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

Should you visit Mar del Plata or San Pedro?

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 Pedro can help you decide which place is right for you.

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

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 Pedro

San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or San Pedro?

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

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

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

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

In the summer, Mar del Plata is cooler than San Pedro. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mar del Plata in January average around 20°C (69°F), and San Pedro averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.

In San Pedro, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Mar del Plata. In the summer, Mar del Plata often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Pedroin July. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Pedro receives 226 hours of full sun.

San Pedro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in January than San Pedroin July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

In April, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than San Pedroin October. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 15°C (59°F), and San Pedro fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).

San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Mar del Plata usually receives less rain than San Pedroin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

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

Mar del Plata is much colder than San Pedro in the winter. The daily temperature in Mar del Plata averages around 9°C (47°F) in July, and San Pedro fluctuates around 24°C (74°F)in January.

It's quite rainy in San Pedro. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in July than San Pedroin January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

In the spring, Mar del Plata is much colder than San Pedro. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mar del Plata in October average around 13°C (56°F), and San Pedro averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in San Pedro. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than San Pedro during spring. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies, while San Pedro receives 256 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than San Pedroin April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while San Pedro receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Pedro and Mar del Plata