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

Should you visit Nassau or Puerto Viejo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nassau or Puerto Viejo, 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: Nassau or Puerto Viejo?

Nassau

There are few vacation destinations more famous than the Bahamian city of Nassau. This capital city is full of laid back locals, relaxed tourists and the iconic pastel pink government houses.

As the largest city in the Bahamas, Nassau can hold plenty of people. Not only are there hundreds of tourists on any given day, the city is also home to 260,000 people – that is 80 percent of the Bahamas' total population.

Founded around 1650, Nassau's location made it a great spot on the trade route. So great, in fact, that it also became a popular destination for pirates – including the infamous Blackbeard.

Pack light because it's going to be pretty steamy in Nassau. The climate is essentially identical to southern Florida. It is warm and humid all year with the occasional cold snap in the winter.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo or Nassau?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Nassau is $189, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $145. 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 Nassau and Puerto Viejo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nassau $109
    Puerto Viejo $71
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nassau $218
    Puerto Viejo $142
Compare Hotels in Nassau and Puerto Viejo

Looking for a hotel in Nassau or Puerto Viejo? 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.

Hotels in Nassau


Hotels in Puerto Viejo


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: Nassau Hotel Prices and Puerto Viejo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nassau $33
    Puerto Viejo $38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nassau

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Nassau are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $8.04
  • Taxi to Cable Beach
    $25
  • Taxi from Airport
    $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nassau

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nassau:

  • Transfer Service in Nassau Bahamas: $68
  • Shared Shuttle Transfer to NAS Airport - Departure: $35
  • Shared Shuttle Transfer from NAS Airport - Arrival: $35
  • S U V Private Transfer, Hyatt, SLS, Rosewood ,Sandals , ATLANTIS : $170
  • Roundtrip Airport Transfer- Lincoln Town Car: $225
  • Round-Trip Private Transfer: $300
  • Round trip Airport Private Transfer (Nassau Limousine): $160
  • Round Trip Private Airport To Hotel Transfer in Nassau: $140
  • Private Transfer in Nassau: $45
  • Private Transfer from Nassau International Airport to Nassau City : $150
  • Private Transfer from Nassau Airport (NAS) to Nassau Hotel or Cruise Port : $125
  • Private Transfer from NAS to Nassau Hotel or Cruise Port: $125

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Viejo

Also for Puerto Viejo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $373

Is it cheaper to fly into Nassau or Puerto Viejo?

Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo and Nassau 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Nassau $53
    Puerto Viejo $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nassau

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nassau.

  • Nassau Food Tour and Beach Break: $65
  • Conch Salad Cooking Lesson and Tasting in Nassau: $80
  • Sail Catamaran Sunset Dinner Cruise: $110
  • Savor Old Nassau Dining Stroll by Tru Bahamian Food Tours: $116
  • All Inclusive Sunset Dinner Cruise in Nassau Bahamas: $125
  • Dinner and Dancing: $130
  • Bahamian Cooking Class Lunch Experience by Tru Bahamian Food Tour: $140
  • Island Food Tour: $140
  • Experience Breakfast,Lunch or Dinner in the sky of Nassau Bahamas: $250
  • Gourmet dinner & sunset cruise on luxury catamaran: $375

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nassau $37
    Puerto Viejo $79
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nassau

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Nassau are as follows:


  • Jet Ski
    $50
  • 4 Hr Kayak Tour
    $70
  • 1/2 Day Snorkel Trip
    $75

Tours and Activities in Nassau

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nassau are as follows:

  • Bahamas Adventure: Pigs, Reef, Turtles, and Beach with Lunch: $299
  • Island Tour Nassau (half day city tours, free pickup): $250
  • 2 Hours Sip and Snorkeling Experience in Bahamas: $150
  • 3-Hour ATV Tour of New Providence (Inclusive of water & local deserts): $190
  • ATV Island Tour with (Beach Break+Lunch+Free Pickup/Drop off): $199
  • ATV Island Tour(Beach Break+Lunch+Free Pickup/Drop Off: $188
  • ATV Private City Tour in Nassau: $259
  • ATV tours by RSR: $230
  • Archie's Weekend Tour with Seafood Snack and Spanish Friendly: $7.00
  • Atlantis Bridge Speed Boat Adventure: $100
  • Atlantis Speed Boat Tours: $75
  • Bahama Bonanza Cultural Tour: $80

Tours and Activities in Puerto Viejo

For Puerto Viejo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private night adventure in Manzanillo refuge: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nassau $19
    Puerto Viejo $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Nassau

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Nassau are as follows:


  • Cocktail
    $6.53

Sample the Local Flavors in Nassau

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Nassau:

  • Nassau Rum Distillery Tour: $25
  • Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $135
  • Rum Runners Pub Crawl: $140


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

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



When is the best time to visit Nassau or Puerto Viejo?

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 Nassau or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

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

Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Nassau. Nassau usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejo. Nassau gets 151 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Nassau. In the summer, Nassau often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Nassau gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun.

In July, Nassau is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 28°C (82°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Nassau 28°C (82°F) 
    Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Nassau or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nassau and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Nassau year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Nassau gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Nassau usually receives around the same amount of rain as Puerto Viejo. Nassau gets 184 mm (7.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Nassau, it's very sunny this time of the year. Nassau usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during autumn. Nassau gets 223 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Nassau is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nassau averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Nassau 26°C (79°F) 
    Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Nassau or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Nassau as well as Puerto Viejo. Nassau attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Nassau usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejo. Nassau gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nassau this time of the year. In the winter, Nassau often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Nassau gets 220 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Nassau is cooler than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nassau in January average around 21°C (70°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 25°C (77°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Nassau 21°C (70°F) 
    Puerto Viejo 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Nassau or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

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

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In April, Nassau usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Nassau gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nassau. Nassau usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during spring. Nassau gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Nassau is generally cooler than Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Nassau average around 23°C (74°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Nassau 23°C (74°F) 
    Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Nassau

Nassau Puerto Viejo
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 21°C (70°F) 51 mm (2 in) 25°C (77°F) 319 mm (12.6 in)
Feb 21°C (70°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 25°C (77°F) 201 mm (7.9 in)
Mar 22°C (72°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 26°C (78°F) 193 mm (7.6 in)
Apr 23°C (74°F) 53 mm (2.1 in) 26°C (79°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
May 25°C (77°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 27°C (80°F) 281 mm (11.1 in)
Jun 27°C (80°F) 237 mm (9.3 in) 26°C (80°F) 276 mm (10.9 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 151 mm (5.9 in) 26°C (79°F) 408 mm (16.1 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 211 mm (8.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 171 mm (6.7 in) 26°C (79°F) 163 mm (6.4 in)
Oct 26°C (79°F) 184 mm (7.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 198 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 24°C (75°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 26°C (78°F) 367 mm (14.4 in)
Dec 22°C (71°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 402 mm (15.8 in)