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

Should you visit Puerto Varas or Puerto Viejo?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Puerto Varas and Puerto Viejo 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: Puerto Varas or Puerto Viejo?

Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas is a city in Southern Chile, in the Los Lagos (Lakes) Region, Llanquihue Province. It is a charming town, only 23 km away from Puerto Montt and surrounded by the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes as well as the impressive Llanquihue lake. In terms of landscape, accommodation and activities, Puerto Varas is well served! Kayak, paddle, canyoning, rock climbing, trekking, ski, fishing, you name it! If you decide to stop in that area, we recommend that you stay in Puerto Varas, as it provides the perfect starting point for many memorable excursions in the area.

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 Wildlife Tours to Chile, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Chile, 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 Varas and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Varas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Puerto Varas 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 Varas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Varas 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 Varas.

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

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

Puerto Varas 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 Varas or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Puerto Varas is much colder than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Puerto Varas in January average around 16°C (60°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Puerto Varas this time of the year. In the summer, Puerto Varas often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejoin July. Puerto Varas gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Puerto Varas usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejoin July. Puerto Varas gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season.

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

Both Puerto Viejo and Puerto Varas 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 April, Puerto Varas is generally much colder than Puerto Viejoin October. Daily temperatures in Puerto Varas average around 11°C (51°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

Puerto Varas usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Viejo during autumn. Puerto Varas gets 104 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. It's quite rainy in Puerto Varas. In April, Puerto Varas usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin October. Puerto Varas gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Puerto Viejo is September to October. The rainy season in Puerto Viejo is November to January.

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

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

Puerto Varas is much colder than Puerto Viejo in the winter. The daily temperature in Puerto Varas averages around 7°C (45°F) in July, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.

In the winter, Puerto Varas often gets less sunshine than Puerto Viejoin January. Puerto Varas gets 67 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Varas. Puerto Varas usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejoin January. Puerto Varas gets 229 mm (9 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year. November to January is the rainy season in Puerto Viejo.

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

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

In the spring, Puerto Varas is much colder than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Puerto Varas in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in April.

Puerto Varas usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Viejo during spring. Puerto Varas gets 151 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. Puerto Varas gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Puerto Varas usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin April. Puerto Varas gets 121 mm (4.8 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 Varas