Which place is cheaper, Vieques Island or Santa Elena?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena 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: Santa Elena or Vieques Island?
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
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 G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySanta Elena $92Vieques Island $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Elena is $92, while the average daily cost in Vieques Island is $170. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Santa Elena and Vieques Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSanta Elena $55Vieques Island $92
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSanta Elena $110Vieques Island $184
Compare Hotels in Santa Elena and Vieques Island
Looking for a hotel in Santa Elena or Vieques Island? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santa Elena $11Vieques Island $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara : $269
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $180
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vieques Island
Also for Vieques Island, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Fajardo or Ceiba to San Juan Airport: $150
- Taxi Transfer From San Juan Airport to El Conquistador Hotel: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Elena or Vieques Island?
Prices for flights to both Vieques Island and Santa Elena change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one daySanta Elena $24Vieques Island $54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santa Elena $30Vieques Island $34
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $45
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $50
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- 100% Adventure Park Combo: Zipline, Superman, and Mega Tarzan Tour in Monteverde: $57
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $80
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Authentic experience of Coffee, Cane and Caco inside the forest: $37
- Bird Watching Experience in Monteverde: $90
- Bird-Watching private tour : $100
- Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde : $85
- Canopy Adventure From Monteverde: $72
Tours and Activities in Vieques Island
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vieques Island.
- 1-Hour Bioluminescent Boat Tour in Mosquito Bay, Vieques : $128
- Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Fajardo: $65
- Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Fajardo: $72
- Bioluminescent Bay Night Kayaking Tour in Laguna Grande Fajardo: $65
- Culebra Island Snorkel with Turtles Adventure - Ferry Tickets Included: $135
- El Yunque Waterfalls and Waterslide River Tour: $50
- Fajardo Afternoon Snorkeling Boat Tour: $110
- Full-Day Snorkeling Tour to Culebra Island with Lunch: $139
- Half Day Adventure Private Tour in El Yunque Rainforest: $234
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $45
- Icacos Island All-Inclusive Snorkel and Boat Tour : $125
- Isla de Vieques Beach Sightseeing Day Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySanta Elena $6.22Vieques Island $30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Elena and Vieques Island, we can see that Vieques Island is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santa Elena 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 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 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 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 Vieques Island Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or Vieques Island?
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 Vieques Island in the Summer?
Both Vieques Island and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Vieques Island because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. In July, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Vieques Island. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Vieques Island. Santa Elena usually receives less sunshine than Vieques Island during summer. Santa Elena gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Vieques Island receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as Vieques Island. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 28°C (82°F), and Vieques Island fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySanta Elena 28°C (82°F)Vieques Island 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Vieques Island in the Autumn?
Both Vieques Island and Santa Elena during the autumn 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 Vieques Island year-round.
Vieques Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in October than Vieques Island. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Vieques Island, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Santa Elena often gets less sunshine than Vieques Island. Santa Elena gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vieques Island receives 235 hours of full sun.
Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Vieques Island in the autumn. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Vieques Island fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Vieques Island 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Vieques Island in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Vieques Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round. Vieques Island attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Vieques Island. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vieques Island this time of the year. In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Vieques Island during winter. Santa Elena gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Vieques Island receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Vieques Island. Typically, the winter temperatures in Santa Elena in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Vieques Island averages at about 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySanta Elena 27°C (81°F)Vieques Island 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Santa Elena or Vieques Island in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Vieques Island. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vieques Island throughout the year.
Santa Elena usually gets less rain in April than Vieques Island. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 72 mm (2.8 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 Santa Elena this time of the year. In the spring, Santa Elena often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vieques Island. Santa Elena gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vieques Island receives 272 hours of full sun.
In April, Santa Elena is generally around the same temperature as Vieques Island. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 29°C (85°F), and Vieques Island fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSanta Elena 29°C (85°F)Vieques Island 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Vieques Island and Santa Elena
| Santa Elena | Vieques Island | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.