A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Terre-de-Haut vs. San Juan del Sur for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Terre-de-Haut or San Juan del Sur?

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

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or San Juan del Sur? 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 San Juan del Sur?

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.

San Juan del Sur

San Juan del Sur is a popular port destination on the Pacific coast of southwest Nicaragua. The town was once a quaint fishing village but has grown into a tourist town with activities for visitors that include surfing, fishing, and, of course, partying. The town has a population of just over 15,000, most of whom are either fishermen or involved in the tourism industry. There is also a large expat community from the United States, Canada, and Europe.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, San Juan del Sur or Terre-de-Haut?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Terre-de-Haut is €140, while the average daily cost in San Juan del Sur is €49. 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 Terre-de-Haut and San Juan del Sur in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Terre-de-Haut 68
    San Juan del Sur 19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Terre-de-Haut 136
    San Juan del Sur 38
Compare Hotels in Terre-de-Haut and San Juan del Sur

Looking for a hotel in Terre-de-Haut or San Juan del Sur? 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.

Hotels in Terre-de-Haut


Hotels in San Juan del Sur


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Terre-de-Haut Hotel Prices and San Juan del Sur Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Terre-de-Haut 44
    San Juan del Sur 16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Terre-de-Haut

Also for Terre-de-Haut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Guadeloupe to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport - Private Departure Transfer: $79
  • Private Transfer from Deshaies or Trois Riviers to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92

Is it cheaper to fly into Terre-de-Haut or San Juan del Sur?

Prices for flights to both San Juan del Sur and Terre-de-Haut 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Terre-de-Haut 45
    San Juan del Sur 17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Terre-de-Haut

For Terre-de-Haut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Grilled Lobster and Fish Private Cooking Tour with Lunch Included: $231

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Terre-de-Haut 20
    San Juan del Sur 14

Tours and Activities in Terre-de-Haut

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Terre-de-Haut.

  • Small Day Cruise (Ilet caret, mangrove, coral reef: $103
  • Private Shooting Tour Around Soufrière: $106
  • Sailing and Snorkeling Day Tour to Les Saintes: $133

Tours and Activities in San Juan del Sur

Here are a few actual costs in San Juan del Sur for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • ATV Adventure Tour in San Juan del Sur, NICARAGUA: $130
  • Mombacho Volcano Hike and Ziplining Adventure from San Juan del Sur: $159
  • SJDS PORT EXCURSION: Zipline and Adventure Park: $103
  • San Juan del Sur Shore Excursion: Private Masaya Volcano and Catarina Tour: $118
  • atv tour also in Costa Rica: $132

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Terre-de-Haut 44
    San Juan del Sur 12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Terre-de-Haut and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Terre-de-Haut is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Terre-de-Haut is in Caribbean Islands and San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Juan del Sur 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 San Juan del Sur.

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 San Juan del Sur Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Terre-de-Haut or San Juan del Sur?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or San Juan del Sur in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Terre-de-Haut as well as San Juan del Sur. Terre-de-Haut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. Terre-de-Haut receives a lot of rain in the summer. Terre-de-Haut usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as San Juan del Sur. Terre-de-Haut gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 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 summer, Terre-de-Haut often gets more sunshine than San Juan del Sur. Terre-de-Haut gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun.

Terre-de-Haut is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur in the summer. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Terre-de-Haut 27°C (81°F) 
    San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?

Both San Juan del Sur and Terre-de-Haut are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Terre-de-Haut throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan del Sur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. It's quite rainy in Terre-de-Haut. In October, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than San Juan del Sur. Terre-de-Haut gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Terre-de-Haut. Terre-de-Haut usually receives more sunshine than San Juan del Sur during autumn. Terre-de-Haut gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Terre-de-Haut is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Terre-de-Haut in October average around 27°C (80°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Terre-de-Haut 27°C (80°F) 
    San Juan del Sur 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?

Both San Juan del Sur and Terre-de-Haut during the winter 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 San Juan del Sur year-round.

Terre-de-Haut usually gets more rain in January than San Juan del Sur. Terre-de-Haut gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In San Juan del Sur, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Terre-de-Haut. In the winter, Terre-de-Haut often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Sur. Terre-de-Haut gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun.

In January, Terre-de-Haut is generally around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Daily temperatures in Terre-de-Haut average around 24°C (76°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Terre-de-Haut 24°C (76°F) 
    San Juan del Sur 26°C (79°F)

Should I visit Terre-de-Haut or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Terre-de-Haut and San Juan del Sur. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Terre-de-Haut year-round. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Terre-de-Haut gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Terre-de-Haut usually receives more rain than San Juan del Sur. Terre-de-Haut gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan del Sur this time of the year. In Terre-de-Haut, it's very sunny this time of the year. Terre-de-Haut usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Sur during spring. Terre-de-Haut gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

Terre-de-Haut is cooler than San Juan del Sur in the spring. The daily temperature in Terre-de-Haut averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Terre-de-Haut 26°C (78°F) 
    San Juan del Sur 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Terre-de-Haut

Terre-de-Haut San Juan del Sur
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 27°C (80°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 29°C (84°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 29°C (84°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 144 mm (5.7 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 210 mm (8.3 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.8 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 31°C (88°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 26°C (79°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)