A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Recife vs. Acapulco de Juarez for Nightlife, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Acapulco de Juarez can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Recife

Recife is a authentic, cultural, and under-rated city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums. See Recife travel costs.

Acapulco de Juarez

Acapulco de Juarez is a well-known, vibrant, and built-up city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Acapulco de Juarez travel costs.

Recife and Acapulco de Juarez: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Recife than Acapulco de Juarez, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Recife is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, shopping, and big city activities, while Acapulco de Juarez is known for its nightlife, resorts, and scuba diving & snorkeling. Acapulco de Juarez is more touristy than Recife and is known for its large hotels, golf courses, and lively bars and clubs. Recife is popular for its football and music scenes. It is also home to Praia de Boa Viagem.

How is Recife different from Acapulco de Juarez?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Acapulco de Juarez and Recife. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

Recife is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

Recife offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is large and cultural, so there are a number of museums that you can explore. Some of the favorites include the Instituto Ricardo Brennand, the Jewish Museum and Cultural Center, the State of Pernambuco Museum, and the Recife City Museum.

While most people don't head to Acapulco de Juarez specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of history and cultural museums in the city that can be a nice way to spend a rainy day.

Is the Food Better in Recife or Acapulco de Juarez? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Recife is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Recife is an experience not to be missed. You'll find plenty of local restaurants around town. Grilled meat is a staple in many of the dishes and you should definitely visit a churrascaria, which is a restaurant that specializes in cooking meat in the churrasco style. Food carts are great for picking up a coxinha (a pastry), and other local dishes include camarão na moranga (pumpkin stuffed with shrimp) and picanha (sirloin cap).

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Acapulco de Juarez. The local cuisine is influenced by the area's indigenous cultures combined with Hispanic influences. Seafood is common as well.

Is Recife or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Nightlife?

Acapulco de Juarez is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. Also, Recife is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

The nightlife in Acapulco de Juarez is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The nightlife scene is part of what originally put this city on the map. Spring break is a prime time for partying and you'll find many bars along Costera Street, with the liveliest around Condesa Beach.

Recife has a large number of nightlife venues. Many visitors come for Carnival, and this is the obvious time to visit if you're looking for the best parties. Even during the other times of the year, you'll find many happy hours, dance clubs, and live music to enjoy.

Is Recife or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Resorts?

Acapulco de Juarez is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Recife is not a resort destination.

Acapulco de Juarez is a world class resort vacation destination. You'll find no shortage of resorts in the city, most with large pools and beachfront views.

Recife is not a resort destination.

Is Recife or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Acapulco de Juarez is a well-known place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Recife is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Acapulco de Juarez is an extremely popular place to visit for scuba diving and snorkeling. There are plenty of dive shops that offer snorkeling and scuba diving trips to premier spots.

Recife is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Recife or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Beaches?

Both Recife and Acapulco de Juarez are considered to be excellent beach destinations.

The beaches at Recife attract visitors from all over. The city's beaches are clean and enjoyable to visit and one of the most famous is Praia de Boa Viagem. Some beaches are lined with hotels and nightclubs while others are a bit more removed. If you decide to swim, do take note that shark attacks in the area are a real concern.

Many people visit Acapulco de Juarez for it's beautiful beaches. The beaches are well developed with restaurants, hotels and bars lining the long stretches of sand. You'll find all kinds of water sports and activities nearby and several of the most popular beaches include Condesa Beach, Caleta Beach, and Icacos Beach.

Is the Shopping Better in Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

Recife is a great destination for its shopping areas. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Recife. The city has many local shops, art galleries, and larger shopping centers. Whether you're looking for clothing or a cultural souvenir, there are many places to browse.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Acapulco de Juarez. You'll find tons of beachside shops where you can pick up any beach supplies you may need as well as souvenirs from your trip. The city also has retail outlets and shopping centers.

Is Recife or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Families?

Acapulco de Juarez is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. However, Recife is not a good city for its kid-friendly activities.

Acapulco de Juarez is a very kid-friendly city. It may have been made famous by spring breakers, but families with kids will find plenty to do as well. There are water parks, playgrounds, museums and, of course, the beach.

Recife is not always a place people visit with their families. There are a couple of museums that are good for kids, like Museu do Mamulengo. There are also beaches that are relatively clean for swimming, but make sure you go where the locals go and be very aware of the water conditions.

Is Recife or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Couples?

Acapulco de Juarez is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. Also, Recife is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Acapulco de Juarez is a great city for couples, as it has plenty to offer. Whether you're looking for an active nightlife scene, or romantic sunset walks, then this city has it all. The beach is active and beautiful, there are also botanical gardens and wonderful restaurants to experience.

Recife is a good city for couples to visit. There are beaches and restaurants that make for a nice date day. You can explore the city, visit some museums, and soak up the local culture.

Is Recife or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Recife is a popular place for backpackers. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Recife. There are a few hostels around town, but they do fill up quickly. The city is often overlooked by tourists but if you're looking for an authentic experience, then this is your place.

Acapulco de Juarez is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are more hotels and resorts than hostels, so most backpackers head elsewhere. There is a young crowd during the spring break season.

Is Recife or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Recife and Acapulco de Juarez offer good public transit options.

Recife has a few public transit options. The city has a metro system as well as city buses.

Acapulco de Juarez has some public transit options. There's an elaborate and fun bus system that travels around the city.

Is Recife or Acapulco de Juarez a more walkable city?

Acapulco de Juarez is a city with good options for its high level of walkability. However, Recife is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Acapulco de Juarez is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown and beachfront areas are the most walkable and many sights are within a short distance of each other.

Recife is generally not a very walkable city. Parts of the city are more walkable than others. It's also best not to walk alone at night.

For even more information, also check out Is Recife Worth Visiting? and Is Acapulco de Juarez Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez or Recife?

How long in Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

In either Recife or Acapulco de Juarez, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than Recife because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Recife, and 3-5 days is enough time in Acapulco de Juarez.

Families should spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than Recife. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Acapulco de Juarez, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than Recife. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Acapulco de Juarez that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Recife than Acapulco de Juarez if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Recife.

One day in Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the under-rated destination of Recife. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Acapulco de Juarez. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

Recife is a popular place to visit. Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the authentic city of Recife. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Recife has to offer.

Acapulco de Juarez is a great place to explore. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Recife. Most people come for the beaches. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Acapulco de Juarez. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

Recife is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. It offers something for everyone. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the vibrant destination of Acapulco de Juarez. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Acapulco de Juarez, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Acapulco de Juarez much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America and Acapulco de Juarez is in North 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 Acapulco de Juarez would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Acapulco de Juarez 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 Recife would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Recife than you might in Acapulco de Juarez.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Recife Expensive? and Is Acapulco de Juarez Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

Recife has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Acapulco de Juarez. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Acapulco de Juarez, 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 Recife or Acapulco de Juarez?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Recife is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Acapulco de Juarez has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Recife or Acapulco de Juarez in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Acapulco de Juarez. Many travelers come to Recife for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Recife is around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarez. Typically, the summer temperatures in Recife in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Acapulco de Juarez averages at about 29°C (83°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Acapulco de Juarez this time of the year. In Recife, it's very sunny this time of the year. Recife usually receives more sunshine than Acapulco de Juarez during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 224 hours of full sun in the summer.

Acapulco de Juarez receives a lot of rain in the summer. Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Recife usually receives less rain than Acapulco de Juarezin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 209 mm (8.2 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, March to August is the rainy season in Recife.

Should I visit Recife or Acapulco de Juarez in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Recife as well as Acapulco de Juarez. Many visitors come to Recife in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Additionally, most visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez for the shopping scene during these months.

In April, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarezin October. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Acapulco de Juarez fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Acapulco de Juarez. In the autumn, Recife often gets less sunshine than Acapulco de Juarezin October. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 245 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Acapulco de Juarez. Recife receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Acapulco de Juarezin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Recife or Acapulco de Juarez in the Winter?

Both Acapulco de Juarez and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Recife for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Acapulco de Juarez because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Recife is around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarez in the winter. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Acapulco de Juarez fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.

It's quite sunny in Acapulco de Juarez. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Acapulco de Juarez during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 272 hours of full sun in the winter.

It's quite rainy in Recife. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Acapulco de Juarezin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. The rainy season in Recife is March to August.

Should I visit Recife or Acapulco de Juarez in the Spring?

Both Acapulco de Juarez and Recife during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Recife because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Acapulco de Juarez this time of year.

In the spring, Recife is around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarez. Typically, the spring temperatures in Recife in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Acapulco de Juarez averages at about 27°C (81°F)in April.

In Acapulco de Juarez, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Recife. In the spring, Recife often gets less sunshine than Acapulco de Juarezin April. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 274 hours of full sun.

Recife usually gets more rain in October than Acapulco de Juarezin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year. October to December is the dry season in Recife.

Typical Weather for Acapulco de Juarez and Recife