A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Leon vs. Montanita for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Leon or Montanita?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Leon and Montanita 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.

Where Should I go: Leon or Montanita?

Leon

Leon is one of the oldest city's in Nicaragua and you can see hints of its colonial past in the architecture around town. Tourism is not a major part of the economy in Leon, but the city is gaining popularity with budget travelers and backpackers and more recently tour groups are including Leon in their itinerary.

With a population of just over 200,000, Leon is the second largest city in Nicaragua, after Managua. During the university season the population grows dramatically as there is a heavy presence of students in Leon. It is a popular university town, and this young population gives the city plenty of energy and entertainment.

Montanita

Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Leon or Montanita?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Leon or Montanita in the Summer?

Both Montanita and Leon during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Leon because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually gets more rain in July than Montanita. Leon gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the summer, Leon often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Leon gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun.

In July, Leon is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

Should I visit Leon or Montanita in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Leon and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Leon year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Leon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Leon usually receives more rain than Montanita. Leon gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Leon usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during autumn. Leon gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Leon is around the same temperature as Montanita in the autumn. The daily temperature in Leon averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Should I visit Leon or Montanita in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Leon as well as Montanita. Leon attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.

Leon usually gets less rain in January than Montanita. Leon gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Leon this time of the year. In the winter, Leon often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Leon gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Leon is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the winter temperatures in Leon in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Leon or Montanita in the Spring?

Both Montanita and Leon are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Leon throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Leon usually receives less rain than Montanita. Leon gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Leon. Leon usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during spring. Leon gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Leon is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Leon average around 29°C (84°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Typical Weather for Montanita and Leon