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

Should you visit Curitiba or Puerto Viejo?

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 Puerto Viejo 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.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is a authentic, laid back, and relaxed town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Puerto Viejo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Puerto Viejo travel costs.

Curitiba and Puerto Viejo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Curitiba or Puerto Viejo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Puerto Viejo. Although Curitiba and Puerto Viejo are popular destinations, Puerto Viejo has more sights and attractions for tourists. Puerto Viejo is very popular for its scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Curitiba attracts visitors for its museums and attractions and food. Curitiba is famous for its performing arts, walkability, and culture. Puerto Viejo is famous for its surfing, snorkeling, and seafood. It is also well known for .

How is Curitiba different from Puerto Viejo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo?

Curitiba is very good for its museums and history. However, Puerto Viejo is lacking in 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.

Puerto Viejo offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There aren't any real museums in the area, but there are a couple of art galleries.

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

Curitiba is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Puerto Viejo 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.

Puerto Viejo offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Many restaurants have a local atmosphere and serve typical Costa Rican food or seafood. You'll find no shortage of rice and beans!

Is Curitiba or Puerto Viejo Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find superb options in both Curitiba and Puerto Viejo.

The nightlife in Curitiba has something for everybody. 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.

Puerto Viejo offers plenty to do in the evening. It's a laid back town during the day and at night there's a chill but lively atmosphere. You'll find a few bars and clubs that have live music, and it's not hard to find something interesting to do.

Is Curitiba or Puerto Viejo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo. You'll find the best snorkeling in Cahuita National Park, where you'll see coral and colorful fish. There's a dive shop in town as well, but most people enjoy the snorkeling in the area more.

Curitiba is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Curitiba or Puerto Viejo Better for Beaches?

Puerto Viejo is a great town for the beach. However, Curitiba is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Puerto Viejo attract visitors from all over. The beaches in the area are beautiful and offer great waves for surfing and patches of coral reef for snorkeling. Many of the beaches are lined with forest and have a more laid back and less developed atmosphere than the beaches on the Pacific side.

Curitiba is not a beach destination.

Is Curitiba or Puerto Viejo Better for Hiking?

Puerto Viejo is a town with good options for hiking. However, Curitiba is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Puerto Viejo. The hike through nearby Cahuita National Park is a highlight for many visitors. It wanders along the coastline and takes about three hours to walk. You'll likely see some wildlife during your walk.

Curitiba is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Curitiba or Puerto Viejo?

If you're looking to go shopping, Curitiba and Puerto Viejo 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.

Puerto Viejo is a great destination for shopping. You can wander through the town center and enjoy shopping at the local boutiques that sell clothes and other touristy items.

Is Curitiba or Puerto Viejo More Beautiful?

Puerto Viejo is a town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Curitiba is not a destination known for its beauty.

Puerto Viejo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The beaches are beautiful and lined with rainforests. There's also easy access to the beautiful Cahuita National Park.

Curitiba is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Curitiba or Puerto Viejo Better for Families?

Puerto Viejo is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Curitiba is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Puerto Viejo. With its easy access to Cahuita National Park and many wildlife experiences, this is a great destination for the kids. Kids can see sloths and monkeys, or enjoy snorkeling and hanging out on a chill beach.

Curitiba is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has parks and museums that are great for kids. In particular, the botanical gardens and Bosque Alemao appeal to young visitors.

Is Curitiba or Puerto Viejo Better for Couples?

Puerto Viejo is a great town for couples. Also, Curitiba is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Puerto Viejo is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, which has a more laid back and less touristy atmosphere. While you won't find the larger resorts and tourist amenities in this area, couples who enjoy hiking and a local vibe will love their time here.

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

Is Curitiba or Puerto Viejo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo. There's a local atmosphere and enough hostels and budget accommodation to keep backpackers happy. It's also easy to explore and makes the perfect place to chill out for a few days.

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 Puerto Viejo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Curitiba is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

Curitiba offers a very effecient public transportation network. There's a great public transit system here that includes a metro system, trolleybuses, and buses.

You'll find some public transit in Puerto Viejo, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses that travel the longer distances, but most people walk or bike around town.

Is Curitiba or Puerto Viejo a more walkable city?

Curitiba and Puerto Viejo are superb 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.

Puerto Viejo is very walkable. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Puerto Viejo or Curitiba?

How long in Curitiba or Puerto Viejo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Curitiba and Puerto Viejo. In our opinion, Puerto Viejo has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Puerto Viejo than Curitiba. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo.

One day in Curitiba or Puerto Viejo?

In Curitiba, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this cultural city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

The town of Puerto Viejo offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Puerto Viejo?

Curitiba is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Puerto Viejo is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Puerto Viejo, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Curitiba or Puerto Viejo?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vibrant destination of Curitiba. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Puerto Viejo is a popular choice for travelers. 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 Puerto Viejo?

Curitiba is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Puerto Viejo is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Curitiba and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo 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 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 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 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 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 Puerto Viejo Expensive?.