Which place is cheaper, San Ignacio or Punta del Este?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Punta del Este or San Ignacio?
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 Ignacio, 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 Ignacio?
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 Ignacio
So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.
You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.
This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta del Este $98San Ignacio $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta del Este is $98, while the average daily cost in San Ignacio is $72. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Punta del Este and San Ignacio in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta del Este $55San Ignacio $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta del Este $110San Ignacio $38
Compare Hotels in Punta del Este and San Ignacio
Looking for a hotel in Punta del Este or San Ignacio? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Punta del Este Hotel Prices and San Ignacio Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta del Este $22San Ignacio $3.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta del Este
Also for Punta del Este, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Montevideo Hotels to Carrasco Airport MVD Departure Transfer: $49
- Montevideo hotels to Carrasco International Airport (MVD) - Departure Transfer: $49
- Private Transfer - Punta Del Este Port to Carrasco Airport (MVD): $85
- Private Transfer from Montevideo City to Montevideo Cruise Port: $55
- Private Transfer from Montevideo city to Montevideo Cruise Port: $30
- Private Transfer from Montevideo hotels to Punta Del Este Port: $72
- Private Transfer from Montevideo to Punta Del Este Cruise Port: $85
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Cruise Port to Montevideo: $85
- Private Transfer from Punta Del Este Port to Montevideo hotels: $72
- Private Transfer to Punta del Este Airport: $60
- Punta del Este Airport Private Transfer: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:
- From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
- San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta del Este or San Ignacio?
Prices for flights to both San Ignacio and Punta del Este change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPunta del Este $31San Ignacio $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.
- Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta del Este $11San Ignacio $100
Tours and Activities in Punta del Este
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Punta del Este.
- La Vista 360 ticket de admisión: $11
- Skip the Line: Casapueblo Museum Admission Ticket in Punta del Este: $15
- Guided Tour of the Winery Viña Edén: $18
- Punta del Este Classic City Tour with Sunset in Casapueblo: $30
- Guided Tour of Vineyards: $33
- Half-Day City Tour: $47
- Discovering Half-Day City Tour: $47
- Punta del Este City Tour for Cruisers: $50
- Punta del Este, City Tour: $50
- Bike Tour Peninsula - Punta del Este: $65
- Private - Punta del Este City Tour for Cruisers: $120
- Punta del Este Shore Excursion: Private Sightseeing Tour of Punta del Este: $127
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Excursions in Cayo with Waterfalls Experience: $174
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic: $125
- Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour from San Ignacio : $125
- Actun Tunichil Muknal with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch: $120
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch: $125
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Cave Tubing Adventure at Nohoch Che'en and Jaguar Paw : $115
- Cave Tubing and Zip line Adventure from San Ignacio: $144
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Deluxe Cave Tubing combo Adventure: $125
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta del Este $7.70San Ignacio $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta del Este
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Punta del Este:
- Wine Tasting: $42
- Half Day Private Canelones Wine Tour from Montevideo : $158
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta del Este and San Ignacio, we can see that Punta del Este is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta del Este is in South America and San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Ignacio 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 Punta del Este would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta del Este than you might in San Ignacio.
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 Ignacio Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Punta del Este or San Ignacio?
San Ignacio has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Punta del Este. When comparing the sizes of Punta del Este and San Ignacio, 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 Ignacio?
Punta del Este has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Ignacio experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Punta del Este or San Ignacio in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Punta del Este as well as San Ignacio. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year.
In January, Punta del Este is generally cooler than San Ignacioin July. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 23°C (73°F), and San Ignacio fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Punta del Este this time of the year. In the summer, Punta del Este often gets more sunshine than San Ignacioin July. Punta del Este gets 296 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Ignacio receives 226 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. Punta del Este usually gets less rain in January than San Ignacioin July. Punta del Este gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures January and JulyPunta del Este 23°C (73°F)San Ignacio 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Punta del Este or San Ignacio in the Autumn?
Both San Ignacio and Punta del Este are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Punta del Este is much colder than San Ignacio in the autumn. The daily temperature in Punta del Este averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and San Ignacio fluctuates around 26°C (80°F)in October.
Punta del Este usually receives less sunshine than San Ignacio during autumn. Punta del Este gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while San Ignacio receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. In April, Punta del Este usually receives less rain than San Ignacioin October. Punta del Este gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures April and OctoberPunta del Este 17°C (63°F)San Ignacio 26°C (80°F)
Should I visit Punta del Este or San Ignacio in the Winter?
Both San Ignacio and Punta del Este during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round.
In the winter, Punta del Este is much colder than San Ignacio. Typically, the winter temperatures in Punta del Este in July average around 10°C (50°F), and San Ignacio averages at about 24°C (74°F)in January.
In the winter, Punta del Este often gets less sunshine than San Ignacioin January. Punta del Este gets 135 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Ignacio receives 199 hours of full sun.
San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Punta del Este usually gets less rain in July than San Ignacioin January. Punta del Este gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures July and JanuaryPunta del Este 10°C (50°F)San Ignacio 24°C (74°F)
Should I visit Punta del Este or San Ignacio in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Punta del Este and San Ignacio. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Punta del Este is generally much colder than San Ignacioin April. Daily temperatures in Punta del Este average around 16°C (61°F), and San Ignacio fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Ignacio this time of the year. In Punta del Este, it's very sunny this time of the year. Punta del Este usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Ignacio during spring. Punta del Este gets 248 hours of sunny skies, while San Ignacio receives 256 hours of full sun in the spring.
In October, Punta del Este usually receives more rain than San Ignacioin April. Punta del Este gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures October and AprilPunta del Este 16°C (61°F)San Ignacio 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for San Ignacio and Punta del Este
| Punta del Este | San Ignacio | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (73°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 14°C (57°F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Jun | 11°C (52°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Jul | 10°C (50°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (52°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.