A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Paz vs. Columbia for Attractions, Food, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit La Paz or Columbia?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between La Paz and Columbia 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.

La Paz

La Paz is a beautiful, authentic, and cultural city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See La Paz travel costs.

Columbia

Columbia is a friendly, welcoming, and suburban city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Columbia travel costs.

La Paz and Columbia: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Paz or Columbia?

You'll generally find more things to do in La Paz than Columbia. La Paz is bigger than Columbia, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. La Paz is more touristy than Columbia and is known for its beautiful beaches, fascinating cultural setting, and authentic local atmosphere. Also, La Paz is famous for Balandra Beach. Columbia is well known for its southern hospitality and friendly people.

How is La Paz different from Columbia?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Columbia and La Paz. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in La Paz or Columbia?

La Paz is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

La Paz offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Sights and landmarks around town include La Paz Cathedral, the Museo de Antropología e Historia de Baja California Sur, the the Museo de Arte de Baja California Sur, and Teatro Juarez.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Columbia. As the state capital, there are some decent museums around town like the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina Military Museum, the South Carolina State Museum, and the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum.

Is the Food Better in La Paz or Columbia? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

La Paz is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Columbia is not a good city for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit La Paz. As the capital of Baja California Sur, you'll find many local restaurants that serve traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine. The recipes include seafood and local produce. You'll find everything from food stalls to high end restaurants around town.

Columbia may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Barbecue and other southern favorites are among the more local dishes, but the city is also filled with fast food joints and other major chain restaurants.

Is La Paz or Columbia Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are notable in both La Paz and Columbia.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in La Paz. There are many bars and restaurants around the Malecón.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Columbia. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

Is La Paz or Columbia Better for Resorts?

La Paz is a popular place for its resorts. However, Columbia is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, La Paz makes a nice vacation spot. There are a number of hotels and resorts around town that make for a nice vacation.

Columbia is not a resort destination.

Is La Paz or Columbia Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

La Paz is a well-known place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Columbia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting La Paz. There are organized diving and snorkeling excursions available around town. It's location by the Sea of Cortez makes diving a world class experience.

Columbia is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is La Paz or Columbia Better for Beaches?

La Paz is renowned for the beach. However, Columbia is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in La Paz. The beaches in the area are the main draw, and you'll find beaches that are family-friendly, romantic, or full of amenities. Some consider the beaches in the area among the best in Mexico.

Columbia is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in La Paz or Columbia?

La Paz is a well-known place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping areas.

La Paz is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Local boutiques, souvenir shops, and art galleries all make for interesting shopping opportunities.

Columbia has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find independent and locally owned shops along Devine Street and in the Five Points area. Also interesting are the Vista, which is a warehouse district, and Trenholm Plaza.

Is La Paz or Columbia Better for Families?

La Paz is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

La Paz is a very kid-friendly city. Older kids will enjoy swimming with whale sharks, whale watching, and experiencing the region's wildlife. There are also many beaches in the area where kids can play.

Columbia is a family-friendly city. Around town you'll find parks, playgrounds, and kid-friendly restaurants. There's a zoo in the area as well as a nice state park - Sesquicentennial State Park. There's also EdVenture Children's Museum, which is filled with hands-on exhibits.

Is La Paz or Columbia Better for Couples?

La Paz is a popular place for its romantic activities. However, Columbia is not a good city for couples.

La Paz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy walking along the beach promenade known as Malecon. There are also beaches and amazing animal experiences such as whale watching or dolphin viewing.

Columbia is not always the best place to visit for a couple. You'll find parks to explore and some nice restaurants that make for a good date night.

Is La Paz or Columbia Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Paz is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Columbia is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

La Paz is a great city to visit for backpackers. The city offers an authentic experience and hostels that make it a budget-friendly option for backpackers.

Columbia is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not an expensive place to visit, there is little in the area to attract backpackers.

Is La Paz or Columbia Better for Students?

Columbia is a city with good options for students. However, La Paz is not popular with students.

Columbia is a good city to visit for students. The University of South Carolina, and other nearby colleges all bring in a decent student population.

La Paz is not popular with students.

Is La Paz or Columbia Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

La Paz is a popular place for its public transit. However, Columbia is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

La Paz has a few public transit options. There's a cheap local bus system around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Columbia. The COMET is the bus system through town, but you really must have your own car to enjoy the city.

Is La Paz or Columbia a more walkable city?

La Paz is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

La Paz is a very walkable city. The city is very walkable.

Columbia is not a very walkable city. It's filled with suburban-style development and is generally very car dependent.

For even more information, also check out Is La Paz Worth Visiting? and Is Columbia Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Columbia or La Paz?

How long in La Paz or Columbia?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in La Paz or Columbia to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in La Paz than Columbia because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for La Paz, and 1-2 days is enough time in Columbia.

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

Couples should spend more time in La Paz than Columbia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in La Paz that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in La Paz than Columbia 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 La Paz.

One day in La Paz or Columbia?

The city of La Paz offers museums and nightlife. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Columbia. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in La Paz or Columbia?

La Paz is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in La Paz, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Columbia is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in La Paz or Columbia?

La Paz is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Columbia. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in La Paz or Columbia?

La Paz is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the suburban destination of Columbia. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, The Best Tours for Seniors to 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 La Paz and Columbia, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is Columbia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbia 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in Columbia.

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

Which is Bigger, La Paz or Columbia?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Columbia. When comparing the sizes of La Paz and Columbia, 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 La Paz or Columbia?

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 La Paz or Columbia in the Summer?

Both Columbia and La Paz are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to La Paz for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Columbia in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

La Paz is around the same temperature as Columbia in the summer. The daily temperature in La Paz averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Columbia fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

It's quite sunny in Columbia. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in La Paz. La Paz usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia during summer. La Paz gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Columbia. In July, La Paz usually receives less rain than Columbia. La Paz gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit La Paz or Columbia in the Autumn?

Both Columbia and La Paz during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to La Paz in the autumn for the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to Columbia for the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, La Paz is a little warmer than Columbia. Typically, the autumn temperatures in La Paz in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Columbia averages at about 64°F (18°C).

In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in La Paz. In the autumn, La Paz often gets more sunshine than Columbia. La Paz gets 272 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 230 hours of full sun.

La Paz usually gets less rain in October than Columbia. La Paz gets 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit La Paz or Columbia in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both La Paz and Columbia. Most visitors come to La Paz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Columbia because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, La Paz is generally much warmer than Columbia. Daily temperatures in La Paz average around 18°C (65°F), and Columbia fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

In La Paz, it's very sunny this time of the year. La Paz usually receives more sunshine than Columbia during winter. La Paz gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia receives 171 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, La Paz usually receives less rain than Columbia. La Paz gets 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit La Paz or Columbia in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to La Paz as well as Columbia. The spring months attract visitors to La Paz because of the beaches.

La Paz is a little warmer than Columbia in the spring. The daily temperature in La Paz averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Columbia fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Paz this time of the year. In the spring, La Paz often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia. La Paz gets 292 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia receives 273 hours of full sun.

La Paz usually gets less rain in April than Columbia. La Paz gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Columbia receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Columbia and La Paz