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

Should you visit San Pedro or Montanita?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Pedro or Montanita, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: San Pedro or Montanita?

San Pedro

San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.

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 Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, 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 Pedro and Montanita, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. And not only is Montanita much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Pedro 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 Montanita would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montanita 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 Pedro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro than you might in Montanita.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Pedro Expensive? and Is Montanita Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit San Pedro 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 Pedro or Montanita in the Summer?

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

San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Pedro usually gets more rain in July than Montanita. San Pedro gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Pedro this time of the year. In the summer, San Pedro often gets more sunshine than Montanita. San Pedro gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun.

In the summer, San Pedro is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Pedro in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Montanita averages at about 25°C (78°F).

Should I visit San Pedro or Montanita in the Autumn?

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

It's quite rainy in San Pedro. In October, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Montanita. San Pedro gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during autumn. San Pedro gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, San Pedro is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 26°C (80°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Should I visit San Pedro or Montanita in the Winter?

Both Montanita and San Pedro during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro 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 Pedro. San Pedro usually gets more rain in January than Montanita. San Pedro gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the winter, San Pedro often gets more sunshine than Montanita. San Pedro gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun.

San Pedro is cooler than Montanita in the winter. The daily temperature in San Pedro averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit San Pedro or Montanita in the Spring?

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

In April, San Pedro usually receives less rain than Montanita. San Pedro gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

In San Pedro, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during spring. San Pedro gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, San Pedro is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Pedro in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Typical Weather for Montanita and San Pedro