A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Acapulco de Juarez vs. Santa Barbara for Nightlife, Resorts, Beaches, and Couples

Should you visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

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

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara? 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.

Acapulco de Juarez

Acapulco de Juarez is a vibrant, built-up, and well-known city. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping. See Acapulco de Juarez travel costs.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a pristine, affluent, and scenic coastal town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. The famous beauty of Santa Barbara is one of the main draws. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Barbara than Acapulco de Juarez. While Acapulco de Juarez is larger than Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Barbara is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Acapulco de Juarez attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, and scuba diving & snorkeling. Acapulco de Juarez is famous for its large hotels, golf courses, and lively bars and clubs. Santa Barbara is famous for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also well known for The Old Mission Santa Barbara.

How is Acapulco de Juarez different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Barbara and Acapulco de Juarez. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

Santa Barbara offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

While most people don't head to Acapulco de Juarez specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of history and cultural museums in the city that can be a nice way to spend a rainy day.

Is the Food Better in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Santa Barbara is an experience not to be missed. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Acapulco de Juarez. The local cuisine is influenced by the area's indigenous cultures combined with Hispanic influences. Seafood is common as well.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Acapulco de Juarez is renowned for its evening party scene. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for nightlife.

Acapulco de Juarez is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The nightlife scene is part of what originally put this city on the map. Spring break is a prime time for partying and you'll find many bars along Costera Street, with the liveliest around Condesa Beach.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Acapulco de Juarez is renowned for its resorts. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its luxury resorts.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Acapulco de Juarez is a great choice. You'll find no shortage of resorts in the city, most with large pools and beachfront views.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Santa Barbara. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Acapulco de Juarez is a well-known place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Acapulco de Juarez. There are plenty of dive shops that offer snorkeling and scuba diving trips to premier spots.

It's possible to go snorkeling in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for the beach. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its beaches.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Acapulco de Juarez is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are well developed with restaurants, hotels and bars lining the long stretches of sand. You'll find all kinds of water sports and activities nearby and several of the most popular beaches include Condesa Beach, Caleta Beach, and Icacos Beach.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Acapulco de Juarez does not have a historic old town.

Santa Barbara offers a nice historic old town area. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Acapulco de Juarez does not have a historic old town.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its hiking experiences. However, Acapulco de Juarez is not a hiking destination.

People visit Santa Barbara specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Acapulco de Juarez is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Santa Barbara is a world class destination for shoppers. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Acapulco de Juarez. You'll find tons of beachside shops where you can pick up any beach supplies you may need as well as souvenirs from your trip. The city also has retail outlets and shopping centers.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. However, Acapulco de Juarez is not a destination known for its beauty.

The famous beauty of Santa Barbara is one of the main draws. The city is beautifully situated right by the ocean and offers stunning views and and an amazing setting. It is also filled with opulent houses and grand estates, giving it an air of grandeur.

Acapulco de Juarez is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara.

Acapulco de Juarez is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. It may have been made famous by spring breakers, but families with kids will find plenty to do as well. There are water parks, playgrounds, museums and, of course, the beach.

Santa Barbara is a very family-friendly destination. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Barbara make for a first-rate place to visit.

Acapulco de Juarez makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Whether you're looking for an active nightlife scene, or romantic sunset walks, then this city has it all. The beach is active and beautiful, there are also botanical gardens and wonderful restaurants to experience.

For those traveling as a couple, Santa Barbara has plenty to offer. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for students. However, Acapulco de Juarez is not popular with students.

Santa Barbara is a very popular coastal town for students and younger travelers. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Acapulco de Juarez is not popular with students.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Barbara.

You'll find some public transit in Acapulco de Juarez, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's an elaborate and fun bus system that travels around the city.

While Santa Barbara offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable destination. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

Acapulco de Juarez is somewhat walkable. The downtown and beachfront areas are the most walkable and many sights are within a short distance of each other.

For even more information, also check out Is Acapulco de Juarez Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Acapulco de Juarez?

How long in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Barbara. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than in Santa Barbara. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Acapulco de Juarez, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

Families should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Acapulco de Juarez. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Santa Barbara, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Acapulco de Juarez. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Santa Barbara that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Acapulco de Juarez if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Santa Barbara.

One day in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the vibrant destination of Acapulco de Juarez. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the wealthy destination of Santa Barbara. This coastal town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Acapulco de Juarez. Most people come for the beaches. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Santa Barbara is a popular place to visit. Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the opulent coastal town of Santa Barbara. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Barbara has to offer.

Five days in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the built-up destination of Acapulco de Juarez. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Santa Barbara. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

A week in Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the city of Acapulco de Juarez. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Santa Barbara is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. It offers something for everyone. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Acapulco de Juarez Expensive? and Is Santa Barbara Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

Acapulco de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Santa Barbara. When comparing the sizes of Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Barbara, 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 Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Acapulco de Juarez and Santa Barbara. The summer months attract visitors to Acapulco de Juarez because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.

Acapulco de Juarez is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the summer. The daily temperature in Acapulco de Juarez averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).

Acapulco de Juarez gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Acapulco de Juarez gets 209 mm (8.2 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Acapulco de Juarez as well as Santa Barbara. The shopping scene are the main draw to Acapulco de Juarez this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Acapulco de Juarez is much warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez in October average around 28°C (83°F), and Santa Barbara averages at about 62°F (17°C).

Acapulco de Juarez receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Acapulco de Juarez usually gets more rain in October than Santa Barbara. Acapulco de Juarez gets 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

Both Santa Barbara and Acapulco de Juarez are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Acapulco de Juarez for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Acapulco de Juarez is generally much warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Acapulco de Juarez average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

In January, Acapulco de Juarez usually receives less rain than Santa Barbara. Acapulco de Juarez gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and Acapulco de Juarez during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez in the spring for the beaches. Furthermore, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.

Acapulco de Juarez is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the spring. The daily temperature in Acapulco de Juarez averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

Acapulco de Juarez usually gets less rain in April than Santa Barbara. Acapulco de Juarez gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Acapulco de Juarez