A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Recife vs. Quepos for Couples, Backpackers, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Recife or Quepos?

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 Quepos 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.

Quepos

Quepos is a laid-back, relaxed, and local town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and beaches. See Quepos travel costs.

Recife and Quepos: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Recife or Quepos?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Recife. Although Recife and Quepos are both popular with visitors, Recife has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Recife is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Quepos is known for its resorts. Recife is popular for its football and music scenes. It is also home to Praia de Boa Viagem. Quepos is popular for its big game sport fishing.

How is Recife different from Quepos?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Recife is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Quepos is lacking in good 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.

Quepos offers a few options for museum-goers. You won't find much as far as museums go around town.

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

Recife is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Quepos 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).

Quepos offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find a mix of cafes, fine dining, and seafood restaurants in the area. You can get traditional Costa Rican dishes as well as a more international flavor depending on your preference.

Is Recife or Quepos Better for Nightlife?

Recife is a very popular place for its evening party scene. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

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.

Quepos has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find a few bars and clubs around town, but it is a small town and the selection can be limited.

Is Recife or Quepos Better for Resorts?

Quepos is a moderate town for its resorts. However, Recife is not a resort destination.

Not known for its high-end resorts, Quepos offers a few options. It's a fishing town with a local vibe, so you'll likely want to stay outside of town if you're looking for an upscale resort.

Recife is not a resort destination.

Is Recife or Quepos Better for Beaches?

Recife is a very popular place for the beach. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its beaches.

Recife is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. 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.

Quepos has a beach worth visiting. If you want to be close to the beach, you'll do better to stay at nearby Manuel Antonio. Quepos does have a waterfront and access to deep sea fishing.

Is the Shopping Better in Recife or Quepos?

Recife is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Quepos 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.

Quepos is a great destination for shopping. You'll find boutique shops around town that sell everything from clothing to art.

Is Recife or Quepos Better for Families?

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

Quepos is a very kid-friendly town. Most of the beaches are kid-friendly and the children will love the wildlife. You'll also find zipline tours in the area as well as canopy walks.

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 Quepos Better for Couples?

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

Quepos is a great town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. The beaches and resorts make this a favorite honeymoon destination for couples. There are many great restaurants and plenty of activities like horseback riding or surfing nearby.

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 Quepos Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Quepos is an unbeatable place for backpackers. Also, Recife is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Quepos. It's one of the more popular destinations in Costa Rica, so you'll find plenty of hostels and other backpackers to hang out with.

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 Quepos Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Recife and Quepos offer good public transit options.

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

Quepos has some public transit options. There are a number of buses that pass through town. There are also buses that travel between Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

Is Recife or Quepos a more walkable city?

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

Quepos is a somewhat walkable place. It is a relatively walkable town.

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 Quepos Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Quepos or Recife?

How long in Recife or Quepos?

It's fun to spend time in either Recife or Quepos. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Quepos due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Recife, and 2-4 days is enough time in Quepos.

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

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

One day in Recife or Quepos?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Recife. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Quepos. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Recife or Quepos?

Recife 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.

Quepos 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 Quepos?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Recife. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Quepos. 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 Quepos?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the under-rated destination of Recife. 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.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the relaxed destination of Quepos. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Recife and Quepos, we can see that Recife is more expensive. And not only is Quepos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Recife is in South America and Quepos 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 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 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 Quepos.

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

Which is Bigger, Recife or Quepos?

Recife has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Quepos, 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 Quepos?

Recife has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Quepos experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Recife or Quepos in the Summer?

Both Quepos 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 Quepos year-round.

In the summer, Recife is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Recife in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Quepos averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Recife. In the summer, Recife often gets more sunshine than Queposin July. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.

Quepos 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 Queposin July. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year. March to August is the rainy season in Recife.

Should I visit Recife or Quepos in the Autumn?

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

In April, Recife is generally around the same temperature as Queposin October. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Recife usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Quepos 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 Queposin October. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in Quepos is the dry season. May to November is the hurricane season in Quepos.

Should I visit Recife or Quepos in the Winter?

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

Recife is cooler than Quepos in the winter. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in January.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Quepos. In the winter, Recife often gets less sunshine than Queposin January. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.

Recife receives a lot of rain in the winter. Recife usually gets more rain in July than Queposin January. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year. March to August in Recife is the rainy season.

Should I visit Recife or Quepos in the Spring?

Both Quepos 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 Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Recife is cooler than Quepos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Recife in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Quepos averages at about 29°C (85°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Quepos. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Recife. Recife usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos during spring. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In October, Recife usually receives more rain than Queposin April. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Recife is October to December. The dry season in Quepos is December to April. May to November in Quepos is the hurricane season.

Typical Weather for Quepos and Recife