A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Terre-de-Haut vs. Montanita for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Terre-de-Haut or Montanita?

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

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Montanita? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Terre-de-Haut or Montanita?

Terre-de-Haut

Les Saintes (also known as Iles des Saintes) is a small archipelago of Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean. The islands here are best known for their tropical beauty, untouched beaches, and bayside villages. Only two of the nine are inhabited.

Terre-de-Haut of Les Saintes is the most popular island to visit. It is known for the Pain de Sucre, a small bay lined with coconut trees and an ideal location for snorkeling, in addition to white sandy beaches like the Plage de Pompierre. There is also a nineteenth-century fort which can be reached on foot for striking views of the surrounding area.

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 G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Terre-de-Haut and Montanita, we can see that Terre-de-Haut is more expensive. And not only is Montanita much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Terre-de-Haut is in Caribbean Islands 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 Terre-de-Haut would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Terre-de-Haut 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 Terre-de-Haut Expensive? and Is Montanita Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Terre-de-Haut or Montanita?

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 Terre-de-Haut or Montanita in the Summer?

Both Montanita and Terre-de-Haut are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Terre-de-Haut 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 Terre-de-Haut. In July, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than Montanita. Terre-de-Haut gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during summer. Terre-de-Haut gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Terre-de-Haut is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the summer temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita averages at about 25°C (78°F).

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Montanita in the Autumn?

Both Montanita and Terre-de-Haut during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Terre-de-Haut 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 Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in October than Montanita. Terre-de-Haut gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Terre-de-Haut. In the autumn, Terre-de-Haut often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Terre-de-Haut gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun.

In October, Terre-de-Haut is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 27°C (80°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Montanita in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Terre-de-Haut and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Terre-de-Haut year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Terre-de-Haut usually receives around the same amount of rain as Montanita. Terre-de-Haut gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.

In Terre-de-Haut, it's very sunny this time of the year. Terre-de-Haut usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during winter. Terre-de-Haut gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun in the winter.

Terre-de-Haut is cooler than Montanita in the winter. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or Montanita in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Terre-de-Haut as well as Montanita. Terre-de-Haut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.

Terre-de-Haut receives a lot of rain in the spring. Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in April than Montanita. Terre-de-Haut gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Terre-de-Haut this time of the year. In the spring, Terre-de-Haut often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Terre-de-Haut gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Terre-de-Haut is around the same temperature as Montanita. Typically, the spring temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Typical Weather for Montanita and Terre-de-Haut