Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo or Quepos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Quepos or Puerto Viejo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Quepos and Puerto Viejo can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or Puerto Viejo?
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
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 Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Costa Rica, and The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $117Puerto Viejo $145
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $117, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $145. 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 Quepos and Puerto Viejo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $77Puerto Viejo $71
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $154Puerto Viejo $142
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Puerto Viejo
Looking for a hotel in Quepos or Puerto Viejo? 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: Quepos Hotel Prices and Puerto Viejo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $9.56Puerto Viejo $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209
- Transfer TO or FROM Manuel Antonio, Quepos to SJO Airport - Private (ONE WAY): $105
- Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
- Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $90
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
- Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca: $220
- Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
- Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
- One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
- One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
- Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Viejo
Also for Puerto Viejo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Puerto Viejo de Limon: Transfer to San Jose or Alajuela: $373
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Puerto Viejo?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo and Quepos 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 dayQuepos $30Puerto Viejo $33
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
- 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Quepos $17Puerto Viejo $78
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10 in 1 Tour! Zip Lines, Rappels, Tarzan Swing, Waterfalls & More: $130
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $30
- 2-Hour Boat Tour in Quepos: $55
- 3-Hour Damas Mangrove Kayak Tour: $90
- ATV Tour Half Day Trip From Manuel Antonio: $90
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $83
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Full-Day Nauyaca Waterfall and Beach Town Tour: $142
- All-Inclusive Jungle Night Tour: $59
- Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
- Birding at El Rey. (Marshes,rice fields,canals) Private Birding Tour : $120
- Canopy Tour From Manuel Antonio: $116
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $15Puerto Viejo $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quepos and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Quepos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Quepos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Quepos 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 Quepos.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Quepos Expensive? and Is Puerto Viejo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Quepos or Puerto Viejo?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Quepos or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?
Both Puerto Viejo and Quepos are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. It's quite rainy in Quepos. In July, Quepos usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Quepos gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Quepos usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. Quepos gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.
Quepos is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the summer. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQuepos 28°C (82°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?
Both Puerto Viejo and Quepos during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.
Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. Quepos usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Viejo. Quepos gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Quepos often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejo. Quepos gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Quepos is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Quepos in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQuepos 27°C (81°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Quepos and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Quepos usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Quepos gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. Quepos usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. Quepos gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Quepos is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Quepos average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQuepos 27°C (81°F)Puerto Viejo 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Quepos or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Quepos as well as Puerto Viejo. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Quepos usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejo. Quepos gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Quepos this time of the year. In the spring, Quepos often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Quepos gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.
Quepos is a little warmer than Puerto Viejo in the spring. The daily temperature in Quepos averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQuepos 29°C (85°F)Puerto Viejo 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Quepos
| Quepos | Puerto Viejo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 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.