A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Ignacio vs. Montanita for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Ignacio or Montanita?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or Montanita, 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 Ignacio or Montanita?

San Ignacio

So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.

You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.

This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!

Montanita

Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.

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

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

When is the best time to visit San Ignacio or Montanita?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit San Ignacio or Montanita in the Summer?

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

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in July than Montanita. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. In the summer, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than Montanita. San Ignacio gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun.

In the summer, San Ignacio is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Ignacio in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Montanita averages at about 25°C (78°F).

Should I visit San Ignacio or Montanita in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Montanita. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during autumn. San Ignacio gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, San Ignacio is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 26°C (80°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Should I visit San Ignacio or Montanita in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as Montanita. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.

San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the winter. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in January than Montanita. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the winter, San Ignacio often gets more sunshine than Montanita. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun.

San Ignacio is cooler than Montanita in the winter. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit San Ignacio or Montanita in the Spring?

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

In April, San Ignacio usually receives less rain than Montanita. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. San Ignacio usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during spring. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, San Ignacio is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Ignacio in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Typical Weather for Montanita and San Ignacio