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

Should you visit San Juan del Sur or Temuco?

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 Temuco. 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 Temuco?

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.

Temuco

Temuco is a large and modern city found 680 km south of Santiago. While the city is dynamic, it does not have any particular charm with the exception of being a great point of departure for many excursions around the lake region and the many national parks found in the surrounding area. Temuco is also well known for its Mapuche culture, a proud and rebellious community of around 20 000 in the area today, who has fought continuously against every invaders in the past.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile.

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

Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Temuco?

Temuco has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur and Temuco, 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 Temuco?

Temuco 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 Temuco in the Summer?

Both Temuco 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 Temuco. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Juan del Sur in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Temuco averages at about 17°C (62°F)in January.

In Temuco, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, San Juan del Sur often gets less sunshine than Temucoin January. San Juan del Sur gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Temuco receives 290 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 Temucoin January. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Temuco receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

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

In October, San Juan del Sur is generally much warmer than Temucoin April. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 27°C (81°F), and Temuco fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

San Juan del Sur usually receives more sunshine than Temuco during autumn. San Juan del Sur gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Temuco receives 150 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 Temucoin April. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Temuco receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

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

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

San Juan del Sur is much warmer than Temuco in the winter. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Temuco fluctuates around 8°C (46°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 Temucoin July. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Temuco receives 78 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Temuco. San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in January than Temucoin July. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Temuco receives 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

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

Both Temuco 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 Temuco. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Juan del Sur in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Temuco averages at about 12°C (54°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 Temuco during spring. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Temuco receives 193 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Temucoin October. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Temuco receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Temuco and San Juan del Sur