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

Should you visit Puerto Madryn or Puerto Viejo?

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

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Puerto Viejo? 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.

Where Should I go: Puerto Madryn or Puerto Viejo?

Puerto Madryn

Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.

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 2-Week Tours in Argentina, The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina, 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 Puerto Madryn and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.

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

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

Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

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

Puerto Madryn is cooler than Puerto Viejo in the summer. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 22°C (71°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in July.

Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejoin July. Puerto Madryn gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Puerto Madryn is much colder than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Puerto Madryn in April average around 14°C (58°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in October.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In April, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin October. Puerto Madryn gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

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

In July, Puerto Madryn is generally much colder than Puerto Viejoin January. Daily temperatures in Puerto Madryn average around 7°C (45°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Puerto Madryn this time of the year. In the winter, Puerto Madryn often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejoin January. Puerto Madryn gets 209 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Puerto Madryn usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejoin January. Puerto Madryn gets 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Puerto Madryn or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

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

Puerto Madryn is much colder than Puerto Viejo in the spring. The daily temperature in Puerto Madryn averages around 14°C (58°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In October, Puerto Madryn usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin April. Puerto Madryn gets 20 mm (0.8 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 Puerto Madryn