A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salvador vs. Acapulco de Juarez for Nightlife, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez, 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.

Salvador

Salvador is a historical, authentic, and cultural city. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums. See Salvador travel costs.

Acapulco de Juarez

Acapulco de Juarez is a vibrant, built-up, and well-known city. Other popular activities here include shopping, nightlife, and food. See Acapulco de Juarez travel costs.

Salvador and Acapulco de Juarez: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Salvador than Acapulco de Juarez. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Salvador is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, and historical sights, while Acapulco de Juarez attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, and scuba diving & snorkeling. Salvador is famous for its West African influence, rich culinary scene, and colonial architecture. It is also well known for São Francisco. Acapulco de Juarez is famous for its large hotels, golf courses, and lively bars and clubs.

How is Salvador different from Acapulco de Juarez?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Acapulco de Juarez and Salvador. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

Salvador is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

Salvador offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many of the main sights are found in the historic part of town. In this area you'll find the Museu da Cidade, the Abelardo Rodrigues Museum, and the Casa do Benin. There are many ornate churches as well such as the São Francisco and the Carmelite Church.

While most people don't head to Acapulco de Juarez specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of history and cultural museums in the city that can be a nice way to spend a rainy day.

Is the Food Better in Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Salvador is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Salvador is an experience not to be missed. The city has rich African roots that are noticeable in the cuisine around town. Buffets have become popular in restaurants and many places offer a lunch buffet. They range in price and quality and you often pay by the weight. Common dishes include moqueca (seafood stew), vatapá (a type of curry), and acarajé (fried balls of beans and shrimp).

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Acapulco de Juarez. The local cuisine is influenced by the area's indigenous cultures combined with Hispanic influences. Seafood is common as well.

Is Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Nightlife?

Acapulco de Juarez is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Salvador is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The nightlife in Acapulco de Juarez is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The nightlife scene is part of what originally put this city on the map. Spring break is a prime time for partying and you'll find many bars along Costera Street, with the liveliest around Condesa Beach.

Many people head to Salvador for the nightlife scene. Head to the old city for a mix of local music and authentic Brazilian activities. Further out, along the stretches of beach, you'll find larger music venues and dance clubs. The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed throughout the city and you'll find a very local vibe in many neighborhoods.

Is Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Resorts?

Acapulco de Juarez is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Salvador is not a resort destination.

Acapulco de Juarez offers an unforgettable resort vacation. You'll find no shortage of resorts in the city, most with large pools and beachfront views.

Salvador is not a resort destination.

Is Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Acapulco de Juarez is well known for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Salvador is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to Acapulco de Juarez to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. There are plenty of dive shops that offer snorkeling and scuba diving trips to premier spots.

Salvador is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Beaches?

Both Salvador and Acapulco de Juarez have very good beaches worth visiting.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Salvador. Many of the beaches are sandy with warm water and tidal pools to explore. The most popular beach is Praia Farol da Barra, which can get crowded. North of the city is the more relaxed Praia Farol de Itapuã and if you want to learn to surf, head to Praia da Jaguaribe, which is home to several surfing schools.

The beaches at Acapulco de Juarez attract visitors from all over. The beaches are well developed with restaurants, hotels and bars lining the long stretches of sand. You'll find all kinds of water sports and activities nearby and several of the most popular beaches include Condesa Beach, Caleta Beach, and Icacos Beach.

Is Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez Better for its Old Town?

Salvador is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Acapulco de Juarez does not have a historic old town.

Salvador offers a nice historic old town area. The city served as the first Portuguese capital and today it still has colonial architecture and a historic atmosphere. At the historic heart of the city is the Pelourinho neighborhood, which has nice squares and cobblestone streets.

Acapulco de Juarez does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Acapulco de Juarez and Salvador.

Many visitors go to Salvador to go shopping. There are many local markets and shops around town where you can pick up traditional Brazilian items and artisan crafts.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Acapulco de Juarez. You'll find tons of beachside shops where you can pick up any beach supplies you may need as well as souvenirs from your trip. The city also has retail outlets and shopping centers.

Is Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Families?

Acapulco de Juarez is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Salvador is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Acapulco de Juarez is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. It may have been made famous by spring breakers, but families with kids will find plenty to do as well. There are water parks, playgrounds, museums and, of course, the beach.

For families, Salvador is not always the best place to visit. It has a reputation for being dangerous, so many families don't plan to spend much time here, but the city has parks, recreational activities like climbing, and a number of kid-friendly museums to explore. There are also many ice cream shops and family-friendly restaurants.

Is Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Couples?

Acapulco de Juarez is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Salvador is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Acapulco de Juarez has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. Whether you're looking for an active nightlife scene, or romantic sunset walks, then this city has it all. The beach is active and beautiful, there are also botanical gardens and wonderful restaurants to experience.

Salvador is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The historical center is charming and the perfect place to explore as a couple. There are also parks around town and many cultural experiences that visitors truly enjoy.

Is Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Salvador is a great destination for backpackers. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Salvador is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. Backpackers love the historical architecture and the authenticity that this city offers. There are also a number of hostels around town.

Acapulco de Juarez is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are more hotels and resorts than hostels, so most backpackers head elsewhere. There is a young crowd during the spring break season.

Is Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Salvador and Acapulco de Juarez.

You'll find some public transit in Salvador, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses around town that are divided into two different classes - the common bus and the executive bus.

While Acapulco de Juarez offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's an elaborate and fun bus system that travels around the city.

Is Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez a more walkable city?

Acapulco de Juarez is a nice place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Salvador is not particularly known for its walkability.

Acapulco de Juarez is a somewhat walkable city. The downtown and beachfront areas are the most walkable and many sights are within a short distance of each other.

Salvador is generally not a very walkable city. While it's possible to walk around town, you should really understand which areas are safe and which parts of town are dangerous. Sometimes the dangerous areas are just a couple of blocks that are surrounded by an otherwise safe neighborhood, so you should really understand where you are before heading out on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Salvador Worth Visiting? and Is Acapulco de Juarez Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez or Salvador?

How long in Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

In either Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than Salvador because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 3-4 days is a good amount of time for Salvador, and 3-5 days is enough time in Acapulco de Juarez.

Families should spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than Salvador. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Acapulco de Juarez, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than Salvador. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Acapulco de Juarez that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Salvador than Acapulco de Juarez 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 Salvador.

One day in Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the cultural destination of Salvador. This city offers something for everyone. 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.

The city of Acapulco de Juarez 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.

A weekend in Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

Salvador is a popular place to visit. Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historical city of Salvador. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Acapulco de Juarez is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Salvador. Most people come for the beaches. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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.

Acapulco de Juarez is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Acapulco de Juarez, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

Salvador is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. It offers something for everyone. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Acapulco de Juarez is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that nightlife 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

Salvador has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Acapulco de Juarez. When comparing the sizes of Salvador and Acapulco de Juarez, 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 Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez?

Even though both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, they experience these seasons at different times of the year. Salvador is in the southern hemisphere and summer is in January and winter is in July, but Acapulco de Juarez has summer in [NORTHERNSUMMERMONTH] and winter in [NORTHERNWINTERMONTH].

Should I visit Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez in the Summer?

Both Acapulco de Juarez and Salvador are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Salvador in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Acapulco de Juarez for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Salvador is around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarez in the summer. The daily temperature in Salvador averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Acapulco de Juarez fluctuates around 29°C (83°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Acapulco de Juarez. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Salvador. Salvador usually receives more sunshine than Acapulco de Juarez during summer. Salvador gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 224 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Acapulco de Juarez. It's quite rainy in Salvador. In January, Salvador usually receives less rain than Acapulco de Juarezin July. Salvador gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 209 mm (8.2 in) of rain each month for the summer. The dry season in Salvador is September to February. The rainy season in Salvador is March to August.

Should I visit Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez in the Autumn?

Both Acapulco de Juarez and Salvador during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Salvador for the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Acapulco de Juarez because of the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Salvador is around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarez. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Salvador in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Acapulco de Juarez averages at about 28°C (83°F)in October.

In Acapulco de Juarez, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Salvador often gets less sunshine than Acapulco de Juarezin October. Salvador gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 245 hours of full sun.

Acapulco de Juarez gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Salvador. Salvador usually gets more rain in April than Acapulco de Juarezin October. Salvador gets 310 mm (12.2 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 145 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Salvador and Acapulco de Juarez. The winter months attract visitors to Salvador because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Acapulco de Juarez this time of year.

In July, Salvador is generally around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarezin January. Daily temperatures in Salvador average around 24°C (75°F), and Acapulco de Juarez fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Acapulco de Juarez this time of the year. Salvador usually receives less sunshine than Acapulco de Juarez during winter. Salvador gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 272 hours of full sun in the winter.

Salvador gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Salvador usually receives more rain than Acapulco de Juarezin January. Salvador gets 175 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. September to February in Salvador is the dry season. Also, March to August is the rainy season in Salvador.

Should I visit Salvador or Acapulco de Juarez in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Salvador as well as Acapulco de Juarez. The beaches are the main draw to Salvador this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Acapulco de Juarez for the beaches.

Salvador is around the same temperature as Acapulco de Juarez in the spring. The daily temperature in Salvador averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Acapulco de Juarez fluctuates around 27°C (81°F)in April.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Acapulco de Juarez. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Salvador this time of the year. In the spring, Salvador often gets less sunshine than Acapulco de Juarezin April. Salvador gets 228 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 274 hours of full sun.

Salvador receives a lot of rain in the spring. Salvador usually gets more rain in October than Acapulco de Juarezin April. Salvador gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Acapulco de Juarez receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Acapulco de Juarez and Salvador