A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Grand-Bourg vs. Santa Elena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Grand-Bourg or Santa Elena?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Grand-Bourg and Santa Elena 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.

Where Should I go: Grand-Bourg or Santa Elena?

Grand-Bourg

Marie-Galante is an island of the Guadeloupe archipelago, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean. Sometimes called the "Big Pancake" for its circular shape and flat terrain, the island is a prime location for sugar fields which provide the ingredients for Marie Galante's famous cane juice rum. The island is also known for its many windmills, beaches, and historic plantations.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.

In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.

Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Grand-Bourg Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Grand-Bourg or Santa Elena?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Grand-Bourg or Santa Elena in the Summer?

Both Santa Elena and Grand-Bourg during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grand-Bourg because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.

Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Grand-Bourg. Grand-Bourg usually gets less rain in July than Santa Elena. Grand-Bourg gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Grand-Bourg. In the summer, Grand-Bourg often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Grand-Bourg gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Grand-Bourg is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Grand-Bourg in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Grand-Bourg or Santa Elena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Grand-Bourg and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grand-Bourg year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grand-Bourg gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Grand-Bourg usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Grand-Bourg gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Grand-Bourg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Grand-Bourg usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Grand-Bourg gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Grand-Bourg is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Grand-Bourg average around 27°C (80°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Grand-Bourg or Santa Elena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Grand-Bourg as well as Santa Elena. Grand-Bourg attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.

Grand-Bourg usually gets more rain in January than Santa Elena. Grand-Bourg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Grand-Bourg this time of the year. In the winter, Grand-Bourg often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Grand-Bourg gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.

Grand-Bourg is cooler than Santa Elena in the winter. The daily temperature in Grand-Bourg averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Grand-Bourg or Santa Elena in the Spring?

Both Santa Elena and Grand-Bourg are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grand-Bourg throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Grand-Bourg. In April, Grand-Bourg usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. Grand-Bourg gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grand-Bourg. Grand-Bourg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena during spring. Grand-Bourg gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Grand-Bourg is cooler than Santa Elena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Grand-Bourg in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 29°C (85°F).

Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Grand-Bourg