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

Should you visit Colonia del Sacramento or Montanita?

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 Montanita can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Colonia del Sacramento or Montanita?

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.

Montanita

Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.

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

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 Montanita Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Colonia del Sacramento or Montanita?

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

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Montanita in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Colonia del Sacramento and Montanita. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Colonia del Sacramento is generally around the same temperature as Montanitain July. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 25°C (77°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

In Colonia del Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during summer. Colonia del Sacramento gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun in the summer.

In January, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more rain than Montanitain July. Colonia del Sacramento gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Montanita in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Colonia del Sacramento as well as Montanita. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.

Colonia del Sacramento is cooler than Montanita in the autumn. The daily temperature in Colonia del Sacramento averages around 18°C (65°F) in April, and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in October.

In the autumn, Colonia del Sacramento often gets more sunshine than Montanitain October. Colonia del Sacramento gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun.

Colonia del Sacramento receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in April than Montanitain October. Colonia del Sacramento gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Montanita in the Winter?

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

In the winter, Colonia del Sacramento is much colder than Montanita. Typically, the winter temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento in July average around 12°C (53°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (80°F)in January.

Colonia del Sacramento usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during winter. Colonia del Sacramento gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Colonia del Sacramento usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montanitain January. Colonia del Sacramento gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Colonia del Sacramento or Montanita in the Spring?

Both Montanita and Colonia del Sacramento during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.

In October, Colonia del Sacramento is generally much colder than Montanitain April. Daily temperatures in Colonia del Sacramento average around 18°C (64°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite sunny in Colonia del Sacramento. In the spring, Colonia del Sacramento often gets more sunshine than Montanitain April. Colonia del Sacramento gets 233 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Colonia del Sacramento. Colonia del Sacramento usually gets more rain in October than Montanitain April. Colonia del Sacramento gets 118 mm (4.6 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Montanita and Colonia del Sacramento