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

Should you visit Montanita or Saint Croix?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or Saint Croix, 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 Saint Croix?

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.

Saint Croix

Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.

The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.

This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montanita and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix is more expensive. And not only is Montanita much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Montanita is in South America and Saint Croix 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 Montanita would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montanita 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 Saint Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix than you might in Montanita.

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

When is the best time to visit Montanita or Saint Croix?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Montanita or Saint Croix in the Summer?

Both Saint Croix and Montanita during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.

Montanita usually gets less rain in July than Saint Croix. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

In July, Montanita is generally cooler than Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 25°C (78°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Should I visit Montanita or Saint Croix in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and Saint Croix. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Saint Croix receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Montanita usually receives less rain than Saint Croix. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Montanita is around the same temperature as Saint Croix in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Montanita or Saint Croix in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Montanita as well as Saint Croix. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.

Montanita usually gets more rain in January than Saint Croix. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the winter, Montanita is around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montanita in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 26°C (78°F).

Should I visit Montanita or Saint Croix in the Spring?

Both Saint Croix and Montanita are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Montanita usually receives less rain than Saint Croix. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

In April, Montanita is generally around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 27°C (81°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Montanita