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

Should you visit San Juan del Sur or Montanita?

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 Montanita. 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 Montanita?

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.

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 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.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan del Sur and Montanita, we can see that Montanita 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 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 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 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 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 Montanita Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur or Montanita in the Summer?

Both Montanita and San Juan del Sur during the summer 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 Montanita year-round.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur usually gets more rain in July than Montanita. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the summer, San Juan del Sur often gets more sunshine than Montanita. San Juan del Sur gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun.

In the summer, San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan del Sur in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita averages at about 25°C (78°F).

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

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

San Juan del Sur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Juan del Sur usually receives more rain than Montanita. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

San Juan del Sur usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during autumn. San Juan del Sur gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, San Juan del Sur is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

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

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

San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in January than Montanita. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan del Sur this time of the year. In the winter, San Juan del Sur often gets more sunshine than Montanita. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun.

San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Montanita in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

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

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

In April, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Montanita. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 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 Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during spring. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan del Sur in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Typical Weather for Montanita and San Juan del Sur