A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Grande-Terre vs. Mazatlan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Grande-Terre or Mazatlan?

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

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Mazatlan? 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: Grande-Terre or Mazatlan?

Grande-Terre

Grande Terre is an island that makes up the eastern half of the Guadeloupe 'mainland.' It is divided from the other half of the main Guadeloupe island, Basse Terre, by a narrow channel called Rivière Salee (or the Salt River). The island itself is characterized by rolling hills, white sand beaches, and cliffs, and its indented coastline is surrounded by coral reefs. It is home to most of Guadeloupe's farmlands and tourist resorts.

Mazatlan

Mazatlan is located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city has a population of almost 500,000, making it the second largest city in the state. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and resort hotels. Most people head to Mazatlan specifically for its beaches, but the city itself is somewhat large and diverse with many different cultures and ethnicities represented. Many foreigners come here not only to vacation, but also to retire. You'll meet people from all over Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Grande-Terre or Mazatlan?

Mazatlan has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Grande-Terre experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Mazatlan in the Summer?

Both Mazatlan and Grande-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grande-Terre throughout the year. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Mazatlan this time of year.

Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Mazatlan in the summer. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Mazatlan fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in Mazatlan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Mazatlan during summer. Grande-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 216 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Mazatlan. It's quite rainy in Grande-Terre. In July, Grande-Terre usually receives less rain than Mazatlan. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Mazatlan in the Autumn?

Both Mazatlan and Grande-Terre during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grande-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Mazatlan for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Mazatlan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grande-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Mazatlan averages at about 27°C (81°F).

In Mazatlan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Grande-Terre. In the autumn, Grande-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mazatlan. Grande-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 233 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Mazatlan. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Mazatlan in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and Mazatlan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. Also, many visitors come to Mazatlan in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Grande-Terre is generally a little warmer than Mazatlan. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and Mazatlan fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mazatlan this time of the year. In Grande-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Mazatlan during winter. Grande-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 203 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than Mazatlan. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Mazatlan in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as Mazatlan. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Mazatlan for the beaches during these months.

Grande-Terre is a little warmer than Mazatlan in the spring. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Mazatlan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mazatlan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Grande-Terre this time of the year. In the spring, Grande-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mazatlan. Grande-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 250 hours of full sun.

Grande-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Mazatlan. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Mazatlan and Grande-Terre