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

Should you visit La Paz or Santa Fe?

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 Santa Fe 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 authentic, cultural, and beautiful city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See La Paz travel costs.

Santa Fe

Santa Fe is a artsy, cultural, and historic historic town. Santa Fe is a beautiful place to visit, too. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and skiing. See Santa Fe travel costs.

La Paz and Santa Fe: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in La Paz or Santa Fe?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Fe than La Paz. While La Paz is larger than Santa Fe, Santa Fe has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Fe is more popular for its skiing, music, historical sights, hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while La Paz is known for its museums and attractions, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. La Paz is more touristy than Santa Fe and is popular for its beautiful beaches, fascinating cultural setting, and authentic local atmosphere. Santa Fe is popular for its strong arts scene, its Pueblo-style architecture, and its unique local cuisine. It is also home to The Museum of New Mexico Complex.

How is La Paz different from Santa Fe?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Skiing?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for snow skiing. However, La Paz is not a skiing destination.

For winter sports and skiing, Santa Fe is a great destination to visit. There are a few good ski resorts not far from Santa Fe. Popular options include Taos Ski Valley, Ski Santa Fe, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, and Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort.

La Paz is not a skiing destination.

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

La Paz is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to La Paz specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

Santa Fe is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Head to the Museum of New Mexico Complex, which has four museums that give a great overview of the history of the area. Also make sure you visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.

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

Foodies will find both La Paz and Santa Fe both to be superb destinations.

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.

Santa Fe has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There are many local restaurants that use regional ingredients and offer great flavors. There are also cafes and bistros where you can enjoy breakfast or brunch. Local dishes include sopaipillas made with Native American fry bread, slow-cooked beans, and anything made with red and green chili peppers.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Nightlife?

La Paz is very good for its evening party scene. However, Santa Fe is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities La Paz has a few options to choose from. There are many bars and restaurants around the Malecón.

Most people don't head to Santa Fe specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. While most of the town quiets down at night, the city has a few areas that stay active late into the night. Live music is popular and diverse. It often includes different genres such as the blues, country, salsa or bluegrass.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Music?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for its live music scene. However, La Paz is not a live music destination.

You'll find some good live music in Santa Fe. The town has an eclectic music scene that includes a mix of the blues, country, Latin American music, and bluegrass.

La Paz is not a live music destination.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Resorts?

La Paz is very good for its luxury resorts. However, Santa Fe is not a resort destination.

La Paz has a few great resort options. There are a number of hotels and resorts around town that make for a nice vacation.

Santa Fe is not a resort destination.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

La Paz is a great city for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Santa Fe is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There is a nice variety of marine life that makes scuba diving and snorkeling great in 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.

Santa Fe is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Beaches?

La Paz is an unbeatable place for the beach. However, Santa Fe is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, La Paz is a very popular vacation destination. 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.

Santa Fe is not a beach destination.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for its Old Town?

Santa Fe is notable for its old town. However, La Paz does not have a historic old town.

Santa Fe is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. As the 2nd oldest city in the United States, the old town historic district is filled with charm. The Pueblo-style buildings are brightly colored and there are churches throughout.

La Paz does not have a historic old town.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Hiking?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for the nearby hiking options. However, La Paz is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Santa Fe. Because it's located right by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there are many beautiful hikes right outside of town. Popular trails include the Picacho Peak Trail and the Nambe Lake Trail. Bandelier National also has many places to hike.

La Paz is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in La Paz or Santa Fe?

Both La Paz and Santa Fe are superb shopping destinations.

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

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Santa Fe. There are many unique shops and art galleries that feature local artists and craftsmen.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe More Beautiful?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, La Paz is not a destination known for its beauty.

Santa Fe is a beautiful place to visit, too. This cultural city has a unique beauty that is hard to find anywhere else.

La Paz is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Families?

La Paz is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Santa Fe is not as popular, but is still a nice historic town for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in La Paz. 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.

Santa Fe is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a few kids' museums in Santa Fe including the Santa Fe Children's Museum and the Meow Wolf Art Complex. Kids also enjoy the botanical gardens at Museum Hill and Bandelier National Monument just outside of the city.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Couples?

Both La Paz and Santa Fe are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

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.

Santa Fe is a good city for couples to visit. There are many romantic inns around town, each with a lot of character. The town also has a lot of atmosphere that makes for a romantic getaway.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

La Paz is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Santa Fe is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit La Paz. The city offers an authentic experience and hostels that make it a budget-friendly option for backpackers.

Santa Fe is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's a hostel in town as well as several campgrounds.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe Better for Students?

Santa Fe is a historic town with good options for students. However, La Paz is not popular with students.

Santa Fe is a good historic town to visit for students. There are a few colleges and universities in town and students will appreciate the reasonable cost of living and outdoor activities nearby.

La Paz is not popular with students.

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

La Paz is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Santa Fe is not known for its public transit.

While La Paz offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a cheap local bus system around town.

Public transit is generally limited in Santa Fe. There is a bus system - the Santa Fe Trails Bus Service.

Is La Paz or Santa Fe a more walkable city?

La Paz and Santa Fe both are superb when exploring on foot.

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

Santa Fe is a very walkable destination. The historic district is walkable and it's easy to visit most of the tourist sights in this area on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Santa Fe or La Paz?

How long in La Paz or Santa Fe?

In either La Paz or Santa Fe, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Santa Fe than La Paz because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for La Paz, and 2-5 days is enough time in Santa Fe.

Families should spend more time in La Paz than Santa Fe. 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 Santa Fe. 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 Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe?

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 food and shopping when visiting the destination of Santa Fe. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in La Paz or Santa Fe?

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.

Santa Fe 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 Santa Fe?

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 Santa Fe. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in La Paz or Santa Fe?

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 skiing and live music when visiting the cultural destination of Santa Fe. This historic town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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 Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

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

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 Santa Fe Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, La Paz or Santa Fe?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Santa Fe. When comparing the sizes of La Paz and Santa Fe, 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.