A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Piriapolis vs. Mazatlan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Piriapolis or Mazatlan?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or Mazatlan, 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: Piriapolis or Mazatlan?

Piriapolis

Piriapolis is a small beach town between Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay. It is a more laid back version of Punta del Este with fewer fancy restaurants and clubs but it has perhaps more charm, with its grand old hotel and beachfront promenade backed by small mountains. The rather old-school coastal resort is vaguely reminiscent of a Mediterranean beach town.

Mazatlan

Mazatlan is located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city has a population of almost 500,000, making it the second largest city in the state. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and resort hotels. Most people head to Mazatlan specifically for its beaches, but the city itself is somewhat large and diverse with many different cultures and ethnicities represented. Many foreigners come here not only to vacation, but also to retire. You'll meet people from all over Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Mazatlan or Piriapolis?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Piriapolis is $67, while the average daily cost in Mazatlan is $79. 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 Piriapolis and Mazatlan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Piriapolis $27
    Mazatlan $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Piriapolis $54
    Mazatlan $66
Compare Hotels in Piriapolis and Mazatlan

Looking for a hotel in Piriapolis or Mazatlan? 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 Piriapolis


Hotels in Mazatlan


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: Piriapolis Hotel Prices and Mazatlan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Piriapolis $31
    Mazatlan $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mazatlan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mazatlan:

  • Mazatlan Cruise Port: Private Transfer to Mazatlan hotels: $236
  • Mazatlan Intl Airport (MZT): Private Transfer to Mazatlan: $296
  • Private Airport-Hotel Transfer: $119
  • Private roundtrip airport to hotel transfer in Mazatlan: $262
  • Round transfer airport to hotel in Mazatlán: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Piriapolis or Mazatlan?

Prices for flights to both Mazatlan and Piriapolis 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
    Piriapolis $23
    Mazatlan $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mazatlan

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

  • Mercado walking food tour: $78
  • Mazatlan routes of taste food tour: $84
  • Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Mazatlan: $84
  • Tacos, Beer and Mezcal Food Tour in Mazatlan: $96

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Piriapolis $5.89
    Mazatlan $9.59

Tours and Activities in Mazatlan

Here are a few actual costs in Mazatlan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Mazatlan Sightseeing and Golden Zone: $27
  • Mazatlan City Sightseeing Tour with Shopping Time and Lunch: $40
  • Mazatlan Sightseeing and Shopping Tour: $40
  • Mazatlan Smart Bike Tour: $40
  • El Faro Lighthouse Tour with Free Digital Photos: $47
  • Mazatlan - City Tour: $47
  • City Tour with Tequila Tasting & Beach Hotel Day Pass Included : $49
  • Grand Aquarium Ticket and City Sightseeing Tour: $57
  • Sensation Splash Party All Inclusive Mazatlan Bay Cruise: $57
  • Beach Activities and All Inclusive Tour: $58
  • Seafront Boardwalk Beer Bike Tour: $58
  • Deer Island Eco Tour with Snorkeling and Hiking: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Piriapolis $8.11
    Mazatlan $18


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

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


Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or Mazatlan?

Mazatlan has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Piriapolis. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis and Mazatlan, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.


When is the best time to visit Piriapolis or Mazatlan?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Piriapolis is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Mazatlan has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Piriapolis or Mazatlan in the Summer?

Both Mazatlan and Piriapolis are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Mazatlan for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In January, Piriapolis is generally cooler than Mazatlanin July. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 23°C (73°F), and Mazatlan fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in Mazatlan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Piriapolis. Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than Mazatlan during summer. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 216 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Mazatlan. In January, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than Mazatlanin July. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures January and July
    Piriapolis 23°C (73°F) 
    Mazatlan 29°C (83°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Mazatlan in the Autumn?

Both Mazatlan and Piriapolis during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Mazatlan because of the shopping scene.

Piriapolis is much colder than Mazatlan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Mazatlan fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.

In Mazatlan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Piriapolis often gets less sunshine than Mazatlanin October. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 233 hours of full sun.

Piriapolis usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Mazatlanin October. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures April and October
    Piriapolis 17°C (63°F) 
    Mazatlan 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Mazatlan in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and Mazatlan. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Mazatlan this time of year.

In the winter, Piriapolis is much colder than Mazatlan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Piriapolis in July average around 10°C (50°F), and Mazatlan averages at about 20°C (67°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mazatlan this time of the year. Piriapolis usually receives less sunshine than Mazatlan during winter. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 203 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than Mazatlanin January. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures July and January
    Piriapolis 10°C (50°F) 
    Mazatlan 20°C (67°F)

Should I visit Piriapolis or Mazatlan in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as Mazatlan. Also, many travelers come to Mazatlan for the beaches.

In October, Piriapolis is generally cooler than Mazatlanin April. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 16°C (61°F), and Mazatlan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mazatlan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Piriapolis this time of the year. In the spring, Piriapolis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mazatlanin April. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 250 hours of full sun.

Piriapolis usually gets more rain in October than Mazatlanin April. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures October and April
    Piriapolis 16°C (61°F) 
    Mazatlan 22°C (72°F)

Typical Weather for Mazatlan and Piriapolis

Piriapolis Mazatlan
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 23°C (73°F) 75 mm (3 in) 20°C (67°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Feb 22°C (72°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 20°C (67°F) 5 mm (0.2 in)
Mar 20°C (68°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 20°C (68°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 17°C (63°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 22°C (72°F) 1 mm (0 in)
May 14°C (57°F) 91 mm (3.6 in) 24°C (76°F) 1 mm (0 in)
Jun 11°C (52°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Jul 10°C (50°F) 90 mm (3.5 in) 29°C (83°F) 199 mm (7.8 in)
Aug 11°C (52°F) 94 mm (3.7 in) 29°C (83°F) 219 mm (8.6 in)
Sep 13°C (55°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 28°C (83°F) 227 mm (8.9 in)
Oct 16°C (61°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 24°C (75°F) 8 mm (0.3 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 21°C (70°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)