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

Should you visit Montanita or Puerto Varas?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or Puerto Varas, 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 Puerto Varas?

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.

Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best G Adventures Tours to Chile, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago.

When comparing the travel costs between Montanita and Puerto Varas, we can see that Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Montanita or Puerto Varas?

Puerto Varas 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 Puerto Varas in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Montanita as well as Puerto Varas. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Montanita is generally much warmer than Puerto Varasin January. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 25°C (78°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Puerto Varas. In the summer, Montanita often gets less sunshine than Puerto Varasin January. Montanita gets 107 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 204 hours of full sun.

Montanita usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Varasin January. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Montanita or Puerto Varas in the Autumn?

Both Puerto Varas and Montanita are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.

Montanita is much warmer than Puerto Varas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in April.

Montanita usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Varas during autumn. Montanita gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 104 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Varas. In October, Montanita usually receives less rain than Puerto Varasin April. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Montanita or Puerto Varas in the Winter?

Both Puerto Varas and Montanita during the winter 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 winter, Montanita is much warmer than Puerto Varas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montanita in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Puerto Varas averages at about 7°C (45°F)in July.

In the winter, Montanita often gets more sunshine than Puerto Varasin July. Montanita gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Varas receives 67 hours of full sun.

Puerto Varas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montanita usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Varasin July. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Montanita or Puerto Varas in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and Puerto Varas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.

In April, Montanita is generally much warmer than Puerto Varasin October. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Varas fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Montanita usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Varas during spring. Montanita gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Varas receives 151 hours of full sun in the spring.

Puerto Varas receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Montanita usually receives less rain than Puerto Varasin October. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Varas receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Puerto Varas and Montanita