A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Paz vs. Charlottesville for Attractions, Food, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit La Paz or Charlottesville?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between La Paz and Charlottesville 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.

La Paz

La Paz is a beautiful, authentic, and cultural city. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Charlottesville

Charlottesville is a young, collegiate, and southern university town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. It also has a unique and quaint vibe that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the hiking, museums, and nightlife.

La Paz and Charlottesville: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Paz or Charlottesville?

Visitors will usually find more to do in La Paz than Charlottesville, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. La Paz is better known for its museums, food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Charlottesville is more popular for its historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. La Paz is more touristy than Charlottesville and is popular for its beautiful beaches, fascinating cultural setting, and authentic local atmosphere. Also, La Paz is famous for Balandra Beach. Charlottesville is well known for being home to the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and serving as a gateway to Shenandoah National Park.

How is La Paz different from Charlottesville?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Charlottesville and La Paz. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in La Paz or Charlottesville?

La Paz is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around La Paz. Sights and landmarks around town include La Paz Cathedral, the Museo de Antropología e Historia de Baja California Sur, the the Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur, and Teatro Juarez.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Charlottesville. A highlight of a trip to the area is a visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. The city is also famously home to the beautiful University of Virginia, which has a manicured and beautiful campus. History buffs will also appreciate visiting the Civil War Sites that are nearby as well.

Is the Food Better in La Paz or Charlottesville? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

La Paz is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Charlottesville is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

La Paz has a huge number of terrific restaurants. As the capital of Baja California Sur, you'll find many local restaurants that serve traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine. The recipes include seafood and local produce. You'll find everything from food stalls to high end restaurants around town.

Charlottesville may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Head to the Historic Downtown Mall to enjoy an outdoor meal at a top rated restaurant. There are also restaurants that cater specifically to students and offer affordable and quick meals.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are notable in both La Paz and Charlottesville.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in La Paz. There are many bars and restaurants around the Malecón.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Charlottesville. Charlottesville is a university town with an active nightlife. The best areas for nightlife are found around the Downtown Mall, Belmont neighborhood, the Corner, and University Ave west near the mall. Even though there are a number of activities to enjoy at night, this is still a small town and the nightlife scene reflects that.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Resorts?

La Paz is a good destination for its luxury resorts. However, Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, La Paz makes a nice vacation spot. There are a number of hotels and resorts around town that make for a nice vacation.

Charlottesville is not a resort destination.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

La Paz is a great city for its diving and snorkeling. However, Charlottesville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near La Paz. There are organized diving and snorkeling excursions available around town. It's location by the Sea of Cortez makes diving a world class experience.

Charlottesville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Beaches?

La Paz is terrific for the beache. However, Charlottesville is not a beach destination.

La Paz offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The beaches in the area are the main draw, and you'll find beaches that are family-friendly, romantic, or full of amenities. Some consider the beaches in the area among the best in Mexico.

Charlottesville is not a beach destination.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for its Old Town?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for its old town. However, La Paz does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Charlottesville to see the old town. The Historic Downtown Mall is filled with restaurants and shops. It's a pedestrian only area with a lot of character and energy.

La Paz does not have a historic old town.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Hiking?

Charlottesville is a university town with good options for the nearby hiking options. However, La Paz is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Charlottesville. Just outside of town there are plenty of hiking opportunities including in and around Shenandoah National Park. Hiking is at its best during the fall season when the leaves are changing.

La Paz is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in La Paz or Charlottesville?

La Paz is a great city for its shopping opportunities. However, Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

La Paz is well-known for its shopping. Local boutiques, souvenir shops, and art galleries all make for interesting shopping opportunities.

Charlottesville is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Christmas?

Charlottesville is notable for its Christmas activities. However, La Paz does not offer Christmas activities.

Charlottesville is an extremely popular place to visit during the Christmas season. From Christmas lights on campus to a festive atmosphere at the Monticello, the town is beautiful for Christmas.

La Paz does not offer Christmas activities.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Families?

La Paz is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Charlottesville is not as popular, but is still a nice university town for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, La Paz is very family-friendly. Older kids will enjoy swimming with whale sharks, whale watching, and experiencing the region's wildlife. There are also many beaches in the area where kids can play.

Charlottesville is a family-friendly place to visit. Wandering the campus of UVA, picking fruit at Carter Mountain Orchard or exploring the downtown mall, including the Virginia Discovery Museum are all activities that everyone can enjoy. There are also great hiking trails just outside of town.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Couples?

Both La Paz and Charlottesville are notable destinations for a couple's getaway.

La Paz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy walking along the beach promenade known as Malecon. There are also beaches and amazing animal experiences such as whale watching or dolphin viewing.

Charlottesville is a good city for couples to visit. The UVA campus is beautiful to explore, as is Monticello. The Downtown Mall has many great restaurants and activities that make for a nice date night and during the day, there's also beautiful hikes nearby that are at their peak during the fall season.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Paz is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Charlottesville is not known for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit La Paz. The city offers an authentic experience and hostels that make it a budget-friendly option for backpackers.

Charlottesville is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is camping an hiking in the area that is a good option for backpackers.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Students?

Charlottesville is a world-class destination for students. However, La Paz is not popular with students.

Charlottesville is a very popular university town for students. The town is home to the beautiful University of Virginia and it's a popular destination for international students as well as local students. Much of the town is focused around student life, and the city's proximity to Washington, DC means it has access to global opportunities.

La Paz is not popular with students.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

La Paz is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Charlottesville is not known for its public transit.

While La Paz offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a cheap local bus system around town.

Public transit is generally limited in Charlottesville. There is a bus system that runs between campus, downtown, and several neighborhoods in Charlottesville.

Is La Paz or Charlottesville a more walkable city?

La Paz is a great city for its high level of walkability. However, Charlottesville is not known for its ease of walking around.

La Paz is a very walkable city. The city is very walkable.

Charlottesville is generally not very walkable. While the University of Virginia campus and the Downtown Mall are both very walkable, most of the town is not.

For even more information, also check out Is La Paz Worth Visiting? and Is Charlottesville Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Charlottesville or La Paz?

How long in La Paz or Charlottesville?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both La Paz and Charlottesville. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in La Paz than in Charlottesville. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for La Paz, and 2-3 days is enough time in Charlottesville.

Families should spend more time in La Paz than Charlottesville. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in La Paz, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in La Paz than Charlottesville. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in La Paz that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in La Paz than Charlottesville if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in La Paz.

One day in La Paz or Charlottesville?

The beautiful destination of La Paz offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Charlottesville might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in La Paz or Charlottesville?

The city of La Paz offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Charlottesville is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in La Paz or Charlottesville?

La Paz is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. This city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Charlottesville. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in La Paz or Charlottesville?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting La Paz. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Charlottesville is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is La Paz Expensive? and Is Charlottesville Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, La Paz or Charlottesville?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Charlottesville. When comparing the sizes of La Paz and Charlottesville, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit La Paz or Charlottesville?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit La Paz or Charlottesville in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to La Paz as well as Charlottesville. The beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to La Paz this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Charlottesville for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

La Paz is a little warmer than Charlottesville in the summer. The daily temperature in La Paz averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Charlottesville fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Charlottesville. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Paz this time of the year. In the summer, La Paz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Charlottesville. La Paz gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charlottesville receives 305 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Charlottesville. La Paz usually gets less rain in July than Charlottesville. La Paz gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Charlottesville receives 5 inches (128 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Paz or Charlottesville in the Autumn?

Both Charlottesville and La Paz are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to La Paz for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Charlottesville in the autumn for the hiking trails, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, La Paz is much warmer than Charlottesville. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Paz in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Charlottesville averages at about 59°F (15°C).

It's quite sunny in Charlottesville. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Paz. La Paz usually receives more sunshine than Charlottesville during autumn. La Paz gets 272 hours of sunny skies, while Charlottesville receives 221 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, La Paz usually receives less rain than Charlottesville. La Paz gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Charlottesville receives 3.5 inches (90 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit La Paz or Charlottesville in the Winter?

Both Charlottesville and La Paz during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to La Paz in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Charlottesville for the museums, the Christmas ambience, and the cuisine during these months.

Charlottesville can be very cold during winter. In January, La Paz is generally much warmer than Charlottesville. Daily temperatures in La Paz average around 18°C (65°F), and Charlottesville fluctuates around 36°F (2°C).

It's quite sunny in La Paz. In the winter, La Paz often gets more sunshine than Charlottesville. La Paz gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charlottesville receives 169 hours of full sun.

La Paz usually gets less rain in January than Charlottesville. La Paz gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Charlottesville receives 3.2 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Paz or Charlottesville in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Paz and Charlottesville. Most visitors come to La Paz for the beaches during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Charlottesville because of the small town charm and the natural beauty.

La Paz is much warmer than Charlottesville in the spring. The daily temperature in La Paz averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Charlottesville fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charlottesville this time of the year. In La Paz, it's very sunny this time of the year. La Paz usually receives more sunshine than Charlottesville during spring. La Paz gets 292 hours of sunny skies, while Charlottesville receives 265 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, La Paz usually receives less rain than Charlottesville. La Paz gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Charlottesville receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Charlottesville and La Paz