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

Should you visit San Juan del Sur or Vieques Island?

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 Vieques Island. 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 Vieques Island?

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.

Vieques Island

Amidst the melodious chorus of coqui frogs and gentle whispers of palm trees blowing in an evening breeze, you will find that the waters around you glow just as brightly as the stars above. This tropical paradise is none other than Vieques, Puerto Rico. Tropical forests, bioluminescent bays, coral reefs--this island attracts visitors from all around the world who seek to see the wonders and beauties of the tropics. This island suits those from all walks of life, from history buffs seeking to learn about its unique past to nature-lovers wanting to admire its untouched wilderness. Vieques is the place for a perfect vacation!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.

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

Which is Bigger, San Juan del Sur or Vieques Island?

Vieques Island has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of San Juan del Sur and Vieques Island, 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 Vieques Island?

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 Vieques Island in the Summer?

Both Vieques Island 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 Vieques Island 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 Vieques Island. San Juan del Sur gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Vieques Island, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, San Juan del Sur often gets less sunshine than Vieques Island. San Juan del Sur gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vieques Island receives 287 hours of full sun.

San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Vieques Island in the summer. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Vieques Island fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

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

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

Vieques Island receives a lot of rain 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 Vieques Island. San Juan del Sur gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vieques Island this time of the year. San Juan del Sur usually receives less sunshine than Vieques Island during autumn. San Juan del Sur gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Vieques Island receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Vieques Island. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Juan del Sur in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Vieques Island averages at about 28°C (82°F).

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

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

San Juan del Sur usually gets less rain in January than Vieques Island. San Juan del Sur gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vieques Island. 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 around the same amount of sunshine as Vieques Island. San Juan del Sur gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vieques Island receives 240 hours of full sun.

In January, San Juan del Sur is generally around the same temperature as Vieques Island. Daily temperatures in San Juan del Sur average around 26°C (79°F), and Vieques Island fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

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

Both Vieques Island 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 Vieques Island because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, San Juan del Sur usually receives less rain than Vieques Island. San Juan del Sur gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Vieques Island. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur usually receives less sunshine than Vieques Island during spring. San Juan del Sur gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Vieques Island receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.

San Juan del Sur is around the same temperature as Vieques Island in the spring. The daily temperature in San Juan del Sur averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Vieques Island fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Typical Weather for Vieques Island and San Juan del Sur