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

Should you visit Mar del Plata 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 Mar del Plata and Montanita can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Montanita?

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.

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 Luxury Tours to Argentina, The Best Budget Tours to Argentina, 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 Mar del Plata and Montanita, we can see that Montanita is more expensive. And not only is Mar del Plata much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 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 Montanita Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Mar del Plata or Montanita?

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

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Montanita in the Summer?

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

In January, Mar del Plata is generally cooler than Montanitain July. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 20°C (69°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mar del Plata. Mar del Plata usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during summer. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun in the summer.

In January, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Montanitain July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Montanita in the Autumn?

Both Montanita and Mar del Plata during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.

Mar del Plata is much colder than Montanita in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 15°C (59°F) in April, and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in October.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in April than Montanitain October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Montanita in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Mar del Plata and Montanita. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the winter, Mar del Plata is much colder than Montanita. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mar del Plata in July average around 9°C (47°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (80°F)in January.

In July, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than Montanitain January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Montanita in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as Montanita. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.

In October, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Montanitain April. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 13°C (56°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In the spring, Mar del Plata often gets more sunshine than Montanitain April. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in October than Montanitain April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Montanita and Mar del Plata