A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tulum vs. San Fernando for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tulum or San Fernando?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tulum and San Fernando can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Tulum or San Fernando?

Tulum

When you think of ancient ruins you probably picture dusty archaeological digs surrounded by sand and professors in khaki shorts. What if I told you there is a way to see ancient ruins and visit a tropical beach? That's exactly what you find in Tulum, Mexico.

Built near the end of Mayan era, the ruins of Tulum served as a port before the arrival of the Spanish. It may have been called Zama, meaning City of Dawn, given that these ruins face the sunrise. Because of Tulum's access to both land and sea routes, this spot was an important hub for the trade industry. It may have had another claim to fame, too. According to some murals and other works around the site, it seems this spot was an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God. Today, the area is the third most visited archaeological site in all of Mexico with daily tour buses dropping off visitors.

This area is usually packed with people looking to get a glimpse of the seaside ruins. To avoid crowds and capture the best view of the day, try to arrive as early as possible.

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Tulum or San Fernando?

San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Tulum. When comparing the sizes of Tulum and San Fernando, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Tulum or San Fernando?

Tulum has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Fernando experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Tulum or San Fernando in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Tulum as well as San Fernando. Most visitors come to Tulum for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year.

In the summer, Tulum is around the same temperature as San Fernando. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tulum in July average around 28°C (83°F), and San Fernando averages at about 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tulum this time of the year. In the summer, Tulum often gets more sunshine than San Fernando. Tulum gets 232 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Fernando receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in San Fernando. Tulum receives a lot of rain in the summer. Tulum usually gets less rain in July than San Fernando. Tulum gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tulum or San Fernando in the Autumn?

Both San Fernando and Tulum are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Tulum because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In October, Tulum is generally around the same temperature as San Fernando. Daily temperatures in Tulum average around 27°C (81°F), and San Fernando fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite sunny in San Fernando. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tulum. Tulum usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Fernando during autumn. Tulum gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while San Fernando receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. It's quite rainy in Tulum. In October, Tulum usually receives less rain than San Fernando. Tulum gets 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Tulum is November to April. The rainy season in Tulum is June to October. June to October is the hurricane season in Tulum.

Should I visit Tulum or San Fernando in the Winter?

Both San Fernando and Tulum during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Tulum this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round.

Tulum is around the same temperature as San Fernando in the winter. The daily temperature in Tulum averages around 23°C (74°F) in January, and San Fernando fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tulum. In the winter, Tulum often gets less sunshine than San Fernando. Tulum gets 213 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Fernando receives 241 hours of full sun.

Tulum usually gets less rain in January than San Fernando. Tulum gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tulum or San Fernando in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tulum and San Fernando. Many travelers come to Tulum for the beaches and the natural beauty. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Tulum is around the same temperature as San Fernando. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tulum in April average around 27°C (81°F), and San Fernando averages at about 27°C (81°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. In Tulum, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tulum usually receives more sunshine than San Fernando during spring. Tulum gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while San Fernando receives 238 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Tulum usually receives less rain than San Fernando. Tulum gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while San Fernando receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring. November to April in Tulum is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Tulum. June to October in Tulum is the hurricane season.

Typical Weather for San Fernando and Tulum