A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Curitiba vs. Jaco for Nightlife, Food, Backpackers, and Families

Should you visit Curitiba or Jaco?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Curitiba and Jaco can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Curitiba

Curitiba is a vibrant, cultural, and active city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Curitiba travel costs.

Jaco

Jaco is a touristy, laid back, and popular town. It's also popular because of the nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Jaco travel costs.

Curitiba and Jaco: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Curitiba or Jaco?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Jaco. Although Curitiba and Jaco are popular destinations, Jaco has more sights and attractions for tourists. Jaco is very popular for its nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches, while Curitiba attracts visitors for its museums and attractions and food. Jaco is more touristy than Curitiba and is known for its surfing, nightlife, and beaches. It is also well known for Carara National Park. Curitiba is famous for its performing arts, walkability, and culture.

How is Curitiba different from Jaco?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Curitiba or Jaco?

Curitiba is a nice place to visit for its museums and history. However, Jaco is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Curitiba. There are a variety of museums around town that include a number of history museums, a few art museums, and other cultural museums that are worth checking out.

Jaco offers a few options for museum-goers. Most people spend their time outside or partying while they're in town.

Is the Food Better in Curitiba or Jaco? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Curitiba is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Jaco is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Curitiba has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The official dish of the town is carne de onça, which first originated here and is a beef tartare that's served on flat bread. There are also many other traditional and authentic Brazilian restaurants around town, so this is a great place for a foodie to explore.

Jaco offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There's a range of restaurants around town that include hamburger joints, pizza shops, and other casual favorites. You'll find a variety of options along the main strip as well.

Is Curitiba or Jaco Better for Nightlife?

Jaco is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. Also, Curitiba is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

Jaco is a world class party destination. What was once a quiet surfing town is now one of the most famous party destinations in Costa Rica. There are a constantly growing number of bars and clubs around town and you'll find tons of young tourists and backpackers looking for a party.

Curitiba offers plenty to do in the evening. Like most cities in Brazil, you'll find a great nightlife scene with plenty of bars and restaurants. Some of the best neighborhoods for nightlife are Batel, which is one of the most international parts of the city, Itupava Street, which is lined with Brazilian restaurants and bars, and São Francisco, which is popular with the student population because of its affordability.

Is Curitiba or Jaco Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Jaco is a town with good options for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Curitiba is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Jaco. You can't really snorkel at Jaco Beach because of the waves and water conditions, but there are a number of snorkeling tours that leave from town and take you to better spots.

Curitiba is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Curitiba or Jaco Better for Beaches?

Jaco is a town with good options for the beach. However, Curitiba is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Jaco. Jaco Beach is a great spot for swimming and surfing. It's lost some of its original charm, but there's still golden sand and nearby horseback riding.

Curitiba is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Curitiba or Jaco?

If you're looking to go shopping, Curitiba and Jaco both offer plenty of nice spots.

Curitiba has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city has large shopping malls and many great fashion boutiques. It's a great place to spend some time shopping.

Jaco is a great destination for shopping. Many of the shops are found along the main street. There are a number of souvenir stores and a few art galleries that are worth checking out.

Is Curitiba or Jaco Better for Families?

Both Curitiba and Jaco are nice to visit with kids.

Curitiba offers lots of family activities. The city has parks and museums that are great for kids. In particular, the botanical gardens and Bosque Alemao appeal to young visitors.

Jaco is a family-friendly place to visit. Nearby you'll find horseback riding, monkey tours, and other fun kid-friendly activities. Kids will enjoy the beaches in the area as well.

Is Curitiba or Jaco Better for Couples?

Both Curitiba and Jaco are nice destinations for a couple's getaway.

Curitiba is a good city for couples to visit. The city has some great parks and restaurants that make it a pleasant place to explore with your significant other.

Jaco is a nice destination for couples. It's one of the more touristy parts of Costa Rica, but if you enjoy surfing and beach life, then you'll find a lot to do in the area.

Is Curitiba or Jaco Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Jaco is a great town for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Curitiba is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Jaco. It's a touristy town with a bit of a party reputation. There are plenty of hostels and other backpackers around so you shouldn't have trouble meeting people.

Plenty of backpackers visit Curitiba. The nightlife and music scene, combined with a great public transit system, make this a good, but often overlooked destination for backpackers in Brazil.

Is Curitiba or Jaco Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Curitiba is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Jaco is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Curitiba. There's a great public transit system here that includes a metro system, trolleybuses, and buses.

Public transit is generally limited in Jaco. Most people walk or get around by bicycle.

Is Curitiba or Jaco a more walkable city?

Curitiba and Jaco are high quality when it comes to walkability.

Curitiba is a very walkable destination. It is a walkable city that is fun to explore on foot, but as always, take precautions in certain areas, particularly at night.

Jaco is very walkable. The town is compact and walkable. You'll find many of the restaurants and shops along the main street, and it's easy to reach the beach on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Curitiba Worth Visiting? and Is Jaco Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Jaco or Curitiba?

How long in Curitiba or Jaco?

It's fun to spend time in either Curitiba or Jaco. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Jaco due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Curitiba, and 3-4 days is enough time in Jaco.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Jaco than Curitiba 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 Jaco.

One day in Curitiba or Jaco?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Curitiba. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

The town of Jaco offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Curitiba or Jaco?

Curitiba is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Jaco is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Curitiba or Jaco?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Curitiba. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Jaco is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Curitiba or Jaco?

The active city of Curitiba offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Jaco is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best Tours for Seniors to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Curitiba or Jaco?

Curitiba has a larger population, and is about 420 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Curitiba and Jaco, 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.