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

Should you visit Grande-Terre or Montanita?

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

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Montanita? 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 Montanita?

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.

Montanita

Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grande-Terre and Montanita, we can see that Grande-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Montanita much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grande-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Montanita is in South 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 Montanita would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montanita 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 Montanita.

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 Montanita Expensive?.

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

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 Grande-Terre or Montanita in the Summer?

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

It rains a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in July than Montanita. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Grande-Terre. In the summer, Grande-Terre often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Grande-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the summer temperatures in Grande-Terre in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita averages at about 25°C (78°F).

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Grande-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than Montanita. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Grande-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during autumn. Grande-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Grande-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 27°C (80°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

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

The winter brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as Montanita. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.

Grande-Terre usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Montanita. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Grande-Terre this time of the year. In the winter, Grande-Terre often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Grande-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun.

Grande-Terre is cooler than Montanita in the winter. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

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

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

It's quite rainy in Grande-Terre. In April, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than Montanita. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during spring. Grande-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the spring temperatures in Grande-Terre in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Typical Weather for Montanita and Grande-Terre