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

Should you visit San Fernando or Santa Elena?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Santa Elena, 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 Santa Elena?

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.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.

In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.

Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.

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

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 Santa Elena Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit San Fernando or Santa Elena?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit San Fernando or Santa Elena in the Summer?

Both Santa Elena and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. It's quite rainy in San Fernando. In July, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during summer. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, San Fernando is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Fernando in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit San Fernando or Santa Elena in the Autumn?

Both Santa Elena and San Fernando during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.

Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually gets less rain in October than Santa Elena. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in San Fernando. In the autumn, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than Santa Elena. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun.

In October, San Fernando is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit San Fernando or Santa Elena in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Santa Elena. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Fernando usually receives less sunshine than Santa Elena during winter. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.

San Fernando is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the winter. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit San Fernando or Santa Elena in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as Santa Elena. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.

San Fernando usually gets more rain in April than Santa Elena. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. In the spring, San Fernando often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Santa Elena. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun.

In the spring, San Fernando is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Fernando in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 29°C (85°F).

Typical Weather for Santa Elena and San Fernando