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

Should you visit La Serena 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 Serena and Puerto Viejo can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Serena or Puerto Viejo?

La Serena

La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!

Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.

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 Sightseeing Tours in Chile, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, 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 Serena and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is La Serena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since La Serena 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 Serena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in La Serena 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 Serena.

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

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

La Serena 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 Serena or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

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

In January, La Serena is generally cooler than Puerto Viejoin July. Daily temperatures in La Serena average around 18°C (64°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Serena. La Serena usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. La Serena gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In January, La Serena usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin July. La Serena gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

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

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

La Serena is much colder than Puerto Viejo in the autumn. The daily temperature in La Serena averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in October.

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

Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. La Serena usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejoin October. La Serena gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

In the winter, La Serena is much colder than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the winter temperatures in La Serena in July average around 12°C (54°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 25°C (77°F)in January.

La Serena usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejo during winter. La Serena gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the winter. In July, La Serena usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin January. La Serena gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

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

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

In October, La Serena is generally much colder than Puerto Viejoin April. Daily temperatures in La Serena average around 14°C (57°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

In the spring, La Serena often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejoin April. La Serena gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. La Serena usually gets less rain in October than Puerto Viejoin April. La Serena gets 5 mm (0.2 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 Serena