A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Colonia del Sacramento vs. Isla de Ometepe for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento or Isla de Ometepe?

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 Colonia del Sacramento and Isla de Ometepe can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Colonia del Sacramento or Isla de Ometepe?

Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento is in the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. It is filled with old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish Viceroyalty of the River Plate, later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. Its strategic position and use as a smuggling port meant that its sovereignty was constantly contested and the city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal. The irresistibly picturesque town's charm and its proximity to Buenos Aires draw thousands of Argentine and other visitors on weekends and in summer. Prices rise in these periods and it can be difficult to find a room so make sure to book your trip well in advance.

Isla de Ometepe

Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.

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

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Colonia del Sacramento Expensive? and Is Isla de Ometepe Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Colonia del Sacramento or Isla de Ometepe?

Colonia del Sacramento has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Isla de Ometepe experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Isla de Ometepe in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Colonia del Sacramento as well as Isla de Ometepe. The warm climate attracts visitors to Isla de Ometepe throughout the year.

Colonia del Sacramento is around the same temperature as Isla de Ometepe in the summer. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Colonia del Sacramento this time of the year. In the summer, Colonia del Sacramento often gets more sunshine than Isla de Ometepein July. Colonia del Sacramento gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Isla de Ometepe receives 175 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Isla de Ometepe. Colonia del Sacramento usually gets less rain in January than Isla de Ometepein July. Colonia del Sacramento gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Isla de Ometepe in the Autumn?

Both Isla de Ometepe and Colonia del Sacramento are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Isla de Ometepe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Colonia del Sacramento is cooler than Isla de Ometepe. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento in April average around 18°C (65°F), and Isla de Ometepe averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.

Colonia del Sacramento usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Isla de Ometepe during autumn. Colonia del Sacramento gets 183 hours of sunny skies, while Isla de Ometepe receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Isla de Ometepe. It's quite rainy in Colonia del Sacramento. In April, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives less rain than Isla de Ometepein October. Colonia del Sacramento gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Isla de Ometepe in the Winter?

Both Isla de Ometepe and Colonia del Sacramento during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Isla de Ometepe year-round.

In July, Colonia del Sacramento is generally much colder than Isla de Ometepein January. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 12°C (53°F), and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

In Isla de Ometepe, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Colonia del Sacramento often gets less sunshine than Isla de Ometepein January. Colonia del Sacramento gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Isla de Ometepe receives 244 hours of full sun.

Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in July than Isla de Ometepein January. Colonia del Sacramento gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Isla de Ometepe in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Colonia del Sacramento and Isla de Ometepe. Isla de Ometepe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Colonia del Sacramento is much colder than Isla de Ometepe in the spring. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Isla de Ometepe this time of the year. In Colonia del Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. Colonia del Sacramento usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Isla de Ometepe during spring. Colonia del Sacramento gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Isla de Ometepe receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

Colonia del Sacramento gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more rain than Isla de Ometepein April. Colonia del Sacramento gets 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Isla de Ometepe and Colonia del Sacramento