A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Montanita vs. La Serena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Montanita or La Serena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or La Serena, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Montanita or La Serena?

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.

La Serena

La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!

Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.

When comparing the travel costs between Montanita and La Serena, we can see that Montanita is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Montanita Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Montanita or La Serena?

La Serena 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 Montanita or La Serena in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.

In the summer, Montanita is a little warmer than La Serena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montanita in July average around 25°C (78°F), and La Serena averages at about 18°C (64°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Serena this time of the year. Montanita usually receives less sunshine than La Serena during summer. Montanita gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Montanita usually receives more rain than La Serenain January. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Montanita or La Serena in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Montanita as well as La Serena. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Montanita is generally much warmer than La Serenain April. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 26°C (78°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In the autumn, Montanita often gets less sunshine than La Serenain April. Montanita gets 117 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.

Montanita usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as La Serenain April. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Montanita or La Serena in the Winter?

Both La Serena and Montanita are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.

Montanita is much warmer than La Serena in the winter. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and La Serena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F)in July.

Montanita usually receives less sunshine than La Serena during winter. Montanita gets 88 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Montanita usually receives more rain than La Serenain July. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Montanita or La Serena in the Spring?

Both La Serena and Montanita during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Montanita is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montanita in April average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.

In the spring, Montanita often gets less sunshine than La Serenain October. Montanita gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.

Montanita usually gets more rain in April than La Serenain October. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for La Serena and Montanita