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

Should you visit Piriapolis or Puerto Viejo?

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

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

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.

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 Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Piriapolis and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo 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 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 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 Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo Expensive?.

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

Piriapolis has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Puerto Viejo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as Puerto Viejo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

Piriapolis is cooler than Puerto Viejo in the summer. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Piriapolis this time of the year. In the summer, Piriapolis often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejoin July. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejoin July. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Piriapolis is much colder than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Piriapolis in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in October.

Piriapolis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejo during autumn. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In April, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin October. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

Both Puerto Viejo and Piriapolis during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.

In July, Piriapolis is generally much colder than Puerto Viejoin January. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 10°C (50°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

In the winter, Piriapolis often gets less sunshine than Puerto Viejoin January. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejoin January. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Piriapolis or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Piriapolis is much colder than Puerto Viejo in the spring. The daily temperature in Piriapolis averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.

In Piriapolis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during spring. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin April. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Piriapolis