A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mar del Plata vs. Isla de Ometepe for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Isla de Ometepe?

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 Mar del Plata and Isla de Ometepe can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Isla de Ometepe?

Mar del Plata

Mar del Plata is found only 404 km southeast of the city of Buenos Aires, on the Atlantic coast. Today Mar Del Plata is Argentina‘s most well known beach resort. It has successfully married the two worlds of beach and city into a fun, cosmopolitan urban center with the presence of highly developed tourist infrastructure. Founded in 1874, Mar del Plata was at first mainly an industrial and commercial center before becoming a vacation destination for Argentinians. For a peaceful trip and intimate oceanfront promenades, avoid visiting Mar del Plata during summer time, as the gorgeous arced coastline will be crawling with visitors. But the city is more than just beaches. It also offers some culture, lively nightlife, and great food.

Isla de Ometepe

Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mar del Plata Expensive? and Is Isla de Ometepe Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Mar del Plata or Isla de Ometepe?

Mar del Plata has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Isla de Ometepe experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Isla de Ometepe in the Summer?

Both Isla de Ometepe and Mar del Plata during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Isla de Ometepe year-round.

Mar del Plata is cooler than Isla de Ometepe in the summer. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 20°C (69°F) in January, and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Mar del Plata. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets more sunshine than Isla de Ometepein July. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Isla de Ometepe receives 175 hours of full sun.

Isla de Ometepe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in January than Isla de Ometepein July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Isla de Ometepe in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Isla de Ometepe. Isla de Ometepe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Mar del Plata is much colder than Isla de Ometepe. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Mar del Plata in April average around 15°C (59°F), and Isla de Ometepe averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.

Isla de Ometepe receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Isla de Ometepein October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Isla de Ometepe in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Isla de Ometepe. The warm climate attracts visitors to Isla de Ometepe throughout the year.

In July, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Isla de Ometepein January. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 9°C (47°F), and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than Isla de Ometepein January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Isla de Ometepe in the Spring?

Both Isla de Ometepe and Mar del Plata are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Isla de Ometepe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Mar del Plata is much colder than Isla de Ometepe in the spring. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Isla de Ometepe fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Isla de Ometepe. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than Isla de Ometepe during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while Isla de Ometepe receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Isla de Ometepein April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Isla de Ometepe receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Isla de Ometepe and Mar del Plata