A Travel Price Comparison for Costa Rica Santa Elena vs. Puerto Viejo for Backpackers, Nightlife, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo?

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 Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo. 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.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a outdoorsy, scenic, and tranquil town. Santa Elena offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the hiking and shopping. See Santa Elena travel costs.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is a authentic, laid back, and relaxed town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Puerto Viejo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Puerto Viejo travel costs.

Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Puerto Viejo. Although Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo are popular destinations, Puerto Viejo has more sights and attractions for tourists. Puerto Viejo is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and small town charm, while Santa Elena attracts visitors for its hiking. Santa Elena is more touristy than Puerto Viejo and is known for its birdwatching and environmental conservation. Puerto Viejo is famous for its surfing, snorkeling, and seafood. It is also well known for .

How is Santa Elena different from Puerto Viejo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Puerto Viejo and Santa Elena. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo?

Puerto Viejo is adequate for its historical sights. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

While most people don't head to Puerto Viejo specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There aren't any real museums in the area, but there are a couple of art galleries.

Santa Elena offers a few options for museum-goers. The area is filled with outdoor gardens, parks, and nature reserves, but there are few museums to visit.

Is the Food Better in Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Puerto Viejo is a good destination for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Puerto Viejo is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Many restaurants have a local atmosphere and serve typical Costa Rican food or seafood. You'll find no shortage of rice and beans!

Santa Elena offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find some basic but good restaurants around town. Many offer pasta, pizza, and typical Costa Rican dishes.

Is Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo Better for Nightlife?

Puerto Viejo is great for its evening party scene. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for nightlife.

Many people head to Puerto Viejo for the nightlife scene. It's a laid back town during the day and at night there's a chill but lively atmosphere. You'll find a few bars and clubs that have live music, and it's not hard to find something interesting to do.

Most people don't head to Santa Elena specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's a couple of bars but not much else for nightlife in town.

Is Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Puerto Viejo is a good destination for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Santa Elena is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Puerto Viejo. You'll find the best snorkeling in Cahuita National Park, where you'll see coral and colorful fish. There's a dive shop in town as well, but most people enjoy the snorkeling in the area more.

Santa Elena is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo Better for Beaches?

Puerto Viejo is great for the beach. However, Santa Elena is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Puerto Viejo for it's beautiful beaches. The beaches in the area are beautiful and offer great waves for surfing and patches of coral reef for snorkeling. Many of the beaches are lined with forest and have a more laid back and less developed atmosphere than the beaches on the Pacific side.

Santa Elena is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo Better for Hiking?

Santa Elena is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Santa Elena. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a range of trails including a walk along the Continental Divide. There's also the famous red hanging bridge.

Puerto Viejo has hiking trails worth exploring. The hike through nearby Cahuita National Park is a highlight for many visitors. It wanders along the coastline and takes about three hours to walk. You'll likely see some wildlife during your walk.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo?

If you're looking to go shopping, Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo both offer plenty of nice spots.

Santa Elena has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are some art galleries and artisan shops around town where you can pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Puerto Viejo is a great destination for shopping. You can wander through the town center and enjoy shopping at the local boutiques that sell clothes and other touristy items.

Is Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo More Beautiful?

You'll find a similar quality of nice scenery and beauty in both Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo.

Santa Elena offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The cloud forest and canopy walks give you access to breathtaking views and unique wildlife.

Puerto Viejo is a gorgeous place to visit. The beaches are beautiful and lined with rainforests. There's also easy access to the beautiful Cahuita National Park.

Is Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo Better for Families?

Both Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo are high quality family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Santa Elena. Monteverde has many canopy walks, zipline courses, and animal parks that the kids will love. The nature and wildlife make this a fun and educational destination for everyone.

Puerto Viejo is a very family-friendly place to visit. With its easy access to Cahuita National Park and many wildlife experiences, this is a great destination for the kids. Kids can see sloths and monkeys, or enjoy snorkeling and hanging out on a chill beach.

Is Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo Better for Couples?

Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo both high quality destinations for a couple.

Santa Elena is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. The cloud forest is filled with romantic views and unique landscapes. Couples who enjoy the outdoors will fall in love with this magical setting.

Puerto Viejo is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, which has a more laid back and less touristy atmosphere. While you won't find the larger resorts and tourist amenities in this area, couples who enjoy hiking and a local vibe will love their time here.

Is Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Elena is a world-class destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Santa Elena, as it is a very popular town for budget travelers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and affordable activities. There are also many hostels with social activities that make this a great backpacker-friendly destination.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Puerto Viejo. There's a local atmosphere and enough hostels and budget accommodation to keep backpackers happy. It's also easy to explore and makes the perfect place to chill out for a few days.

Is Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Santa Elena offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses through town that travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Puerto Viejo has a few public transit options. There are buses that travel the longer distances, but most people walk or bike around town.

Is Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo a more walkable city?

Puerto Viejo is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

Puerto Viejo is a very walkable destination. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot.

Santa Elena is somewhat walkable. It's relatively easy to walk around, but you will need to take a bus to Monteverde.

For even more information, also check out Is Santa Elena Worth Visiting? and Is Puerto Viejo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Puerto Viejo or Santa Elena?

How long in Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Santa Elena than in Puerto Viejo. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Santa Elena, and 2-3 days is enough time in Puerto Viejo.

Families should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Santa Elena. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Puerto Viejo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Santa Elena. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Puerto Viejo that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Santa Elena if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Puerto Viejo.

One day in Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo?

In Santa Elena, many people enjoy the shopping that this outdoorsy town offers. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the laid back town of Puerto Viejo. It's also a great beach destination, too. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo?

Santa Elena is a fun place to experience. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the laid back destination of Puerto Viejo. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo?

You'll find shopping around the tranquil destination of Santa Elena. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

The relaxed town of Puerto Viejo offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo?

Santa Elena is a popular place to visit. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Puerto Viejo. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica, The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo than you might in Santa Elena.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Elena Expensive? and Is Puerto Viejo Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Puerto Viejo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season. Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. Santa Elena gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.

Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the summer. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

Should I visit Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Puerto Viejo. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

Also, the hurricane season in Santa Elena is June to October. Also, September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season. November to January in Puerto Viejo is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in October than Puerto Viejo. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Santa Elena often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejo. Santa Elena gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

In the autumn, Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santa Elena in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).

Should I visit Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

Both Puerto Viejo and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Santa Elena is February to May. The rainy season in Puerto Viejo is November to January. It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In January, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. Santa Elena gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

Should I visit Santa Elena or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

Both Puerto Viejo and Santa Elena during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.

February to May is the dry season in Santa Elena. Keep in mind that June to October is the hurricane season in Santa Elena. Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Santa Elena usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejo. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. In the spring, Santa Elena often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Santa Elena gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.

Santa Elena is a little warmer than Puerto Viejo in the spring. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Santa Elena