Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Montanita?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Montanita or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Montanita or Tamarindo, 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 Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMontanita $96Tamarindo $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Montanita is $96, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $121. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Montanita and Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMontanita $41Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMontanita $82Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Montanita and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Montanita or Tamarindo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Montanita $39Tamarindo $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Transfer to La Fortuna de Arenal: $307
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to JW Marriott Guanacaste: $280
- Round Trip Transfer From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $250
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $201
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Four Seasons Resort: $200
- Private Liberia airport transfer: $200
- Transfer To/From Liberia Airport To/ From JW Marriott Guanacaste: $195
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $185
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Guanacaste Hotel: $181
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hacienda Pinilla Guanacaste: $175
- Round Trip Transfer Liberia Airport (LIR) to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort: $171
- Private Transfer from Intl Liberia (LIR) Airport to Papagayo beaches areas: $170
Is it cheaper to fly into Montanita or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo and Montanita change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayMontanita $28Tamarindo $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Montanita $31Tamarindo $17
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Ecologic farming Sloth tour Hiking & Chocolate -Coffee tour: $260
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano Adventure Combo Tour: $220
- Premium Tour: Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and Waterfall Hiking: $170
- Premium Tour:Sloths and Río Celeste y Cortez Waterfalls (Tenorio Volcano Park): $220
- Private ATV or Buggy Tour from Riu Hotels: $85
- Sloth Farm Watching Tour & Amazimg Waterfall: $185
- Wildlife Tour at Palo Verde National Park: $199
- 1,5 Hours Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $80
- 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130
- 3 Hour ATV Secluded Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo, Conchal & Grande: $125
- 3-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Nature Day Tour: $300
- 5-Hour Guided Sunset Boat Tour in Tamarindo Costa Rica: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMontanita $7.86Tamarindo $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Montanita and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo 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 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Montanita or Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo in the Summer?
Both Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo year-round.
Tamarindo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montanita usually gets less rain in July than Tamarindo. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Montanita often gets less sunshine than Tamarindo. Montanita gets 107 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Montanita is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 25°C (78°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyMontanita 25°C (78°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and Tamarindo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tamarindo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Montanita usually receives less rain than Tamarindo. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Montanita usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during autumn. Montanita gets 117 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Montanita is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberMontanita 26°C (78°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Tamarindo in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Montanita as well as Tamarindo. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
Montanita usually gets more rain in January than Tamarindo. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. In the winter, Montanita often gets less sunshine than Tamarindo. Montanita gets 88 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Montanita is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Montanita in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryMontanita 27°C (80°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Montanita or Tamarindo in the Spring?
Both Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Montanita usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Tamarindo. Montanita usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during spring. Montanita gets 133 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Montanita is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 27°C (81°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilMontanita 27°C (81°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Montanita
| Montanita | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (79°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (78°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (78°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.