A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Isla de Ometepe vs. Puerto Varas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Isla de Ometepe or Puerto Varas?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Isla de Ometepe or Puerto Varas, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Isla de Ometepe or Puerto Varas?

Isla de Ometepe

Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.

Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Isla de Ometepe Expensive? and Is Puerto Varas Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Isla de Ometepe or Puerto Varas?

Puerto Varas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Isla de Ometepe experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Puerto Varas in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Isla de Ometepe and Puerto Varas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Isla de Ometepe year-round.

In the summer, Isla de Ometepe is much warmer than Puerto Varas. Typically, the summer temperatures in Isla de Ometepe in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Varas averages at about 16°C (60°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Puerto Varas this time of the year. Isla de Ometepe usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Varas during summer. Isla de Ometepe gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 204 hours of full sun in the summer.

Isla de Ometepe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Isla de Ometepe usually receives more rain than Puerto Varasin January. Isla de Ometepe gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Puerto Varas in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Isla de Ometepe as well as Puerto Varas. Isla de Ometepe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Isla de Ometepe is generally much warmer than Puerto Varasin April. Daily temperatures in Isla de Ometepe average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

In the autumn, Isla de Ometepe often gets more sunshine than Puerto Varasin April. Isla de Ometepe gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 104 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Varas. Isla de Ometepe receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Isla de Ometepe usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Varasin April. Isla de Ometepe gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Puerto Varas in the Winter?

Both Puerto Varas and Isla de Ometepe are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Isla de Ometepe throughout the year.

Isla de Ometepe is much warmer than Puerto Varas in the winter. The daily temperature in Isla de Ometepe averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Isla de Ometepe. Isla de Ometepe usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Varas during winter. Isla de Ometepe gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Varas. In January, Isla de Ometepe usually receives less rain than Puerto Varasin July. Isla de Ometepe gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Puerto Varas in the Spring?

Both Puerto Varas and Isla de Ometepe during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Isla de Ometepe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Isla de Ometepe is much warmer than Puerto Varas. Typically, the spring temperatures in Isla de Ometepe in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Puerto Varas averages at about 11°C (51°F)in October.

It's quite sunny in Isla de Ometepe. In the spring, Isla de Ometepe often gets more sunshine than Puerto Varasin October. Isla de Ometepe gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 151 hours of full sun.

Puerto Varas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Isla de Ometepe usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Varasin October. Isla de Ometepe gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Puerto Varas and Isla de Ometepe