A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Plata vs. Puerto Viejo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Plata or Puerto Viejo?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between La Plata and Puerto Viejo can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Plata or Puerto Viejo?

La Plata

Just over an hour from Buenos Aires, the bustling university city of La Plata is notable for being South America's first planned city. Indeed, also known as the City of Diagonal, La Plata's intricate grid system includes diagonal streets that run through it, contributing to easy navigation but confusing intersections.La Plata is the Capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, the main Argentine state, so you will find lots of elaborate government buildings alongside leafy green plazas in this laid back as well as active city. La Plata is a happening university town with a population of over 700,000. You can walk the width of it in under an hour, stopping at trendy craft beer bars, local music joints, and great restaurants along the way. Also, football is a religion in Argentina and if you're looking for some local atmosphere, La Plata is the place to go! Two of Argentina's biggest football teams, Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata and Estudiantes de La Plata challenge each other each year. If you are around during that special day for the city, you will witness thousands of fans wearing the relevant colours heading off to watch the match and parade by calle 7.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours from Buenos Aires, The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.

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

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

When is the best time to visit La Plata or Puerto Viejo?

La Plata has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Puerto Viejo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, La Plata is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the summer temperatures in La Plata in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in July.

La Plata usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. La Plata gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, La Plata usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin July. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit La Plata or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to La Plata as well as Puerto Viejo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

In April, La Plata is generally cooler than Puerto Viejoin October. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 18°C (65°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

In the autumn, La Plata often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejoin October. La Plata gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. La Plata usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejoin October. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

Both Puerto Viejo and La Plata are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

La Plata is much colder than Puerto Viejo in the winter. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 12°C (53°F) in July, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.

La Plata usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. La Plata gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In July, La Plata usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin January. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit La Plata or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

Both Puerto Viejo and La Plata during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.

In the spring, La Plata is cooler than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the spring temperatures in La Plata in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in April.

In the spring, La Plata often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejoin April. La Plata gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.

Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in La Plata. La Plata usually gets less rain in October than Puerto Viejoin April. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and La Plata