A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Playa del Carmen vs. Santa Barbara for Nightlife, Resorts, Scuba Diving & Snorkeling, and Beaches

Should you visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara?

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

Should I visit Playa del Carmen 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.

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a scenic, stunning, and vibrant town. With stunning beauty, Playa del Carmen attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking. See Playa del Carmen 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.

Playa del Carmen and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Santa Barbara than Playa del Carmen. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Santa Barbara is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Playa del Carmen attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, and scuba diving & snorkeling. Playa del Carmen is more touristy than Santa Barbara and is known for its coral reefs, luxury resorts, and white sand beaches. 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 Playa del Carmen different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Playa del Carmen is a town 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 Playa del Carmen specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. If you're willing to head out of town, there are world class Mayan ruins not far away, but if you want to hang out near town, then you'll likely spend most of your time enjoying outdoor water activities.

Is the Food Better in Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen. You'll find a good number of overpriced tourist restaurants in the area, but if you do some research you'll also find amazing and authentic Mexican food as well. There is everything from food trucks to fine dining that offer ceviche, tacos, or burritos. There are also plenty of places to grab pizza or burgers.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Playa del Carmen 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.

Playa del Carmen is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. It rivals some of the country's best nightlife and you'll find plenty of venues to choose from, ranging from dive bars to swanky cocktail lounges. Head to the main walking street for some of the most active venues.

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 Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Playa del Carmen 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, Playa del Carmen is a great choice. You'll find a huge number of luxury resorts in the area, particularly along the beach. There are fancy pools and beachfront properties that offer the perfect vacation retreat.

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 Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Playa del Carmen is renowned for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling.

The clear water and abundant marine life make Playa del Carmen a world-class scuba diving and snorkeling destination. There's not a lot to see right off of the beach, but there are plenty of snorkeling excursions in the area that take you to beautiful reefs. The diving is world class as well and you'll find wonderful reefs, bull sharks, and hidden gems.

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 Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Playa del Carmen and Santa Barbara are first-rate choices.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Playa del Carmen. The area is filled with world class beaches, long stretches of white sand, and beautiful blue water. You might even stumble across a sea turtle or two while you're swimming.

With world-famous beaches, Santa Barbara is a very popular vacation destination. 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.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Playa del Carmen 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.

Playa del Carmen does not have a historic old town.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its hiking experiences. Also, Playa del Carmen is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

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.

Many people include a hike when visiting Playa del Carmen. There are well marked trails in the area that get you out in nature or take you along the coastline.

Is the Shopping Better in Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen. Much of the shopping is geared towards the tourists, but you'll find some local items, interesting galleries, and colorful markets to explore.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is an amazing coastal town to visit for its scenery and beauty. Also, Playa del Carmen is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and 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.

Playa del Carmen is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. From beautiful beaches to inland jungles, this is a truly stunning destination.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Playa del Carmen is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Playa del Carmen is a very family-friendly destination. From eco parks to kid-friendly snorkeling opportunities, there are many activities for kids of all ages. There are also adventure parks and playgrounds that are perfect for a fun afternoon.

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 Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Playa del Carmen and Santa Barbara make for a first-rate place to visit.

Playa del Carmen makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Beautiful beaches and tropical jungles make this a paradise honeymoon destination. You'll find luxury resorts, fine dining restaurants, and countless opportunities to enjoy the stunning setting. Take a sunset cruise of explore one of the many natural wonders in the area.

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 Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Playa del Carmen is a popular place for backpackers. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Playa del Carmen. It's filled with tourists staying at luxury resorts, but you'll also find a couple of hostels tucked away in town. If you're interesting in scuba diving, then it's well worth the trip.

Santa Barbara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city isn't really known as a budget friendly destination, but there are a couple of hostels in the area. There's also a large student population with a fun nightlife scene.

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is a great destination for students. However, Playa del Carmen 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.

Playa del Carmen is not popular with students.

Is Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen and Santa Barbara.

You'll find some public transit in Playa del Carmen, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are local buses, collectivos and the ADO bus.

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

Is Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Playa del Carmen is renowned for its ease of walking around. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Playa del Carmen on foot. It's a compact and very walkable town. La Quinta is the main strip and it's pedestrian-only.

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

For even more information, also check out Is Playa del Carmen Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Playa del Carmen?

How long in Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Playa del Carmen and Santa Barbara. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Playa del Carmen than in Santa Barbara. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Playa del Carmen, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

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

Couples should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Playa del Carmen. 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 Playa del Carmen than Santa Barbara 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 Playa del Carmen.

One day in Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the vibrant destination of Playa del Carmen. It's also a relaxing resort destination. 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.

You'll find food and shopping around the stunning destination of Santa Barbara. Hikers are also drawn to this area. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

A weekend in Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Playa del Carmen. Most people come for the beaches. 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.

You'll find shopping and museums around the affluent coastal town of Santa Barbara. If you have a weekend, this coastal town makes for a great vacation. It's also a relaxing resort destination. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Five days in Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant destination of Playa del Carmen. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This town 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.

Santa Barbara is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

A week in Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the beautiful town of Playa del Carmen. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling.So, one week is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Santa Barbara is a great place to explore. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. 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 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 Playa del Carmen and Santa Barbara, we can see that Santa Barbara is more expensive. And not only is Playa del Carmen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Playa del Carmen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen.

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

Which is Bigger, Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 59% larger than the population of Playa del Carmen. When comparing the sizes of Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Playa del Carmen and Santa Barbara. The summer months attract visitors to Playa del Carmen because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, 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.

Playa del Carmen is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the summer. The daily temperature in Playa del Carmen averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).

Playa del Carmen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Playa del Carmen usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Playa del Carmen gets 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Playa del Carmen as well as Santa Barbara. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Playa del Carmen 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, Playa del Carmen is much warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Playa del Carmen in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Santa Barbara averages at about 62°F (17°C).

Playa del Carmen receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Playa del Carmen usually gets more rain in October than Santa Barbara. Playa del Carmen gets 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen is June to October.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

Both Santa Barbara and Playa del Carmen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Playa del Carmen 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, Playa del Carmen is generally much warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Playa del Carmen average around 23°C (73°F), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

In January, Playa del Carmen usually receives less rain than Santa Barbara. Playa del Carmen gets 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Playa del Carmen or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

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

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

Playa del Carmen usually gets less rain in April than Santa Barbara. Playa del Carmen gets 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to October is the hurricane season in Playa del Carmen.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Playa del Carmen