A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Merida vs. Puerto Viejo for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Merida or Puerto Viejo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Puerto Viejo, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Merida

Merida is a traditional, colonial, and historical city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Merida travel costs.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is a relaxed, mellow, and authentic town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Puerto Viejo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Puerto Viejo travel costs.

Merida and Puerto Viejo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Merida or Puerto Viejo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Merida. Although Merida and Puerto Viejo are popular destinations, Merida has more sights and attractions for tourists. Merida is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Puerto Viejo attracts visitors for its scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Merida is more touristy than Puerto Viejo and is known for its vibrant plazas, long running history, and colonial architecture. It is also well known for Grand Plaza. Puerto Viejo is famous for its surfing, snorkeling, and seafood.

How is Merida different from Puerto Viejo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Merida or Puerto Viejo?

Merida 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 Merida specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is filled with culture and traditional heritage, and there are many museums and architectural landmarks that will educate and inform visitors on the area. Gran Museo del Mundo Maya is a highlight for many visitors. It's also worth visiting Museo Casa Montejo and Museo Palacio Canton. If you want to visit ruins, then the Dzibilchaltun Mayan Ruins are about 45 minutes outside of town.

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.

Is the Food Better in Merida or Puerto Viejo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Merida 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.

Merida has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. It's a top foodie destination in the Yucatan region and visitors will enjoy the many local restaurants and diverse local dishes that are influenced by the Mayan, Spanish, and Caribbean cultures. The most well known local dish is cochinita pibil, which is marinated pork shoulder. Other popular dishes include sopa de lima (lime soup), papadzules (enchiladas with pumpkin seed sauce), and relleno negro (a local stew).

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!

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo Better for Nightlife?

Both Merida and Puerto Viejo have excellent vibes after the sun sets.

Merida has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. Most tourists take advantage of the nightlife scene in the city's downtown area, while locals congregate in the northern part of town. The city has bars, theaters, night clubs, and live music that keeps the energy high late into the night.

The people in Puerto Viejo know how to have a good time. 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.

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Merida is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Puerto Viejo has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. 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.

Merida is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo Better for Beaches?

Puerto Viejo is an excellent place to visit for the beach. However, Merida is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Puerto Viejo. 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.

Merida is not a beach destination.

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo Better for its Old Town?

Merida 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 Merida. Centered around the city's Grand Plaza, the old town is filled with colonial architecture and colorful buildings. The Catedral de San Ildefonso was the first cathedral built in the Americas. There are also monuments and examples of Mayan art and culture.

Puerto Viejo does not have a historic old town.

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo Better for Hiking?

Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Merida is not a hiking destination.

Puerto Viejo has hiking trails worth exploring. 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.

Merida is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Merida or Puerto Viejo?

Merida is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Merida. There are colorful markets that are filled with artisan crafts and traditional clothing. Visitors enjoy discovering the unique vendors and picking up souvenirs that are unique to the area.

Puerto Viejo is a great destination for shopping. You can wander through the town center and enjoy shopping at the local boutiques that sell clothes and other touristy items.

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo More Beautiful?

Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Merida is not a destination known for its beauty.

Puerto Viejo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The beaches are beautiful and lined with rainforests. There's also easy access to the beautiful Cahuita National Park.

Merida is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo Better for Families?

Puerto Viejo is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Merida is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Puerto Viejo. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Merida. The weekend is the best time to visit the city, as this is when there are the most activities. There are live performances that educate visitors on Mayan traditions. There are also historic museums, bike-friendly streets, and a vibrant central market.

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo Better for Couples?

Puerto Viejo is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Merida is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Puerto Viejo makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Merida is a nice destination for couples. If you're interested in Mayan culture and history, then this is a wonderful destination. There are also romantic hotels, excellent restaurants, and plenty of fascinating activities that couples will enjoy.

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Merida and Puerto Viejo are both excellent destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Merida. It's a relatively large city with a number of hostels and budget hotels, so backpackers will have no problem finding a place to stay.

Backpackers come from all over to 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.

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Merida and Puerto Viejo.

Merida has some public transit options. While there are local bus routes, they can be a bit challenging to figure out when you first arrive.

You'll find some public transit in Puerto Viejo, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses that travel the longer distances, but most people walk or bike around town.

Is Merida or Puerto Viejo a more walkable city?

Merida and Puerto Viejo are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Merida is a very walkable destination. It's a very walkable city and most visitors don't have a car.

Puerto Viejo is very walkable. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Merida Worth Visiting? and Is Puerto Viejo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Puerto Viejo or Merida?

How long in Merida or Puerto Viejo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Merida and Puerto Viejo. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Puerto Viejo than in Merida. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Merida, and 2-3 days is enough time in Puerto Viejo.

Families should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Merida. 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 Merida. 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 Merida 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 Merida.

One day in Merida or Puerto Viejo?

In Merida, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this colonial city offers. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. In one day, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Puerto Viejo. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Merida or Puerto Viejo?

Merida is a fun place to experience. Visiting the old town is also a must. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Puerto Viejo 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 Merida or Puerto Viejo?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historical destination of Merida. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Puerto Viejo. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Merida or Puerto Viejo?

Merida 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.

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the relaxed destination of Puerto Viejo. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting 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 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Puerto Viejo, we can see that Puerto Viejo is more expensive. And not only is Merida much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida 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 Merida would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merida 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 Merida.

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

When is the best time to visit Merida or Puerto Viejo?

Merida has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Puerto Viejo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Merida or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

Both Puerto Viejo and Merida are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Merida for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Merida is cooler than Puerto Viejo in the summer. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during summer. Merida gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 124 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In July, Merida usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Merida gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer. The dry season in Puerto Viejo is September to October.

Should I visit Merida or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

Both Puerto Viejo and Merida during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Merida because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.

In the autumn, Merida is cooler than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Merida in October average around 21°C (70°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F).

It's quite sunny in Merida. In the autumn, Merida often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Merida gets 233 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. It rains a lot this time of the year in Merida. Merida usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Puerto Viejo. Merida gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year. September to October is the dry season in Puerto Viejo. November to January is the rainy season in Puerto Viejo.

Should I visit Merida or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Merida and Puerto Viejo. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Merida this time of year. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Merida is generally cooler than Puerto Viejo. Daily temperatures in Merida average around 20°C (68°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

In Merida, it's very sunny this time of the year. Merida usually receives more sunshine than Puerto Viejo during winter. Merida gets 209 hours of sunny skies, while Puerto Viejo receives 159 hours of full sun in the winter.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Merida usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejo. Merida gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter. Also, November to January is the rainy season in Puerto Viejo.

Should I visit Merida or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Merida as well as Puerto Viejo. Many travelers come to Merida for the activities around the city. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

Merida is cooler than Puerto Viejo in the spring. The daily temperature in Merida averages around 21°C (70°F) in April, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Merida this time of the year. In the spring, Merida often gets more sunshine than Puerto Viejo. Merida gets 260 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Puerto Viejo receives 172 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Merida receives a lot of rain in the spring. Merida usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejo. Merida gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Merida