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

Should you visit Mar del Plata or San Juan del Sur?

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 Juan del Sur can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or San Juan del Sur?

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 Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

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 San Juan del Sur, we can see that San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or San Juan del Sur?

Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and San Juan del Sur, 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 Juan del Sur?

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

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

The summer brings many poeple to Mar del Plata as well as San Juan del Sur. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mar del Plata this time of the year. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets more sunshine than San Juan del Surin July. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in January than San Juan del Surin July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

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

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than San Juan del Surin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

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

Mar del Plata is much colder than San Juan del Sur in the winter. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 9°C (47°F) in July, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in July than San Juan del Surin January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

In the spring, Mar del Plata is much colder than San Juan del Sur. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mar del Plata in October average around 13°C (56°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 29°C (84°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan del Sur this time of the year. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than San Juan del Surin April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Mar del Plata