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

Should you visit La Plata or San Fernando?

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 San Fernando can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Plata or San Fernando?

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.

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

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

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between La Plata and San Fernando, we can see that San Fernando 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 San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands, 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando 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 San Fernando Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, La Plata or San Fernando?

La Plata has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of La Plata and San Fernando, 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 Plata or San Fernando?

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

Should I visit La Plata or San Fernando in the Summer?

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

La Plata is around the same temperature as San Fernando in the summer. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and San Fernando fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in San Fernando. La Plata usually receives less sunshine than San Fernando during summer. La Plata gets 191 hours of sunny skies, while San Fernando receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. In January, La Plata usually receives less rain than San Fernandoin July. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit La Plata or San Fernando in the Autumn?

Both San Fernando and La Plata during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round.

In the autumn, La Plata is cooler than San Fernando. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Plata in April average around 18°C (65°F), and San Fernando averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.

In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, La Plata often gets less sunshine than San Fernandoin October. La Plata gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Fernando receives 207 hours of full sun.

San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Plata usually gets less rain in April than San Fernandoin October. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or San Fernando in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and San Fernando. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, La Plata is generally much colder than San Fernandoin January. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 12°C (53°F), and San Fernando fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. La Plata usually receives less sunshine than San Fernando during winter. La Plata gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while San Fernando receives 241 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, La Plata usually receives less rain than San Fernandoin January. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit La Plata or San Fernando in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to La Plata as well as San Fernando. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year.

La Plata is much colder than San Fernando in the spring. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and San Fernando fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. In the spring, La Plata often gets less sunshine than San Fernandoin April. La Plata gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Fernando receives 238 hours of full sun.

La Plata receives a lot of rain in the spring. La Plata usually gets more rain in October than San Fernandoin April. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for San Fernando and La Plata