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

Should you visit San Juan del Sur or Punta Arenas?

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 Punta Arenas. 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 Punta Arenas?

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.

Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is in the far south of Chile and has a long history of maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep farming. It's the most populated city on the Strait of Magellan and has all the facilities you might need as a traveler, including banks, markets, drugstores and equipment shops. With a population of about 130,000, the city is a comfortable place to spend time. It serves as a base for Antarctic expeditions, although many expeditions also start in Ushuaia, Argentina, and Christchurch New Zealand.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Juan del Sur and Punta Arenas, we can see that Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Punta Arenas?

Punta Arenas has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur and Punta Arenas, 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 Punta Arenas?

Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas in the Summer?

Both Punta Arenas 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.

In the summer, San Juan del Sur is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan del Sur in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 11°C (52°F)in January.

In Punta Arenas, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, San Juan del Sur often gets less sunshine than Punta Arenasin January. San Juan del Sur gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 208 hours of full sun.

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 Punta Arenasin January. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan del Sur and Punta Arenas. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.

In October, San Juan del Sur is generally much warmer than Punta Arenasin April. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 27°C (81°F), and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 7°C (44°F).

San Juan del Sur usually receives more sunshine than Punta Arenas during autumn. San Juan del Sur gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 119 hours of full sun in the autumn.

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 Punta Arenasin April. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

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

Punta Arenas can be very cold during winter. San Juan del Sur is much warmer than Punta Arenas in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Punta Arenas fluctuates around 1°C (35°F)in July.

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 Punta Arenasin July. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Punta Arenas receives 70 hours of full sun.

San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in January than Punta Arenasin July. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Punta Arenas 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.

In the spring, San Juan del Sur is much warmer than Punta Arenas. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan del Sur in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Punta Arenas averages at about 7°C (44°F)in October.

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 Punta Arenas during spring. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Punta Arenas receives 183 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Punta Arenasin October. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Punta Arenas receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Punta Arenas and San Juan del Sur