Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or San Juan del Sur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Juan del Sur or Guayaquil?
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 Guayaquil. 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 Guayaquil?
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.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan del Sur $53Guayaquil $95
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan del Sur is $53, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $95. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Juan del Sur and Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan del Sur $21Guayaquil $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan del Sur $42Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in San Juan del Sur and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in San Juan del Sur or Guayaquil? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices and Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan del Sur $18Guayaquil $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52
- Guayaquil Airport (GYE): Transfer to Guayaquil hotels: $129
- Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil city -Arrival Private Transfer: $30
- Guayaquil Airport Private Transfer Service: $80
- Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Guayaquil - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $18
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels: $17
- Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport.: $17
- Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
- Private Transfer In From Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $25
- Private Transfer Out From Hotel to Guayaquil Airport: $25
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan del Sur or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil and San Juan del Sur change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySan Juan del Sur $18Guayaquil $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan del Sur $15Guayaquil $21
Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur
Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Maderas, San Juan del Sur also in Costa Rica: $90
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Guayaquil City Tour: $18
- 1-hour Pacari Wine and Chocolate Tasting Experience: $20
- Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City: $35
- City Tour Guayaquil: $40
- Guayaquil City Tour: $40
- Self-guided walking tour of Guayaquil's landmarks.: $45
- Private Experience of Flavors and Wine Pairing in Guayaquil: $52
- From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
- City Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $63
- Guayaquil to Cuenca one-way tour with Cajas Park and a Cacao Farm visit: $74
- City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
- Private Guayaquil City Tour and Parque Historico: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan del Sur $13Guayaquil $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $55
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan del Sur and Guayaquil, we can see that Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Guayaquil?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 250 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur and Guayaquil, 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 Guayaquil?
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 Juan del Sur or Guayaquil in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Juan del Sur as well as Guayaquil. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Guayaquil. San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Juan del Sur usually gets more rain in July than Guayaquil. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, San Juan del Sur is a little warmer than Guayaquil. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan del Sur in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 23°C (73°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Guayaquil in the Autumn?
Both Guayaquil 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. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. In October, San Juan del Sur usually receives more rain than Guayaquil. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, San Juan del Sur is generally a little warmer than Guayaquil. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 27°C (81°F), and Guayaquil fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Guayaquil in the Winter?
Both Guayaquil 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round.
Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in January than Guayaquil. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Guayaquil in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Guayaquil in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan del Sur and Guayaquil. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Guayaquil receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Guayaquil. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Guayaquil. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan del Sur in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Guayaquil and San Juan del Sur
| San Juan del Sur | Guayaquil | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.