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

Should you visit Punta del Este or San Fernando?

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 San Fernando, 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 San Fernando?

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.

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, and The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta del Este and San Fernando, we can see that San Fernando 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 San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands, 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando 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 San Fernando Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or San Fernando?

San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este and San Fernando, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Punta del Este or San Fernando?

Punta del Este has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Fernando experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Punta del Este or San Fernando in the Summer?

Both San Fernando and Punta del Este are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Punta del Este is generally cooler than San Fernandoin July. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 23°C (73°F), and San Fernando fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite sunny in San Fernando. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Punta del Este. Punta del Este usually receives more sunshine than San Fernando during summer. Punta del Este gets 296 hours of sunny skies, while San Fernando receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. In January, Punta del Este usually receives less rain than San Fernandoin July. Punta del Este gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Punta del Este or San Fernando in the Autumn?

Both San Fernando and Punta del Este during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round.

Punta del Este is much colder than San Fernando in the autumn. The daily temperature in Punta del Este averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and San Fernando fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in October.

In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Punta del Este often gets less sunshine than San Fernandoin October. Punta del Este gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Fernando receives 207 hours of full sun.

San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Punta del Este usually gets less rain in April than San Fernandoin October. Punta del Este gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Punta del Este or San Fernando in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta del Este and San Fernando. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the winter, Punta del Este is much colder than San Fernando. Typically, the winter temperatures in Punta del Este in July average around 10°C (50°F), and San Fernando averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. Punta del Este usually receives less sunshine than San Fernando during winter. Punta del Este gets 135 hours of sunny skies, while San Fernando receives 241 hours of full sun in the winter.

In July, Punta del Este usually receives more rain than San Fernandoin January. Punta del Este gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Punta del Este or San Fernando in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Punta del Este as well as San Fernando. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year.

In October, Punta del Este is generally much colder than San Fernandoin April. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 16°C (61°F), and San Fernando fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Punta del Este this time of the year. In the spring, Punta del Este often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Fernandoin April. Punta del Este gets 248 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Fernando receives 238 hours of full sun.

Punta del Este usually gets more rain in October than San Fernandoin April. Punta del Este gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for San Fernando and Punta del Este