A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Cristobal de Las Casas vs. Quepos for Couples, Backpackers, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos?

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

Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

San Cristobal de Las Casas

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a charming, colorful, and cultural town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. San Cristobal de Las Casas offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See San Cristobal de Las Casas travel costs.

Quepos

Quepos is a local, laid-back, and relaxed town. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping. See Quepos travel costs.

San Cristobal de Las Casas and Quepos: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos?

Visitors will usually find more to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Quepos, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. San Cristobal de Las Casas is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Quepos is more popular for its resorts and beaches. San Cristobal de Las Casas is more touristy than Quepos and is known for its historical buildings, local markets, and traditional churches. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is famous for the Cathedral of San Cristobal de las Casas. Quepos is well known for its big game sport fishing.

How is San Cristobal de Las Casas different from Quepos?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Quepos and San Cristobal de Las Casas. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos?

San Cristobal de Las Casas 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The town is filled with historical churches such as the main Cathedral of San Cristobal. While this is the most notable church, there are also smaller churches worth visiting like the Templo Santo Domingo, Iglesia de Guadalupe, and Iglesia de San Cristobal. For museums, make sure you check out the Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya, Na Bolom, and Museo de Ambar.

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 San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

San Cristobal de Las Casas has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The cuisine is a mix of Spanish-influenced cured meats such as ham and sausage, as well as indigenous flavors like tamales and burritos. There's also a lot of great pizza around town as well as several Asian restaurants.

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 San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos Better for Nightlife?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very popular place for its evening party scene. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

San Cristobal de Las Casas has a large number of nightlife venues. There's an active nightlife scene that includes everything from late night clubs to salsa lessons. Most tourists who want to party head to the pedestrian streets around the plaza. There are countless bars where you'll likely find a crowd late into the night. Some clubs have a cover charge on weekends but, in general, drinks are cheap and getting around is easy.

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 San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos Better for Resorts?

Quepos is a decent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a resort destination.

Quepos has a few resort options worth checking out. 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.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a resort destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos Better for Beaches?

Quepos is a popular place for its beaches. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a beach destination.

Quepos is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a beach destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos Better for its Old Town?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Quepos does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of San Cristobal de Las Casas. The town is filled with narrow pedestrian streets, colorful markets, and historic churches.

Quepos does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to San Cristobal de Las Casas specifically to go shopping. The nearby villages are famous for their weaving, leather, pottery, and embroidery, so many visitors pick up souvenirs at the colorful markets around town. This is one of the best towns in Mexico to purchase local items, and you should definitely set aside time to explore and shop.

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

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos More Beautiful?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is very good for its scenery and beauty. However, Quepos is not a destination known for its beauty.

San Cristobal de Las Casas offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Set against the backdrop of mountains, this town is colorful and charming.

Quepos is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos Better for Families?

Quepos is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Quepos is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas. While kids may not appreciate the town's beauty and culture, they will have fun exploring the night market or taking a chocolate-making class. There are pedestrian streets where everyone can explore without fear of traffic and pizza restaurants that appeal to the kids as well.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos Better for Couples?

Quepos is very popular for romance. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Quepos makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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.

Couples visit San Cristobal de Las Casas frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy culture, markets, traditional cuisines, and new experiences will love their time here. It's a fun place to simply wander. You can explore the markets and then eat at a local restaurant before making your way back to your boutique hotel.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Quepos is very popular for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers frequent 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.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town to visit for backpackers. There are a number of hostels in town as well as budget-friendly hotels. Backpackers love the laid back nature of this town as well as the many markets and nature-oriented activities.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find notable public transit in both San Cristobal de Las Casas and Quepos.

San Cristobal de Las Casas has some public transit options. Urbano buses are minibuses that connect the town to the outlying residential areas. There are also colectivos that travel to nearby villages.

You'll find some public transit in Quepos, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are a number of buses that pass through town. There are also buses that travel between Quepos and Manuel Antonio.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos a more walkable city?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a world-class destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Quepos is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in San Cristobal de Las Casas. Walking is the best way to experience the town. Most of the sights can be reached on foot and there are pedestrian-only streets that let you avoid the traffic.

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

For even more information, also check out Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Worth Visiting? and Is Quepos Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Quepos or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

How long in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos?

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

Families should spend more time in Quepos than San Cristobal de Las Casas. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Quepos 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas.

One day in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos?

San Cristobal de Las Casas might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Quepos, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this local destination offers. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

In Quepos, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this destination offers. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Many people spend a weekend here. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in San Cristobal de Las Casas. Don't miss the shopping, as that's what most people do. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.

Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Quepos. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. This town offers something for everyone.

A week in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the town of Quepos. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas and Quepos, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is San Cristobal de Las Casas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Cristobal de Las Casas 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos than you might in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

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

Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Quepos?

San Cristobal de Las Casas has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas 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.