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

Should you visit Punta del Este or Puerto Viejo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Punta del Este or Puerto Viejo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Punta del Este or Puerto Viejo?

Punta del Este

Punta del Este with its many beaches, elegant seaside homes, yacht harbor, high-rise apartment buildings, pricey hotels, ardent night scene and glitzy restaurants is a chic beach resort town in Uruguay. Many tourists come from Brazil and Argentina, on the other side of the Rio de la Plata, to get some nice sun and lay on the beach for a weekend getaway. Punta del Este is more expensive than other areas in Uruguay and has been called the Monaco of South America. Tourist season varies wildly from totally deserted in the winter to very crowded in the summer.

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 Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, 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 del Este and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Punta del Este much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta del Este 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 del Este would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Punta del Este 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 del Este.

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

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

Punta del Este 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 del Este or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

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

Punta del Este is cooler than Puerto Viejo in the summer. The daily temperature in Punta del Este averages around 23°C (73°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in July.

In Punta del Este, it's very sunny this time of the year. Punta del Este usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. Punta del Este gets 296 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 del Este usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin July. Punta del Este gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Punta del Este or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Punta del Este is much colder than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Punta del Este in April average around 17°C (63°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in October.

In the autumn, Punta del Este often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejoin October. Punta del Este gets 171 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 del Este usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejoin October. Punta del Este gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Punta del Este or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

Both Puerto Viejo and Punta del Este 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.

In July, Punta del Este is generally much colder than Puerto Viejoin January. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 10°C (50°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

Punta del Este usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. Punta del Este gets 135 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 del Este usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin January. Punta del Este gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Punta del Este or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

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

Punta del Este is much colder than Puerto Viejo in the spring. The daily temperature in Punta del Este averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Punta del Este. In the spring, Punta del Este often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejoin April. Punta del Este gets 248 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 del Este usually gets less rain in October than Puerto Viejoin April. Punta del Este gets 85 mm (3.3 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 del Este