A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Recife vs. Puerto Viejo for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Beaches

Should you visit Recife or Puerto Viejo?

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 Puerto Viejo 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. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Recife travel costs.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is a laid back, relaxed, and mellow town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. Puerto Viejo is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and nightlife. See Puerto Viejo travel costs.

Recife and Puerto Viejo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Recife or Puerto Viejo?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Recife. Although Recife and Puerto Viejo are both popular with visitors, Recife has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Recife is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, shopping, and big city activities, while Puerto Viejo is known for its scuba diving & snorkeling, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Recife is popular for its football and music scenes. It is also home to Praia de Boa Viagem. Puerto Viejo is popular for its surfing, snorkeling, and seafood.

How is Recife different from Puerto Viejo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo?

Recife is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Puerto Viejo is lacking in options for its museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Recife specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

Puerto Viejo offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There aren't any real museums in the area, but there are a couple of art galleries.

Is the Food Better in Recife or Puerto Viejo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Recife is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Recife has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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).

Puerto Viejo offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Many restaurants have a local atmosphere and serve typical Costa Rican food or seafood. You'll find no shortage of rice and beans!

Is Recife or Puerto Viejo Better for Nightlife?

Both Recife and Puerto Viejo are superb when it comes to partying.

Recife offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.

Puerto Viejo has a large number of nightlife venues. It's a laid back town during the day and at night there's a chill but lively atmosphere. You'll find a few bars and clubs that have live music, and it's not hard to find something interesting to do.

Is Recife or Puerto Viejo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Puerto Viejo is a town with good options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Recife is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Puerto Viejo. You'll find the best snorkeling in Cahuita National Park, where you'll see coral and colorful fish. There's a dive shop in town as well, but most people enjoy the snorkeling in the area more.

Recife is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Recife or Puerto Viejo Better for Beaches?

Both Recife and Puerto Viejo are considered to be superb 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 Puerto Viejo for it's beautiful beaches. The beaches in the area are beautiful and offer great waves for surfing and patches of coral reef for snorkeling. Many of the beaches are lined with forest and have a more laid back and less developed atmosphere than the beaches on the Pacific side.

Is Recife or Puerto Viejo Better for Hiking?

Puerto Viejo is a town with good options for the nearby hiking options. However, Recife is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Puerto Viejo. The hike through nearby Cahuita National Park is a highlight for many visitors. It wanders along the coastline and takes about three hours to walk. You'll likely see some wildlife during your walk.

Recife is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Recife or Puerto Viejo?

Recife is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas 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.

Puerto Viejo is a great destination for shopping. You can wander through the town center and enjoy shopping at the local boutiques that sell clothes and other touristy items.

Is Recife or Puerto Viejo More Beautiful?

Puerto Viejo is a town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Recife is not a destination known for its beauty.

Puerto Viejo is a beautiful place to visit, too. The beaches are beautiful and lined with rainforests. There's also easy access to the beautiful Cahuita National Park.

Recife is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Recife or Puerto Viejo Better for Families?

Puerto Viejo is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. However, Recife is not a good city for its kid-friendly activities.

Puerto Viejo is a very kid-friendly town. With its easy access to Cahuita National Park and many wildlife experiences, this is a great destination for the kids. Kids can see sloths and monkeys, or enjoy snorkeling and hanging out on a chill 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 Puerto Viejo Better for Couples?

Puerto Viejo is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Recife is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Puerto Viejo is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, which has a more laid back and less touristy atmosphere. While you won't find the larger resorts and tourist amenities in this area, couples who enjoy hiking and a local vibe will love their time here.

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 Puerto Viejo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Puerto Viejo is a well-known place for backpackers. Also, Recife is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Puerto Viejo is a great town to visit for backpackers. There's a local atmosphere and enough hostels and budget accommodation to keep backpackers happy. It's also easy to explore and makes the perfect place to chill out for a few days.

Plenty of backpackers 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.

Is Recife or Puerto Viejo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Recife and Puerto Viejo offer good public transit options.

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

Puerto Viejo has some public transit options. There are buses that travel the longer distances, but most people walk or bike around town.

Is Recife or Puerto Viejo a more walkable city?

Puerto Viejo is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Recife is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Puerto Viejo is a very walkable town. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot.

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 Puerto Viejo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Puerto Viejo or Recife?

How long in Recife or Puerto Viejo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Recife and Puerto Viejo. In our opinion, Puerto Viejo has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Puerto Viejo than Recife. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Recife, and 2-3 days is enough time in Puerto Viejo.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Recife 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 Puerto Viejo.

One day in Recife or Puerto Viejo?

In Recife, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this authentic city offers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. In one day, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Puerto Viejo. 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 Puerto Viejo?

Recife is a fun place to experience. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Puerto Viejo is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Recife or Puerto Viejo?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Recife. Most people come for the beaches. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Puerto Viejo. Most people come for the beaches. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Recife or Puerto Viejo?

Recife is a popular place to visit. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the mellow destination of Puerto Viejo. This town 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 Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Viejo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife 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 Puerto Viejo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Viejo 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 Puerto Viejo.

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

When is the best time to visit Recife or Puerto Viejo?

Recife 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 Recife or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

Both Puerto Viejo and Recife during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Recife in the summer for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.

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

It's quite sunny in Recife. In the summer, Recife often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejoin July. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun.

Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejoin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year. March to August is the rainy season in Recife. September to October is the dry season in Puerto Viejo.

Should I visit Recife or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Puerto Viejo. Most visitors come to Recife for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejoin October. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

Recife usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during autumn. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Recife usually receives more rain than Puerto Viejoin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season. Also, November to January is the rainy season in Puerto Viejo.

Should I visit Recife or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Recife as well as Puerto Viejo. The winter months attract visitors to Recife because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

Recife is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the winter. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F)in January.

In the winter, Recife often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejoin January. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Recife receives a lot of rain in the winter. Recife usually gets more rain in July than Puerto Viejoin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year. March to August in Recife is the rainy season. November to January in Puerto Viejo is the rainy season.

Should I visit Recife or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

Both Puerto Viejo and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Recife this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Recife is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Recife in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during spring. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In October, Recife usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Recife is October to December.

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Recife