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

Should you visit Mar del Plata or San Fernando?

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 San Fernando can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or San Fernando?

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.

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Argentina, and The Best Budget Tours to Argentina.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mar del Plata and San Fernando, we can see that San Fernando 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 San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands, 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando 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 San Fernando Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or San Fernando?

Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and San Fernando, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

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

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

Should I visit Mar del Plata or San Fernando in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Mar del Plata is cooler than San Fernando. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mar del Plata in January average around 20°C (69°F), and San Fernando averages at about 27°C (81°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in San Fernando. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mar del Plata. Mar del Plata usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Fernando during summer. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while San Fernando receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. In January, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than San Fernandoin July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or San Fernando in the Autumn?

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

In April, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than San Fernandoin October. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 15°C (59°F), and San Fernando fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in April than San Fernandoin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or San Fernando in the Winter?

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

Mar del Plata is much colder than San Fernando in the winter. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 9°C (47°F) in July, and San Fernando fluctuates around 26°C (78°F)in January.

In July, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than San Fernandoin January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or San Fernando in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Mar del Plata is much colder than San Fernando. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mar del Plata in October average around 13°C (56°F), and San Fernando averages at about 27°C (81°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. In the spring, Mar del Plata often gets less sunshine than San Fernandoin April. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Fernando receives 238 hours of full sun.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in October than San Fernandoin April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for San Fernando and Mar del Plata