Which place is cheaper, Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn?
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 Puerto Madryn. 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 Puerto Madryn?
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.
Puerto Madryn
Puerto Madryn is mostly known as the gateway to Peninsula Valdes, welcoming tourists who come for whale watching. The Peninsula Valdes is a nature reserve designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site; 97 km long and 63 km wide, it is connected to the continent by an isthmus of 35 km from which we can see both gulfs, San Jose at north and the Nuevo at south.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best 2-Week Tours in Argentina, and The Best 3-Week Tours in Argentina.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Juan del Sur $53Puerto Madryn $14
The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan del Sur is $53, while the average daily cost in Puerto Madryn is $14. 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 Puerto Madryn in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Juan del Sur $21Puerto Madryn $5.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Juan del Sur $42Puerto Madryn $11
Compare Hotels in San Juan del Sur and Puerto Madryn
Looking for a hotel in San Juan del Sur or Puerto Madryn? 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 Puerto Madryn Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Juan del Sur $18Puerto Madryn $3.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Puerto Madryn
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Puerto Madryn:
- From Punta Tombo Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $131
- Trelew Airport Shuttle Transfer To Puerto Madryn : $47
Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan del Sur or Puerto Madryn?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Madryn 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 $18Puerto Madryn $5.69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Juan del Sur $15Puerto Madryn $5.77
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:
- Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Maderas, San Juan del Sur also in Costa Rica: $90
- SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
- San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
- ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
- atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132
- Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
Typical Entertainment Prices in Puerto Madryn
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Puerto Madryn are as follows:
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Whale Watching for Two$0.35
Tours and Activities in Puerto Madryn
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Madryn are as follows:
- Kayaking adventure in Puerto Madryn: $60
- Excursion to Punta Loma and Puerto Madryn for Cruisers: $60
- From City and Punta Loma Tour: $70
- Shore Excursion: Punta Loma+City Tour, for cruise passengers: $70
- Punta Loma Shore Excursion with City tour: $75
- Punta Loma Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $75
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience - optional Whale Watching : $87
- Peninsula Valdes Full Day Tour: $88
- Punta Tombo Tour, the Penguin Experience: $88
- Full Day Peninsula Valdes Experience: $90
- Shore Excursion Punta Loma Sea Lions Reserve Including Puerto Madryn City Tour : $95
- Wonderful Punta Tombo Penguin Rookery Tour : $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Juan del Sur $13Puerto Madryn $3.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan del Sur and Puerto Madryn, we can see that San Juan del Sur is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Madryn much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Juan del Sur is in Central America and Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn.
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 Puerto Madryn Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur and Puerto Madryn, 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 Puerto Madryn?
Puerto Madryn 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 Puerto Madryn in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan del Sur and Puerto Madryn. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.
In the summer, San Juan del Sur is a little warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan del Sur in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 22°C (71°F)in January.
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 Puerto Madrynin January. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Puerto Madryn in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Juan del Sur as well as Puerto Madryn. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, San Juan del Sur is generally much warmer than Puerto Madrynin April. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
San Juan del Sur receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan del Sur usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Madrynin April. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSan Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Puerto Madryn in the Winter?
Both Puerto Madryn 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.
San Juan del Sur is much warmer than Puerto Madryn in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Puerto Madryn fluctuates around 7°C (45°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Puerto Madryn. 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 Puerto Madryn during winter. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Madryn receives 209 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Puerto Madrynin July. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySan Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)Puerto Madryn 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit San Juan del Sur or Puerto Madryn in the Spring?
Both Puerto Madryn 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 the spring, San Juan del Sur is much warmer than Puerto Madryn. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan del Sur in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Puerto Madryn averages at about 14°C (58°F)in October.
San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Madrynin October. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Puerto Madryn receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSan Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)Puerto Madryn 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Puerto Madryn and San Juan del Sur
| San Juan del Sur | Puerto Madryn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 11°C (53°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.