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

Should you visit San Pedro or Valdivia?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Pedro or Valdivia, 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 Valdivia?

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.

Valdivia

Valdivia is a vibrant university city situated in southern Chile. It sits at the meeting point of three rivers in the aptly named Region de Los Rios (The Rivers Region) and is approximately 200 kilometers from both Temuco and Puerto Montt. Due to a large student population, Valdivia boasts a youthful and energetic vibe that is visible in its many bars, cafes and restaurants. The city is also known for having one of Chile's best craft beer cultures, which had its early beginnings when German settlers arrived in the 1840s. The rivers, nearby Pacific coastline and wetlands offer plenty for lovers of the outdoors, too.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro and Valdivia, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. And not only is Valdivia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Pedro is in Central America and Valdivia 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 Valdivia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Valdivia 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 Valdivia.

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 Valdivia Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Pedro or Valdivia?

Valdivia has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Pedro. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro and Valdivia, 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 Pedro or Valdivia?

Valdivia has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Pedro experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit San Pedro or Valdivia in the Summer?

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

In July, San Pedro is generally much warmer than Valdiviain January. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 28°C (82°F), and Valdivia fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Valdivia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Pedro this time of the year. In the summer, San Pedro often gets less sunshine than Valdiviain January. San Pedro gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 296 hours of full sun.

San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Pedro usually gets more rain in July than Valdiviain January. San Pedro gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Pedro or Valdivia in the Autumn?

Both Valdivia 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.

San Pedro is much warmer than Valdivia in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Pedro averages around 26°C (80°F) in October, and Valdivia fluctuates around 11°C (52°F)in April.

San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than Valdivia during autumn. San Pedro gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Valdivia receives 132 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Valdivia. It's quite rainy in San Pedro. In October, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Valdiviain April. San Pedro gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit San Pedro or Valdivia in the Winter?

Both Valdivia 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.

In the winter, San Pedro is much warmer than Valdivia. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Pedro in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Valdivia averages at about 7°C (45°F)in July.

In the winter, San Pedro often gets more sunshine than Valdiviain July. San Pedro gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Valdivia receives 66 hours of full sun.

Valdivia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. San Pedro usually gets less rain in January than Valdiviain July. San Pedro gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit San Pedro or Valdivia in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Pedro and Valdivia. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Pedro year-round.

In April, San Pedro is generally much warmer than Valdiviain October. Daily temperatures in San Pedro average around 27°C (80°F), and Valdivia fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In San Pedro, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than Valdivia during spring. San Pedro gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Valdivia receives 198 hours of full sun in the spring.

Valdivia receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, San Pedro usually receives less rain than Valdiviain October. San Pedro gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Valdivia receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Valdivia and San Pedro