A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Piriapolis vs. San Juan del Sur for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Piriapolis or San Juan del Sur?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Piriapolis or San Juan del Sur, 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 San Juan del Sur?

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.

San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

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 Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Piriapolis or San Juan del Sur?

Piriapolis has a larger population, and is about 2% larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Piriapolis and San Juan del Sur, 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 San Juan del Sur?

Piriapolis has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan del Sur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Piriapolis or San Juan del Sur in the Summer?

Both San Juan del Sur and Piriapolis are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Piriapolis is generally cooler than San Juan del Surin July. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 23°C (73°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Piriapolis. Piriapolis usually receives more sunshine than San Juan del Sur during summer. Piriapolis gets 296 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. In January, Piriapolis usually receives less rain than San Juan del Surin July. Piriapolis gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Piriapolis or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?

Both San Juan del Sur and Piriapolis during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.

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

In the autumn, Piriapolis often gets less sunshine than San Juan del Surin October. Piriapolis gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun.

San Juan del Sur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Piriapolis usually gets less rain in April than San Juan del Surin October. Piriapolis gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Piriapolis or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Piriapolis and San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the winter, Piriapolis is much colder than San Juan del Sur. Typically, the winter temperatures in Piriapolis in July average around 10°C (50°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan del Sur this time of the year. Piriapolis usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during winter. Piriapolis gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Piriapolis usually receives more rain than San Juan del Surin January. Piriapolis gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Piriapolis or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Piriapolis as well as San Juan del Sur. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.

In October, Piriapolis is generally much colder than San Juan del Surin April. Daily temperatures in Piriapolis average around 16°C (61°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. 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 San Juan del Surin April. Piriapolis gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun.

Piriapolis usually gets more rain in October than San Juan del Surin April. Piriapolis gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Piriapolis