Which place is cheaper, Puerto Viejo or Mazatlan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Should I visit Mazatlan or Puerto Viejo? 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.
Mazatlan is a authentic, historical, and cultural city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Mazatlan travel costs.
Puerto Viejo is a mellow, authentic, and laid back town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Puerto Viejo is a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and nightlife. See Puerto Viejo travel costs.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Mazatlan. Although Mazatlan and Puerto Viejo are both popular with visitors, Mazatlan has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Mazatlan is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, and historical sights, while Puerto Viejo is known for its nightlife, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Mazatlan is popular for its historic center, authenticity, and surfing areas. It is also home to the Malecon. Puerto Viejo is popular for its surfing, snorkeling, and seafood.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Puerto Viejo and Mazatlan. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Mazatlan is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Puerto Viejo is lacking in options for its museums and landmarks.
Many visitors head to Mazatlan specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are colonial buildings around the Centro Historico. You should also check out the Historic Cathedral and the Angela Peralta Theater.
Puerto Viejo offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There aren't any real museums in the area, but there are a couple of art galleries.
Mazatlan is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.
Mazatlan has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Stewed meats and shrimp are a big part of the cuisine here. Many recipes have a little bit of spice. The restaurants around town are authentic and local, making for a great dining experience.
Puerto Viejo offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Many restaurants have a local atmosphere and serve typical Costa Rican food or seafood. You'll find no shortage of rice and beans!
Puerto Viejo is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Mazatlan is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.
Puerto Viejo is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a laid back town during the day and at night there's a chill but lively atmosphere. You'll find a few bars and clubs that have live music, and it's not hard to find something interesting to do.
If you're looking for night time activities Mazatlan has a few options to choose from. There are plenty of bars and clubs around town, particularly along the beach. Like anywhere else, remember to stay cautious late at night around town. This is considered to be one of the less safe parts of Mexico.
There's good scuba diving or snorkeling available in both Mazatlan and Puerto Viejo.
Mazatlan has a few good snorkeling spots. Most of the diving takes place around the Pajaros, Venados and Lobos islands. This is where you'll see the most tropical fish.
It's worth going snorkeling or scuba diving in Puerto Viejo. You'll find the best snorkeling in Cahuita National Park, where you'll see coral and colorful fish. There's a dive shop in town as well, but most people enjoy the snorkeling in the area more.
For a relaxing beach holiday, both Mazatlan and Puerto Viejo are great choices.
Mazatlan is considered a top beach destination. There are many stretches of beach around town. Most notable is the 13 miles that run along Malecon where there's a boardwalk. Surfing is also popular in the area.
Puerto Viejo is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches in the area are beautiful and offer great waves for surfing and patches of coral reef for snorkeling. Many of the beaches are lined with forest and have a more laid back and less developed atmosphere than the beaches on the Pacific side.
Mazatlan is an excellent place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Puerto Viejo does not have a historic old town.
There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Mazatlan. It's a historic port city with a charming colonial old town.
Puerto Viejo does not have a historic old town.
Puerto Viejo is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, Mazatlan is not a hiking destination.
Puerto Viejo is a good destination for hiking. The hike through nearby Cahuita National Park is a highlight for many visitors. It wanders along the coastline and takes about three hours to walk. You'll likely see some wildlife during your walk.
Mazatlan is not a hiking destination.
Shopping is a popular activity in both Puerto Viejo and Mazatlan.
Mazatlan offers some nice shopping areas. There are local shops, big box stores, and souvenir vendors where you can pick up anything you may need or items to commemorate your trip.
Puerto Viejo has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You can wander through the town center and enjoy shopping at the local boutiques that sell clothes and other touristy items.
Puerto Viejo is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Mazatlan is not a destination known for its beauty.
Puerto Viejo is a beautiful place to visit, too. The beaches are beautiful and lined with rainforests. There's also easy access to the beautiful Cahuita National Park.
Mazatlan is not a destination known for its beauty.
Puerto Viejo is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Mazatlan is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
Puerto Viejo is a very kid-friendly town. With its easy access to Cahuita National Park and many wildlife experiences, this is a great destination for the kids. Kids can see sloths and monkeys, or enjoy snorkeling and hanging out on a chill beach.
Mazatlan offers lots of family activities. Kids will enjoy the all-inclusive resorts and the waterfront setting. There are also many cultural opportunities such as markets, history, and shows. The food is very kid-friendly as well.
Puerto Viejo is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Mazatlan is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.
Couples visit Puerto Viejo frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, which has a more laid back and less touristy atmosphere. While you won't find the larger resorts and tourist amenities in this area, couples who enjoy hiking and a local vibe will love their time here.
Mazatlan is a good city for couples to visit. The resorts are romantic and the beaches are stunning. If you're looking for an idyllic escape that also has culture, authenticity, and great food, then this is your spot.
Mazatlan and Puerto Viejo are great places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.
Mazatlan is a great city to visit for backpackers. The laid back atmosphere makes this a great stopover for backpackers who want to experience the Mexican culture. Stick to the touristy areas if possible.
Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Puerto Viejo. There's a local atmosphere and enough hostels and budget accommodation to keep backpackers happy. It's also easy to explore and makes the perfect place to chill out for a few days.
You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Mazatlan and Puerto Viejo.
You'll find some public transit in Mazatlan, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are city buses around town.
While Puerto Viejo offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses that travel the longer distances, but most people walk or bike around town.
Mazatlan and Puerto Viejo both are great when exploring on foot.
Mazatlan is a very walkable city. The city is relatively walkable.
Puerto Viejo is a very walkable destination. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot.
For even more information, also check out Is Mazatlan Worth Visiting? and Is Puerto Viejo Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Mazatlan and Puerto Viejo. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Mazatlan than in Puerto Viejo. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Mazatlan, and 2-3 days is enough time in Puerto Viejo.
Families should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Mazatlan. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Puerto Viejo, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Mazatlan. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Puerto Viejo that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Mazatlan than Puerto Viejo 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 Mazatlan.
In Mazatlan, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this authentic city offers. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
The town of Puerto Viejo offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. 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.
Mazatlan is a fun place to experience. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring.
Puerto Viejo is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town 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 Puerto Viejo, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
In Mazatlan, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this cultural destination offers. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. So, five days is just the right amount of time to spend here.
Puerto Viejo is a popular choice for travelers. 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.
Mazatlan is a popular place to visit. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Puerto Viejo is a great place to explore. 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 town offers something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Mazatlan is $94, while the average daily cost in Puerto Viejo is $169. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Mazatlan and Puerto Viejo in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Mazatlan or Puerto Viejo? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Also for Puerto Viejo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Puerto Viejo and Mazatlan change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
For Puerto Viejo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mazatlan and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Mazatlan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mazatlan is in North America and Puerto Viejo 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 Mazatlan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mazatlan 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 Puerto Viejo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Viejo than you might in Mazatlan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mazatlan Expensive? and Is Puerto Viejo Expensive?.
Mazatlan has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Puerto Viejo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
The summer brings many poeple to Mazatlan as well as Puerto Viejo. The beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Mazatlan this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.
In the summer, Mazatlan is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Mazatlan in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mazatlan this time of the year. In the summer, Mazatlan often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Mazatlan gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Mazatlan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Mazatlan usually gets less rain in July than Puerto Viejo. Mazatlan gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season.
Both Puerto Viejo and Mazatlan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Mazatlan for the shopping scene. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Mazatlan is generally around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Mazatlan average around 27°C (81°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mazatlan. Mazatlan usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during autumn. Mazatlan gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In October, Mazatlan usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Mazatlan gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Puerto Viejo is September to October. The rainy season in Puerto Viejo is November to January.
Both Puerto Viejo and Mazatlan during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Mazatlan in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.
Mazatlan is cooler than Puerto Viejo in the winter. The daily temperature in Mazatlan averages around 20°C (67°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Mazatlan. In the winter, Mazatlan often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Mazatlan gets 203 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun.
Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mazatlan usually gets less rain in January than Puerto Viejo. Mazatlan gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year. November to January is the rainy season in Puerto Viejo.
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mazatlan and Puerto Viejo. Most visitors come to Mazatlan for the beaches during these months. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Mazatlan is cooler than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Mazatlan in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).
In Mazatlan, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mazatlan usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during spring. Mazatlan gets 250 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Mazatlan usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Mazatlan gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Mazatlan | Puerto Viejo | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 20°C (67°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
Feb | 20°C (67°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
Apr | 22°C (72°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
May | 24°C (76°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 227 mm (8.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 in) |