A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Fernando vs. La Serena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Fernando or La Serena?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or La Serena, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: San Fernando or La Serena?

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

La Serena

La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!

Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.

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

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

Which is Bigger, San Fernando or La Serena?

La Serena has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando and La Serena, 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 San Fernando or La Serena?

La Serena has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Fernando experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit San Fernando or La Serena in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round.

In July, San Fernando is generally a little warmer than La Serenain January. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Serena this time of the year. In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Fernando usually receives less sunshine than La Serena during summer. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.

San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Fernando usually receives more rain than La Serenain January. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit San Fernando or La Serena in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as La Serena. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

San Fernando is much warmer than La Serena in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. In the autumn, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than La Serenain April. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.

San Fernando receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Fernando usually gets more rain in October than La Serenain April. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Fernando or La Serena in the Winter?

Both La Serena and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year.

In the winter, San Fernando is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Fernando in January average around 26°C (78°F), and La Serena averages at about 12°C (54°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives more sunshine than La Serena during winter. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, San Fernando usually receives more rain than La Serenain July. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit San Fernando or La Serena in the Spring?

Both La Serena and San Fernando during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, San Fernando is generally much warmer than La Serenain October. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

It's quite sunny in San Fernando. In the spring, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than La Serenain October. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.

San Fernando usually gets more rain in April than La Serenain October. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for La Serena and San Fernando