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

Should you visit San Juan del Sur or El Chalten?

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 El Chalten. 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 El Chalten?

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.

El Chalten

El Chalten is probably one of the most beautiful areas of Patagonia, especially at the slightest ray of sunshine and one of your cheapest destination while you are travelling in Patagonia. Indeed, you will spend your days hiking and there are no park fees. There are restaurants, souvenir shops, and outdoor stores but most of them will not accept credit cards so before heading out, get cash in El Calafate or your previous stop. For the beginners, it will be long hikes in a magical setting and for the experts perhaps a week long expedition to the greatest glaciers of the world. To discover the way people live in the pampa, you may also decide to stay at an Estancia. In the stunning Estancia Santa Thelma, about 300km away from El Chalten, you will be able to explore the surroundings by horse, live a unique experience in the middle of the nature and its vast plains occupied by thousands of merino sheep and horses and of course eat a typical meal of the region.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Argentina, and The Best Adventure Tours to Argentina.

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

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 El Chalten Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit San Juan del Sur or El Chalten?

El Chalten 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 El Chalten in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan del Sur and El Chalten. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.

In July, San Juan del Sur is generally around the same temperature as El Chaltenin January. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 27°C (81°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

El Chalten receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Juan del Sur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Juan del Sur usually receives more rain than El Chaltenin January. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit San Juan del Sur or El Chalten in the Autumn?

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

San Juan del Sur is a little warmer than El Chalten in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and El Chalten fluctuates around 21°C (70°F)in April.

It's quite rainy in El Chalten. San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan del Sur usually gets more rain in October than El Chaltenin April. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Juan del Sur or El Chalten in the Winter?

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

In the winter, San Juan del Sur is much warmer than El Chalten. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan del Sur in January average around 26°C (79°F), and El Chalten averages at about 16°C (61°F)in July.

In January, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than El Chaltenin July. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit San Juan del Sur or El Chalten in the Spring?

Both El Chalten and San Juan del Sur during the spring 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 April, San Juan del Sur is generally a little warmer than El Chaltenin October. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 29°C (84°F), and El Chalten fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

In El Chalten, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Juan del Sur. In the spring, San Juan del Sur often gets more sunshine than El Chaltenin October. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while El Chalten receives 205 hours of full sun.

El Chalten gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in April than El Chaltenin October. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while El Chalten receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for El Chalten and San Juan del Sur