A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Recife vs. Pucon for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Recife or Pucon?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Recife and Pucon 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.

Where Should I go: Recife or Pucon?

Recife

One of the largest cities on Brazil's northeast coast, Recife is also the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The city gets its name from the Portuguese word for "reef," as it was built around a landscape of natural reef beaches. Many people visit to enjoy these beaches, experience the culture, and explore the history of this important Brazilian city.

Pucon

A popular hub for adventure tourism, Pucon is a town in the Lake District of the South American nation of Chile. Located on Lake Villarirca with the snowcapped Villarrica volcano looming above and plenty of forested valleys below, the town has become a home base year-round for a full range of outdoor activities.

Check out our ultimate guide to Traveling in Patagonia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Chile, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Chile.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Recife or Pucon?

Recife has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Pucon. When comparing the sizes of Recife and Pucon, 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 Recife or Pucon?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the southern hemisphere, summer is in January and winter is in July.

Should I visit Recife or Pucon in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Recife and Pucon. The summer months attract visitors to Recife because of the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In January, Recife is generally much warmer than Pucon. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 26°C (79°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pucon this time of the year. In Recife, it's very sunny this time of the year. Recife usually receives less sunshine than Pucon during summer. Recife gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.

Recife gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Recife usually receives more rain than Pucon. Recife gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, March to August is the rainy season in Recife.

Should I visit Recife or Pucon in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Recife as well as Pucon. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Recife this time of year.

Recife is much warmer than Pucon in the autumn. The daily temperature in Recife averages around 26°C (79°F) in April, and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the autumn, Recife often gets more sunshine than Pucon. Recife gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 132 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pucon. Recife receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Recife usually gets more rain in April than Pucon. Recife gets 338 mm (13.3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Recife or Pucon in the Winter?

Both Pucon and Recife are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Recife for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Recife is much warmer than Pucon. Typically, the winter temperatures in Recife in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Pucon averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Recife usually receives more sunshine than Pucon during winter. Recife gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Pucon receives 66 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pucon. It's quite rainy in Recife. In July, Recife usually receives more rain than Pucon. Recife gets 388 mm (15.3 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 312 mm (12.3 in) of rain each month for the winter. The rainy season in Recife is March to August.

Should I visit Recife or Pucon in the Spring?

Both Pucon and Recife during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Recife in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In October, Recife is generally much warmer than Pucon. Daily temperatures in Recife average around 25°C (77°F), and Pucon fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It's quite sunny in Recife. In the spring, Recife often gets more sunshine than Pucon. Recife gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pucon receives 198 hours of full sun.

Pucon gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Recife usually gets less rain in October than Pucon. Recife gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Pucon receives 109 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year. October to December is the dry season in Recife.

Typical Weather for Pucon and Recife