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

Should you visit Montanita or Valdivia?

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

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

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.

Valdivia

Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Montanita or Valdivia?

Valdivia 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 Valdivia in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Montanita is much warmer than Valdivia. Typically, the summer temperatures in Montanita in July average around 25°C (78°F), and Valdivia averages at about 16°C (61°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Valdivia. Montanita usually receives less sunshine than Valdivia during summer. Montanita gets 107 hours of sunny skies, while Valdivia receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Montanita usually receives less rain than Valdiviain January. Montanita gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Montanita or Valdivia in the Autumn?

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

In October, Montanita is generally much warmer than Valdiviain April. Daily temperatures in Montanita average around 26°C (78°F), and Valdivia fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Montanita often gets less sunshine than Valdiviain April. Montanita gets 117 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 132 hours of full sun.

Valdivia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Montanita usually gets less rain in October than Valdiviain April. Montanita gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Montanita or Valdivia in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Montanita and Valdivia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Montanita year-round.

Montanita is much warmer than Valdivia in the winter. The daily temperature in Montanita averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Valdivia fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.

Montanita usually receives more sunshine than Valdivia during winter. Montanita gets 88 hours of sunny skies, while Valdivia receives 66 hours of full sun in the winter.

Valdivia receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Montanita usually receives less rain than Valdiviain July. Montanita gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Montanita or Valdivia in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Montanita is much warmer than Valdivia. Typically, the spring temperatures in Montanita in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Valdivia averages at about 11°C (52°F)in October.

In the spring, Montanita often gets less sunshine than Valdiviain October. Montanita gets 133 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 198 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Valdivia. Montanita usually gets less rain in April than Valdiviain October. Montanita gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Valdivia and Montanita