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

Should you visit Managua or Montanita?

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 Managua and Montanita can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Managua or Montanita?

Managua

Managua is the capital, and largest city in Nicaragua. The economy is generally centered around the trade of coffee, cotton, and other types of agriculture. It also is a textile capital for the area. Managua is also a very reasonably priced destination in Central America. Restaurants and hotels are quite affordable and you'll find all kinds of international cuisine around the city. Transportation is also incredibly affordable and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the cost of intercity bus rides.

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 Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best 2-Week Tours in 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 Managua and Montanita, we can see that Montanita is more expensive. And not only is Managua much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Managua 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 Managua would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Managua 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 Managua.

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

When is the best time to visit Managua or Montanita?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Managua or Montanita in the Summer?

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

It's quite rainy in Managua. In July, Managua usually receives more rain than Montanita. Managua gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Managua usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during summer. Managua gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun in the summer.

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

Should I visit Managua or Montanita in the Autumn?

Both Montanita and Managua during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Managua 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 Managua. Managua usually gets more rain in October than Montanita. Managua gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Managua often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Managua gets 195 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun.

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

Should I visit Managua or Montanita in the Winter?

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

In January, Managua usually receives less rain than Montanita. Managua gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

In Managua, it's very sunny this time of the year. Managua usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during winter. Managua gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.

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

Should I visit Managua or Montanita in the Spring?

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

Managua usually gets less rain in April than Montanita. Managua gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Managua this time of the year. In the spring, Managua often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Managua gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun.

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

Typical Weather for Montanita and Managua