A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Temuco vs. Puerto Viejo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Temuco 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 Temuco 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.

Where Should I go: Temuco or Puerto Viejo?

Temuco

Temuco is a large and modern city found 680 km south of Santiago. While the city is dynamic, it does not have any particular charm with the exception of being a great point of departure for many excursions around the lake region and the many national parks found in the surrounding area. Temuco is also well known for its Mapuche culture, a proud and rebellious community of around 20 000 in the area today, who has fought continuously against every invaders in the past.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo de Talamanca is a small coastal town in Caribbean Costa Rica in the province of Limon. There are two gorgeous National Parks nearby - Cahuita and Manzanillo, and it rains more than on the Pacific side, which is why it is so lush and green with the rainforest coming down to the sea. Clear water, coconut palms, great surf and a laid-back Caribbean atmosphere make Puerto Viejo a favorite among travelers. Located on about an hour south of Limon, Puerto Viejo is the center of activity between the smaller villages of Cahuita and Manzanillo. The relaxed, seaside town is framed by jungle, turquoise seas, banana plantations and scenic rivers. It's known for the Salsa Brava surf break and beaches like black-sand Playa Negra, but this burgeoning party town is no longer a destination only for intrepid surfers; it's bustling with tourist activity. Stylish eateries serve global fusion, and intentionally rustic bamboo bars pump dancehall and reggaeton. With its blend of Afro-Caribbean descendants, expat Europeans and indigenous Costa Ricans, Puerto Viejo charms visitors with a unique mix of people and cultures. Rastafari culture has a firm foothold in the town, and many Rastas sell handmade jewelry and other wares along the town's vibrant roadside. Nearby you'll find rainforest fruit and cacao farms and wide-open beaches. If you're looking to chill a little, party a little and eat a little, you've come to the right place.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, 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 Temuco and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Temuco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Temuco is in South America and Puerto Viejo is in Central 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 Temuco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Temuco 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 Temuco.

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

When is the best time to visit Temuco or Puerto Viejo?

Temuco has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Puerto Viejo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Temuco or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Temuco and Puerto Viejo. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Temuco is much colder than Puerto Viejo in the summer. The daily temperature in Temuco averages around 17°C (62°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in July.

In Temuco, it's very sunny this time of the year. Temuco usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. Temuco gets 290 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the summer. In January, Temuco usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin July. Temuco gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Temuco or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Temuco as well as Puerto Viejo. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

In the autumn, Temuco is much colder than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Temuco in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in October.

In the autumn, Temuco often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Puerto Viejoin October. Temuco gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Temuco usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejoin October. Temuco gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Temuco or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

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

In July, Temuco is generally much colder than Puerto Viejoin January. Daily temperatures in Temuco average around 8°C (46°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

Temuco usually receives less sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. Temuco gets 78 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. It's quite rainy in Temuco. In July, Temuco usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin January. Temuco gets 169 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Temuco or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

Both Puerto Viejo and Temuco during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.

Temuco is much colder than Puerto Viejo in the spring. The daily temperature in Temuco averages around 12°C (54°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.

In the spring, Temuco often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejoin April. Temuco gets 193 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.

Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Temuco usually gets less rain in October than Puerto Viejoin April. Temuco gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Temuco