A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Playa del Carmen vs. Santa Elena for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena?

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

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a picture-perfect, scenic, and stunning town. With stunning beauty, Playa del Carmen attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Playa del Carmen travel costs.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a outdoorsy, scenic, and tranquil town. Santa Elena offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include hiking and shopping. See Santa Elena travel costs.

Playa del Carmen and Santa Elena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Playa del Carmen. Although Playa del Carmen and Santa Elena are popular destinations, Playa del Carmen has more sights and attractions for tourists. Playa del Carmen is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and impressive beauty, while Santa Elena attracts visitors for its hiking. Playa del Carmen is more touristy than Santa Elena and is popular for its coral reefs, luxury resorts, and white sand beaches. It is also well known for La Quinta Avenida. Santa Elena is famous for its birdwatching and environmental conservation.

How is Playa del Carmen different from Santa Elena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Elena and Playa del Carmen. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena?

Playa del Carmen is adequate for its historical sights. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

While most people don't head to Playa del Carmen specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. If you're willing to head out of town, there are world class Mayan ruins not far away, but if you want to hang out near town, then you'll likely spend most of your time enjoying outdoor water activities.

Santa Elena offers a few options for museum-goers. The area is filled with outdoor gardens, parks, and nature reserves, but there are few museums to visit.

Is the Food Better in Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Playa del Carmen is a good destination for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Playa del Carmen is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find a good number of overpriced tourist restaurants in the area, but if you do some research you'll also find amazing and authentic Mexican food as well. There is everything from food trucks to fine dining that offer ceviche, tacos, or burritos. There are also plenty of places to grab pizza or burgers.

Santa Elena offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find some basic but good restaurants around town. Many offer pasta, pizza, and typical Costa Rican dishes.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena Better for Nightlife?

Playa del Carmen is a must-visit destination for its evening party scene. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for nightlife.

Playa del Carmen is a world class party destination. It rivals some of the country's best nightlife and you'll find plenty of venues to choose from, ranging from dive bars to swanky cocktail lounges. Head to the main walking street for some of the most active venues.

Most people don't head to Santa Elena specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's a couple of bars but not much else for nightlife in town.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena Better for Resorts?

Playa del Carmen is a must-visit destination for its luxury resorts. However, Santa Elena is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Playa del Carmen for its luxury resorts. You'll find a huge number of luxury resorts in the area, particularly along the beach. There are fancy pools and beachfront properties that offer the perfect vacation retreat.

Santa Elena is not a resort destination.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Playa del Carmen is a must-visit destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Santa Elena is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Playa del Carmen. There's not a lot to see right off of the beach, but there are plenty of snorkeling excursions in the area that take you to beautiful reefs. The diving is world class as well and you'll find wonderful reefs, bull sharks, and hidden gems.

Santa Elena is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena Better for Beaches?

Playa del Carmen is a must-visit destination for the beach. However, Santa Elena is not a beach destination.

Playa del Carmen offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The area is filled with world class beaches, long stretches of white sand, and beautiful blue water. You might even stumble across a sea turtle or two while you're swimming.

Santa Elena is not a beach destination.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena Better for Hiking?

Santa Elena is a great destination for its hiking experiences. Also, Playa del Carmen is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Santa Elena. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a range of trails including a walk along the Continental Divide. There's also the famous red hanging bridge.

Many people include a hike when visiting Playa del Carmen. There are well marked trails in the area that get you out in nature or take you along the coastline.

Is the Shopping Better in Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Santa Elena and Playa del Carmen.

Many visitors go to Playa del Carmen to go shopping. Much of the shopping is geared towards the tourists, but you'll find some local items, interesting galleries, and colorful markets to explore.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Santa Elena. There are some art galleries and artisan shops around town where you can pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena More Beautiful?

Playa del Carmen is great for its scenery and beauty. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its scenery and beauty.

With stunning beauty, Playa del Carmen attracts visitors from all around. From beautiful beaches to inland jungles, this is a truly stunning destination.

Santa Elena is a gorgeous place to visit. The cloud forest and canopy walks give you access to breathtaking views and unique wildlife.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena Better for Families?

Playa del Carmen is a must-visit destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Playa del Carmen is very family-friendly. From eco parks to kid-friendly snorkeling opportunities, there are many activities for kids of all ages. There are also adventure parks and playgrounds that are perfect for a fun afternoon.

Santa Elena is a very family-friendly place to visit. Monteverde has many canopy walks, zipline courses, and animal parks that the kids will love. The nature and wildlife make this a fun and educational destination for everyone.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena Better for Couples?

Playa del Carmen is a must-visit destination for couples. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for romance.

Playa del Carmen is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Beautiful beaches and tropical jungles make this a paradise honeymoon destination. You'll find luxury resorts, fine dining restaurants, and countless opportunities to enjoy the stunning setting. Take a sunset cruise of explore one of the many natural wonders in the area.

Santa Elena is a very popular place to visit for couples. The cloud forest is filled with romantic views and unique landscapes. Couples who enjoy the outdoors will fall in love with this magical setting.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Elena is an amazing town to visit for backpackers. Also, Playa del Carmen is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Santa Elena is a very popular town to visit for backpackers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and affordable activities. There are also many hostels with social activities that make this a great backpacker-friendly destination.

Playa del Carmen is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. It's filled with tourists staying at luxury resorts, but you'll also find a couple of hostels tucked away in town. If you're interesting in scuba diving, then it's well worth the trip.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Playa del Carmen and Santa Elena.

You'll find some public transit in Playa del Carmen, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are local buses, collectivos and the ADO bus.

While Santa Elena offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses through town that travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena a more walkable city?

Playa del Carmen is a must-visit destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

Playa del Carmen is a very easy town to get around on foot. It's a compact and very walkable town. La Quinta is the main strip and it's pedestrian-only.

Santa Elena is somewhat walkable. It's relatively easy to walk around, but you will need to take a bus to Monteverde.

For even more information, also check out Is Playa del Carmen Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Elena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Elena or Playa del Carmen?

How long in Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena?

It's fun to spend time in either Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Playa del Carmen due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Playa del Carmen, and 2-4 days is enough time in Santa Elena.

Families should spend more time in Playa del Carmen than Santa Elena. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Playa del Carmen, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Playa del Carmen than Santa Elena. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Playa del Carmen that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Playa del Carmen than Santa Elena if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Playa del Carmen.

One day in Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant town of Playa del Carmen. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find shopping around the outdoorsy destination of Santa Elena. Hikers are also drawn to this area. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

A weekend in Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the picture-perfect destination of Playa del Carmen. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This town offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

You'll find shopping around the scenic town of Santa Elena. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Five days in Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the stunning town of Playa del Carmen. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Santa Elena is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

A week in Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Playa del Carmen. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Santa Elena is a great place to explore. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Playa del Carmen Expensive? and Is Santa Elena Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena?

Playa del Carmen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Santa Elena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena in the Summer?

Both Santa Elena and Playa del Carmen during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Playa del Carmen for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.

Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Playa del Carmen. In the summer, Playa del Carmen often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Playa del Carmen gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.

Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Santa Elena. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa del Carmen and Santa Elena. The autumn months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa del Carmen in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).

In Playa del Carmen, it's very sunny this time of the year. Playa del Carmen usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Playa del Carmen gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Playa del Carmen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October in Playa del Carmen is the hurricane season. June to October in Santa Elena is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as Santa Elena. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Playa del Carmen this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.

In January, Playa del Carmen is generally cooler than Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 23°C (73°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Playa del Carmen this time of the year. In the winter, Playa del Carmen often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Playa del Carmen gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.

Playa del Carmen usually gets more rain in January than Santa Elena. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Elena in the Spring?

Both Santa Elena and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen for the beaches and the natural beauty. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Playa del Carmen is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the spring. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena during spring. Playa del Carmen gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October. The dry season in Santa Elena is February to May. The hurricane season in Santa Elena is June to October.

Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Playa del Carmen