A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Florianopolis vs. San Fernando for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Florianopolis or San Fernando?

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

Should I visit Florianopolis or San Fernando? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Florianopolis or San Fernando?

Florianopolis

With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.

Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or San Fernando?

Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis and San Fernando, 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.

When is the best time to visit Florianopolis or San Fernando?

Florianopolis has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Fernando experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Florianopolis or San Fernando in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Florianopolis and San Fernando. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Florianopolis is around the same temperature as San Fernando in the summer. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 25°C (76°F) in January, and San Fernando fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. Florianopolis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Fernando during summer. Florianopolis gets 198 hours of sunny skies, while San Fernando receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

San Fernando receives a lot of rain in the summer. Florianopolis gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Florianopolis usually receives less rain than San Fernandoin July. Florianopolis gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Florianopolis or San Fernando in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Florianopolis as well as San Fernando. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year.

In the autumn, Florianopolis is cooler than San Fernando. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Florianopolis in April average around 22°C (71°F), and San Fernando averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. In the autumn, Florianopolis often gets less sunshine than San Fernandoin October. Florianopolis gets 179 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Fernando receives 207 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in San Fernando. Florianopolis usually gets less rain in April than San Fernandoin October. Florianopolis gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Florianopolis or San Fernando in the Winter?

Both San Fernando and Florianopolis are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In July, Florianopolis is generally much colder than San Fernandoin January. Daily temperatures in Florianopolis average around 17°C (62°F), and San Fernando fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

It's quite sunny in San Fernando. Florianopolis usually receives less sunshine than San Fernando during winter. Florianopolis gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while San Fernando receives 241 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Florianopolis usually receives more rain than San Fernandoin January. Florianopolis gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Florianopolis or San Fernando in the Spring?

Both San Fernando and Florianopolis during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round.

Florianopolis is cooler than San Fernando in the spring. The daily temperature in Florianopolis averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and San Fernando fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in April.

In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Florianopolis often gets less sunshine than San Fernandoin April. Florianopolis gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Fernando receives 238 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Florianopolis. Florianopolis usually gets more rain in October than San Fernandoin April. Florianopolis gets 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for San Fernando and Florianopolis