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

Should you visit Mar del Plata or Vieques Island?

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 Vieques Island can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Mar del Plata or Vieques Island?

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.

Vieques Island

Amidst the melodious chorus of coqui frogs and gentle whispers of palm trees blowing in an evening breeze, you will find that the waters around you glow just as brightly as the stars above. This tropical paradise is none other than Vieques, Puerto Rico. Tropical forests, bioluminescent bays, coral reefs--this island attracts visitors from all around the world who seek to see the wonders and beauties of the tropics. This island suits those from all walks of life, from history buffs seeking to learn about its unique past to nature-lovers wanting to admire its untouched wilderness. Vieques is the place for a perfect vacation!

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

Which is Bigger, Mar del Plata or Vieques Island?

Mar del Plata has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Vieques Island. When comparing the sizes of Mar del Plata and Vieques Island, 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 Vieques Island?

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

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Vieques Island in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Mar del Plata is cooler than Vieques Island. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mar del Plata in January average around 20°C (69°F), and Vieques Island averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Vieques Island. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mar del Plata. Mar del Plata usually receives less sunshine than Vieques Island during summer. Mar del Plata gets 221 hours of sunny skies, while Vieques Island receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.

In January, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Vieques Islandin July. Mar del Plata gets 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Vieques Island in the Autumn?

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

In April, Mar del Plata is generally much colder than Vieques Islandin October. Daily temperatures in Mar del Plata average around 15°C (59°F), and Vieques Island fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Vieques Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mar del Plata usually gets less rain in April than Vieques Islandin October. Mar del Plata gets 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Vieques Island in the Winter?

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

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

In July, Mar del Plata usually receives more rain than Vieques Islandin January. Mar del Plata gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Mar del Plata or Vieques Island in the Spring?

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

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vieques Island. In the spring, Mar del Plata often gets less sunshine than Vieques Islandin April. Mar del Plata gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vieques Island receives 272 hours of full sun.

Mar del Plata usually gets more rain in October than Vieques Islandin April. Mar del Plata gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Vieques Island and Mar del Plata