A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Juan del Sur vs. Easter Island for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Juan del Sur or Easter Island?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for San Juan del Sur and Easter Island. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: San Juan del Sur or Easter Island?

San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Easter Island

Although Easter Island is considered a territory of Chile, it is actually located far out in the Pacific, almost halfway to Tahiti. Easter Island is well known, despite being one of the most isolated islands on Earth, because of the mysterious giant stone busts which date back centuries. There are 887 monumental statues, called moai, that were built by the Rapa Nui people. There remains much mystery around the historic Polynesian culture which created the stones, as well as the specific meaning for them.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, 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 Juan del Sur and Easter Island, we can see that Easter Island is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan del Sur is in Central America and Easter Island 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 Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 Easter Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Easter Island than you might in San Juan del Sur.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Juan del Sur Expensive? and Is Easter Island Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Easter Island?

San Juan del Sur has a larger population, and is about 95% larger than the population of Easter Island. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur and Easter Island, 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 Juan del Sur or Easter Island?

Easter Island has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan del Sur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Easter Island in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to San Juan del Sur as well as Easter Island. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, San Juan del Sur is generally a little warmer than Easter Islandin January. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 27°C (81°F), and Easter Island fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Easter Island. In the summer, San Juan del Sur often gets less sunshine than Easter Islandin January. San Juan del Sur gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Easter Island receives 272 hours of full sun.

San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Juan del Sur usually gets more rain in July than Easter Islandin January. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 73 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Easter Island in the Autumn?

Both Easter Island and San Juan del Sur are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.

San Juan del Sur is a little warmer than Easter Island in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Easter Island fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in April.

San Juan del Sur usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Easter Island during autumn. San Juan del Sur gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Easter Island receives 185 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Easter Island. It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. In October, San Juan del Sur usually receives more rain than Easter Islandin April. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 121 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Easter Island in the Winter?

Both Easter Island and San Juan del Sur during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the winter, San Juan del Sur is a little warmer than Easter Island. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan del Sur in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Easter Island averages at about 18°C (65°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in San Juan del Sur. In the winter, San Juan del Sur often gets more sunshine than Easter Islandin July. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Easter Island receives 148 hours of full sun.

Easter Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in January than Easter Islandin July. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Easter Island in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan del Sur and Easter Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.

In April, San Juan del Sur is generally a little warmer than Easter Islandin October. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 29°C (84°F), and Easter Island fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Easter Island this time of the year. In San Juan del Sur, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Juan del Sur usually receives more sunshine than Easter Island during spring. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Easter Island receives 224 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Easter Islandin October. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Easter Island receives 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Easter Island and San Juan del Sur