A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Veracruz vs. San Juan del Sur for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Veracruz or San Juan del Sur?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Veracruz and San Juan del Sur can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Veracruz or San Juan del Sur?

Veracruz

Veracruz is the name of both a state and city in the country of Mexico. Locals often call the city "Puerto" (port) in order to differentiate the city from the state. The general area runs along the Gulf of Mexico and encompasses ruins, old colonial cities, lush green mountains, and delicious seafood.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Veracruz and San Juan del Sur, we can see that Veracruz is more expensive. And not only is San Juan del Sur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Veracruz is in North America 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 Veracruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Veracruz 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 Veracruz Expensive? and Is San Juan del Sur Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Veracruz or San Juan del Sur?

Veracruz has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of San Juan del Sur. When comparing the sizes of Veracruz and San Juan del Sur, 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 Veracruz or San Juan del Sur?

Veracruz has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan del Sur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Veracruz or San Juan del Sur in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Veracruz as well as San Juan del Sur. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan del Sur throughout the year.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Veracruz this time of the year. In the summer, Veracruz often gets more sunshine than San Juan del Sur. Veracruz gets 208 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 175 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in San Juan del Sur. Veracruz receives a lot of rain in the summer. Veracruz usually gets more rain in July than San Juan del Sur. Veracruz gets 410 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Veracruz or San Juan del Sur in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Veracruz is around the same temperature as San Juan del Sur. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Veracruz in October average around 26°C (79°F), and San Juan del Sur averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Veracruz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan del Sur during autumn. Veracruz gets 188 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan del Sur. It's quite rainy in Veracruz. In October, Veracruz usually receives less rain than San Juan del Sur. Veracruz gets 131 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Veracruz or San Juan del Sur in the Winter?

Both San Juan del Sur and Veracruz during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan del Sur year-round.

In January, Veracruz is generally cooler than San Juan del Sur. Daily temperatures in Veracruz average around 21°C (71°F), and San Juan del Sur fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

In San Juan del Sur, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Veracruz often gets less sunshine than San Juan del Sur. Veracruz gets 156 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan del Sur receives 244 hours of full sun.

Veracruz usually gets more rain in January than San Juan del Sur. Veracruz gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Veracruz or San Juan del Sur in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Veracruz and San Juan del Sur. San Juan del Sur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan del Sur this time of the year. In Veracruz, it's very sunny this time of the year. Veracruz usually receives less sunshine than San Juan del Sur during spring. Veracruz gets 203 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan del Sur receives 242 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Veracruz usually receives more rain than San Juan del Sur. Veracruz gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while San Juan del Sur receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Juan del Sur and Veracruz