Travel Budget for San Juan del Sur Visit San Juan del Sur on a Budget or Travel in Style

San Juan del Sur, Departamento de Rivas, Nicaragua

How much does it cost to travel to San Juan del Sur?

You should plan to spend around $53 (C$1,944) per day on your vacation in San Juan del Sur. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

  • $18 (C$676) on meals
  • $18 (C$644) on local transportation
  • $42 (C$1,534) on hotels

A one week trip to San Juan del Sur for two people costs, on average, $741 (C$27,214). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    $53
    C$1,944
  • One Week Per person
    $371
    C$13,607
  • 2 Weeks Per person
    $741
    C$27,214
  • One Month Per person
    $1,588
    C$58,316
  • One Week For a couple
    $741
    C$27,214
  • 2 Weeks For a couple
    $1,482
    C$54,429
  • One Month For a couple
    $3,176
    C$116,633
This data comes from the travel budgets of real travelers - How it works. Put these numbers on your website.

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How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to San Juan del Sur cost?

A one week trip to San Juan del Sur usually costs around $371 (C$13,607) for one person and $741 (C$27,214) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to San Juan del Sur on average costs around $741 (C$27,214) for one person and $1,482 (C$54,429) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in San Juan del Sur will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to San Juan del Sur on average costs around $1,588 (C$58,316) for one person and $3,176 (C$116,633) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.




Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to San Juan del Sur has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Is San Juan del Sur expensive to visit?

San Juan del Sur is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Nicaragua, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its overall travel expenses. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.

Within Central America, San Juan del Sur is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Central America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as David, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Puerto Viejo.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is San Juan del Sur Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to San Juan del Sur?

The average San Juan del Sur trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these San Juan del Sur travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.


Category Cost
Accommodation 1 (Double Occupancy) C$1,534 ($42)
Local Transportation 1 C$644 ($18)
Food 2 C$676 ($18)
Entertainment 1 C$552 ($15)
Alcohol 2 C$244 - 732 ($7 - 20)
Accommodation Budget in San Juan del Sur
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in San Juan del Sur is $21 (C$767). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in San Juan del Sur is $42 (C$1,534). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.


  • Accommodation1 Hotel or hostel for one person
    $21
    C$767
  • Accommodation1 Typical double-occupancy room
    $42
    C$1,534

Hotel Prices in San Juan del Sur

Looking for a hotel in San Juan del Sur? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

 

Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in San Juan del Sur based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $102. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.


Recommended Properties


Transportation Budget in San Juan del Sur
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The cost of a taxi ride in San Juan del Sur is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $18 (C$644) per person, per day, on local transportation in San Juan del Sur.


  • Transportation1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    $18
    C$644


Flights to San Juan del Sur
How much does it cost to go to San Juan del Sur? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.

Rental Cars in San Juan del Sur
The price of renting a car in San Juan del Sur will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.



Food Budget in San Juan del Sur
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • While meal prices in San Juan del Sur can vary, the average cost of food in San Juan del Sur is $18 (C$676) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in San Juan del Sur should cost around $7.37 (C$270) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in San Juan del Sur is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.


  • Food2 Meals for one day
    $18
    C$676


Entertainment Budget in San Juan del Sur
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Entertainment and activities in San Juan del Sur typically cost an average of $15 (C$552) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.


  • Entertainment1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    $15
    C$552

Recommended Activities


Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in San Juan del Sur
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in San Juan del Sur is $6.81 (C$250), as reported by travelers.


  • Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
    $6.81
    C$250


Alcohol Budget in San Juan del Sur
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • The average person spends about $13 (C$488) on alcoholic beverages in San Juan del Sur per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.


  • Alcohol2 Drinks for one day
    $13
    C$488


Water Budget in San Juan del Sur
Average Daily Costs

Calculated from travelers like you

  • On average, people spend $0.96 (C$35) on bottled water in San Juan del Sur per day. The public water in San Juan del Sur is not usually considered safe to drink.


  • Water2 Bottled water for one day
    $0.96
    C$35


San Juan del Sur On a Budget
San Juan del Sur San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
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.

Weekends can be a particularly crowded time to visit as many Nicaraguans head to the area. If you're going to be in town during a weekend or holiday, reservations may be necessary.

San Juan del Sur has a tropical savanna climate with a consistent average temperature of about 64 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. There is a distinct dry season between the months of January and April.
Sights
While most people come to San Juan del Sur for the beaches and the world class surfing, the town itself has a handful of sights worth visiting. Many of the houses are brightly colored and the waterfront has many small boats that are anchored there, making for a very picturesque scene. You can do a twenty minute hike to the cross that overlooks the harbor and you'll be rewarded with views of the area. From there you can also pick up a zipline and canopy tour through the treetops where you'll see spider monkeys and other wildlife that is native to the area. Also make sure you head out of town to the more remote and isolated beaches, which can be quite beautiful and dramatic.
Neighborhoods
San Juan del Sur is a small town. If you're staying in town then you can easily walk to most destinations, but there are beautiful beaches that are worth visiting to both the north and south of the town.

Activities
San Juan del Sur is known for its laid back atmosphere. Surfing is the most obvious activity and there are many places where you can enjoy excellent waves. Other activities in the area include horseback riding, zip-line canopy tours, cycling, yoga retreats, and even paintball. There are also several Spanish schools where you can learn or improve your Spanish skills.

If you're looking for a book to read while you relax on the beach, there are several small bookstores and a library in the town as well.

San Juan del Sur also has a great nightlife with a decent number of bars for a town of its size. Make sure you try Flor De Cana.
Food and Dining
Perhaps the best place to enjoy a good meal in San Juan del Sur is along the waterfront where you'll find a series of cafes and restaurants. Many of these restaurants serve fresh seafood, which is highly recommended. You can also head to the market to pick up a quick and cheap breakfast that will save you a few dollars.

Transportation
There are a variety of bus and shuttle services that travel to San Juan del Sur from Rivas. It's easy to catch a ride to Rivas from most towns in the area. There is also a direct bus to San Juan del Sur from Managua. Another option is to take a taxi from Rivas. It'll take you about an hour and you can catch a colectivo taxi for about 50 cordobas per person. It is likely the driver will wait until the vehicle is full before leaving, so if you see an almost full car, go for that one. The most popular place to pick up a colectivo is at the bus terminal in Rivas.

Once you're in San Juan del Sur, the best way to make your way around town is to walk. Although there are no shortage of taxis that will eagerly offer you their service, walking is possible to most destinations. If you want to head to a more distant beach, inquire at your hotel, as many hotels offer a shuttle service. Another option is to rent an ATV or motorcycle, which can be fun, but do realize that most of the nearby roads are dirt and in poor condition.


Related:

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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.



1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.