A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Port-of-Spain vs. Santa Elena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Port-of-Spain or Santa Elena?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Port-of-Spain and Santa Elena can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Port-of-Spain or Santa Elena?

Port-of-Spain

Located on the northwest coast of Trinidad island, Port of Spain is the capital of the Caribbean island nation Trinidad & Tobago. It is a hub of activity, especially during the celebration of Carnival for which the island nation is famous.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.

In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.

Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.

For some great organized tour ideas, see 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 Port-of-Spain and Santa Elena, we can see that Port-of-Spain is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Port-of-Spain is in Caribbean Islands 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Port-of-Spain would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Port-of-Spain than you might in Santa Elena.

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

When is the best time to visit Port-of-Spain or Santa Elena?

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 Port-of-Spain or Santa Elena in the Summer?

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

Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Port-of-Spain. Port-of-Spain usually gets more rain in July than Santa Elena. Port-of-Spain gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Port-of-Spain. In the summer, Port-of-Spain often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. Port-of-Spain gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.

Port-of-Spain is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the summer. The daily temperature in Port-of-Spain averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Port-of-Spain or Santa Elena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Port-of-Spain and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Port-of-Spain year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Port-of-Spain gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Port-of-Spain usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Port-of-Spain gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Port-of-Spain, it's very sunny this time of the year. Port-of-Spain usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Port-of-Spain gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Port-of-Spain is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Port-of-Spain in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Port-of-Spain or Santa Elena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Port-of-Spain as well as Santa Elena. Port-of-Spain attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.

Port-of-Spain usually gets more rain in January than Santa Elena. Port-of-Spain gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Port-of-Spain this time of the year. In the winter, Port-of-Spain often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Port-of-Spain gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.

In January, Port-of-Spain is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Port-of-Spain average around 26°C (78°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Port-of-Spain or Santa Elena in the Spring?

Both Santa Elena and Port-of-Spain are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Port-of-Spain throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Port-of-Spain usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. Port-of-Spain gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Port-of-Spain. Port-of-Spain usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena during spring. Port-of-Spain gets 238 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

Port-of-Spain is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the spring. The daily temperature in Port-of-Spain averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Port-of-Spain