person) in Cartagena is $48, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $145. 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 Cartagena and Puerto Viejo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCartagena $27Puerto Viejo $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCartagena $54Puerto Viejo $142
Compare Hotels in Cartagena and Puerto Viejo
Looking for a hotel in Cartagena or Puerto Viejo? 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: Cartagena Hotel Prices and Puerto Viejo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Cartagena $7.64Puerto Viejo $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Cartagena HTL-APT(CTG): $17
- Transportation / Transfers: $27
- Transfer service in Cartagena: $53
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Manzanillo del Mar - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $23
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - Manzanillo del Mar: $23
- Transfer in Private Vehicle from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - City Center: $13
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Manzanillo del Mar - Cartagena Airport (CTG): $29
- Transfer in Private Minivan from Cartagena Airport (CTG) - City Center: $20
- Transfer in Private Minivan Cartagena Airport (CTG) - Manzanillo del Mar: $18
- Transfer from the airport to hotels in Boquilla: $12
- Transfer Private Vehicle Cartagena Airport (CTG) -City Cent: $27
- Transfer High-end - Kia Quoris: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Viejo
Also for Puerto Viejo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $373
Is it cheaper to fly into Cartagena or Puerto Viejo?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo and Cartagena 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 dayCartagena $10Puerto Viejo $33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- Featured in NYTimes > Arepas and Dancing: Danceable Cooking Class in Cartagena: $32
- Cooking class of typical food at the beach and sunset view: $39
- Taste Cartagena Food tour: $40
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $42
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $43
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $50
- Cooking Class: Street food & Mojito making: $50
- Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
- Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $58
- Cartagena Gourmet: Cooking Class with a View, Elegance & Flavor: $59
- Cooking class: Street Food & Mojito making: $60
- Street food tour: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Cartagena $22Puerto Viejo $78
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Beach Buggy ATV Adventure Tour CARTAGENA: $135
- Eco cultural Historical Tour beyond Old City! + Pool: $98
- Exciting Beach Buggy ATV Tour in Cartagena : $165
- Playa Morena Beach Club Whith Lunch And Walking tour of fort San Fernando: $39
- Private Beach Tour in Barú and Optional Bird Aviary: $120
- Private Tour & the best coffee of the world in Cartagena (Also for cruisers): $250
- Private city tour: $197
- "Essential Cartagena" Private Tour. : $70
- "Luxury Day in Tierra Bomba Exclusive Tour to the best Beach Club": $154
- 16. Punta Arena Tour (Tierra Bomba Island): $25
- 17. Transportation for private CITY TOURS CARTAGENA: $105
- 2 Hour Panoramic tour for cruise ship passengers: $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCartagena $9.39Puerto Viejo $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots: $18
- Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Cartagena and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Cartagena is in South America and Puerto Viejo 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 Cartagena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cartagena 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 Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo than you might in Cartagena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cartagena Expensive? and Is Puerto Viejo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Cartagena or Puerto Viejo?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Cartagena or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Cartagena as well as Puerto Viejo. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Cartagena usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejo. Cartagena gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In the summer, Cartagena often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Cartagena gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Cartagena is a little warmer than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cartagena in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyCartagena 29°C (84°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Viejo and Cartagena are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. It's quite rainy in Cartagena. In October, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Cartagena gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Cartagena usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during autumn. Cartagena gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Cartagena is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Cartagena average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberCartagena 27°C (81°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?
Both Puerto Viejo and Cartagena during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.
Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Cartagena usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejo. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. In the winter, Cartagena often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Cartagena gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.
Cartagena is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the winter. The daily temperature in Cartagena averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryCartagena 27°C (81°F)Puerto Viejo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Cartagena or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cartagena and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Cartagena usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Cartagena gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. Cartagena usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during spring. Cartagena gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Cartagena is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cartagena in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilCartagena 28°C (82°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Cartagena
| Cartagena | Puerto Viejo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 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.