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

Should you visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Viejo?

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

Should I visit Punta Arenas 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: Punta Arenas or Puerto Viejo?

Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to 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 Punta Arenas and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Punta Arenas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas.

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

When is the best time to visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Viejo?

Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

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

Punta Arenas is much colder than Puerto Viejo in the summer. The daily temperature in Punta Arenas averages around 11°C (52°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in July.

In Punta Arenas, it's very sunny this time of the year. Punta Arenas usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. Punta Arenas gets 208 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Punta Arenas usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin July. Punta Arenas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Punta Arenas as well as Puerto Viejo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

In the autumn, Punta Arenas is much colder than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Punta Arenas in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in October.

In the autumn, Punta Arenas often gets less sunshine than Puerto Viejoin October. Punta Arenas gets 119 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Punta Arenas usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejoin October. Punta Arenas gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

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

Punta Arenas can get quite cold in the winter. In July, Punta Arenas is generally much colder than Puerto Viejoin January. Daily temperatures in Punta Arenas average around 1°C (35°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

Punta Arenas usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. Punta Arenas gets 70 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In July, Punta Arenas usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin January. Punta Arenas gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Punta Arenas or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

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

Punta Arenas is much colder than Puerto Viejo in the spring. The daily temperature in Punta Arenas averages around 7°C (44°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.

In the spring, Punta Arenas often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejoin April. Punta Arenas gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.

Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Punta Arenas usually gets less rain in October than Puerto Viejoin April. Punta Arenas gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Punta Arenas