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

Should you visit La Plata or San Juan del Sur?

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 Juan del Sur can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Plata or San Juan del Sur?

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 Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

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 Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.

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

Which is Bigger, La Plata or San Juan del Sur?

La Plata has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of La Plata and San Juan del Sur, 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 Juan del Sur?

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

Should I visit La Plata or San Juan del Sur in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to La Plata as well as San Juan del Sur. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.

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

In the summer, La Plata often gets more sunshine than San Juan del Surin July. La Plata gets 191 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. La Plata usually gets less rain in January than San Juan del Surin July. La Plata gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?

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

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

La Plata usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during autumn. La Plata gets 156 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. In April, La Plata usually receives less rain than San Juan del Surin October. La Plata gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit La Plata or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?

Both San Juan del Sur and La Plata during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.

In July, La Plata is generally much colder than San Juan del Surin January. Daily temperatures in La Plata average around 12°C (53°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

In San Juan del Sur, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, La Plata often gets less sunshine than San Juan del Surin January. La Plata gets 102 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun.

La Plata usually gets more rain in July than San Juan del Surin January. La Plata gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Plata or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both La Plata and San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

La Plata is much colder than San Juan del Sur in the spring. The daily temperature in La Plata averages around 18°C (64°F) in October, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan del Sur this time of the year. La Plata usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during spring. La Plata gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

La Plata gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, La Plata usually receives more rain than San Juan del Surin April. La Plata gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and La Plata