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

Should you visit Isla de Ometepe or Valdivia?

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 Valdivia, 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 Valdivia?

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.

Valdivia

Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla de Ometepe and Valdivia, we can see that Valdivia 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 Valdivia 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 Valdivia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Valdivia 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 Valdivia Expensive?.

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

Valdivia 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 Valdivia in the Summer?

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

Isla de Ometepe is much warmer than Valdivia in the summer. The daily temperature in Isla de Ometepe averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Valdivia fluctuates around 16°C (61°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Valdivia. In the summer, Isla de Ometepe often gets less sunshine than Valdiviain January. Isla de Ometepe gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 296 hours of full sun.

Isla de Ometepe receives a lot of rain in the summer. Isla de Ometepe usually gets more rain in July than Valdiviain January. Isla de Ometepe gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Valdivia in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Isla de Ometepe is much warmer than Valdivia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Isla de Ometepe in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Valdivia averages at about 11°C (52°F)in April.

Isla de Ometepe usually receives more sunshine than Valdivia during autumn. Isla de Ometepe gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Valdivia receives 132 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Valdivia. It's quite rainy in Isla de Ometepe. In October, Isla de Ometepe usually receives more rain than Valdiviain April. Isla de Ometepe gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Valdivia in the Winter?

Both Valdivia and Isla de Ometepe during the winter 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 January, Isla de Ometepe is generally much warmer than Valdiviain July. Daily temperatures in Isla de Ometepe average around 26°C (79°F), and Valdivia fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

It's quite sunny in Isla de Ometepe. In the winter, Isla de Ometepe often gets more sunshine than Valdiviain July. Isla de Ometepe gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 66 hours of full sun.

Valdivia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Isla de Ometepe usually gets less rain in January than Valdiviain July. Isla de Ometepe gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Valdivia in the Spring?

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

Isla de Ometepe is much warmer than Valdivia in the spring. The daily temperature in Isla de Ometepe averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Valdivia fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in October.

In Isla de Ometepe, it's very sunny this time of the year. Isla de Ometepe usually receives more sunshine than Valdivia during spring. Isla de Ometepe gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Valdivia receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

Valdivia receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Isla de Ometepe usually receives less rain than Valdiviain October. Isla de Ometepe gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Valdivia and Isla de Ometepe