A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salvador vs. Santa Elena for Backpackers, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Salvador or Santa Elena?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Salvador or Santa Elena, 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. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and shopping. See Salvador travel costs.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a outdoorsy, scenic, and tranquil town. Santa Elena offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include hiking and shopping. See Santa Elena travel costs.

Salvador and Santa Elena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Salvador or Santa Elena?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Salvador. Although Salvador and Santa Elena are popular destinations, Salvador has more sights and attractions for tourists. Salvador is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, beaches, and historical sights, while Santa Elena attracts visitors for its hiking and impressive beauty. Salvador is famous for its West African influence, rich culinary scene, and colonial architecture. It is also well known for São Francisco. Santa Elena is famous for its birdwatching and environmental conservation.

How is Salvador different from Santa Elena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?

Salvador is great for its historical sights. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Salvador. 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.

Santa Elena offers a few options for museum-goers. The area is filled with outdoor gardens, parks, and nature reserves, but there are few museums to visit.

Is the Food Better in Salvador or Santa Elena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Salvador is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Salvador has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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).

Santa Elena offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find some basic but good restaurants around town. Many offer pasta, pizza, and typical Costa Rican dishes.

Is Salvador or Santa Elena Better for Nightlife?

Salvador is great for its evening party scene. However, Santa Elena is not a good destination for nightlife.

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.

Most people don't head to Santa Elena specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's a couple of bars but not much else for nightlife in town.

Is Salvador or Santa Elena Better for Beaches?

Salvador is great for the beach. However, Santa Elena is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Salvador for it's beautiful beaches. 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.

Santa Elena is not a beach destination.

Is Salvador or Santa Elena Better for its Old Town?

Salvador is a good destination for its historic old town charm. However, Santa Elena does not have a historic old town.

Salvador has an old town worth visiting. 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.

Santa Elena does not have a historic old town.

Is Salvador or Santa Elena Better for Hiking?

Santa Elena is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Salvador is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Santa Elena. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a range of trails including a walk along the Continental Divide. There's also the famous red hanging bridge.

Salvador is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Salvador or Santa Elena?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena. There are some art galleries and artisan shops around town where you can pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Is Salvador or Santa Elena More Beautiful?

Santa Elena is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Salvador is not a destination known for its beauty.

Santa Elena offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The cloud forest and canopy walks give you access to breathtaking views and unique wildlife.

Salvador is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Salvador or Santa Elena Better for Families?

Santa Elena is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, Salvador is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Elena is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Monteverde has many canopy walks, zipline courses, and animal parks that the kids will love. The nature and wildlife make this a fun and educational destination for everyone.

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 Santa Elena Better for Couples?

Salvador and Santa Elena are both great to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Salvador frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

Santa Elena is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The cloud forest is filled with romantic views and unique landscapes. Couples who enjoy the outdoors will fall in love with this magical setting.

Is Salvador or Santa Elena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Elena is an unbeatable place for backpackers. Also, Salvador is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Santa Elena is a very popular town to visit for backpackers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and affordable activities. There are also many hostels with social activities that make this a great backpacker-friendly destination.

Salvador is very popular with the backpacker crowd. Backpackers love the historical architecture and the authenticity that this city offers. There are also a number of hostels around town.

Is Salvador or Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.

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 Santa Elena offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are buses through town that travel to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.

Is Salvador or Santa Elena a more walkable city?

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

Santa Elena is a somewhat walkable town. It's relatively easy to walk around, but you will need to take a bus to Monteverde.

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 Santa Elena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Elena or Salvador?

How long in Salvador or Santa Elena?

It's fun to spend time in either Salvador or Santa Elena. Both can be explored in comparable amounts of time. In general, 3-4 days is a good amount of time for Salvador, and 2-4 days is enough time in Santa Elena.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Elena than Salvador 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 Santa Elena.

One day in Salvador or Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historical city of Salvador. It's also a great beach destination, too. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The town of Santa Elena offers shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Santa Elena?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the authentic destination of Salvador. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Santa Elena 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. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Santa Elena, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Salvador or Santa Elena?

The historical city of Salvador offers shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Santa Elena 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.

A week in Salvador or Santa Elena?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Salvador. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Santa Elena is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, 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 Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salvador and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena 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 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Salvador or Santa Elena?

Salvador has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Santa Elena experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Salvador or Santa Elena in the Summer?

Both Santa Elena and Salvador during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Salvador for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round.

Salvador is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the summer. The daily temperature in Salvador averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Salvador. In the summer, Salvador often gets more sunshine than Santa Elenain July. Salvador gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.

Santa Elena gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Salvador. Salvador usually gets less rain in January than Santa Elenain July. Salvador gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year. September to February is the dry season in Salvador. March to August is the rainy season in Salvador.

Should I visit Salvador or Santa Elena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Salvador and Santa Elena. Many visitors come to Salvador in the autumn for the shopping scene. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the autumn, Salvador is around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Salvador in April average around 26°C (80°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F)in October.

Salvador usually receives more sunshine than Santa Elena during autumn. Salvador gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Santa Elena receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Salvador gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Salvador usually receives more rain than Santa Elenain October. Salvador gets 310 mm (12.2 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn. June to October in Santa Elena is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Salvador or Santa Elena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Salvador as well as Santa Elena. Most visitors come to Salvador for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.

In July, Salvador is generally cooler than Santa Elenain January. Daily temperatures in Salvador average around 24°C (75°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. In the winter, Salvador often gets less sunshine than Santa Elenain January. Salvador gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.

Salvador receives a lot of rain in the winter. Salvador usually gets more rain in July than Santa Elenain January. Salvador gets 175 mm (6.9 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, September to February in Salvador is the dry season. March to August in Salvador is the rainy season. Also, February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season.

Should I visit Salvador or Santa Elena in the Spring?

Both Santa Elena and Salvador are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Salvador because of the beaches. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Salvador is cooler than Santa Elena in the spring. The daily temperature in Salvador averages around 26°C (78°F) in October, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Santa Elena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Salvador. Salvador usually receives less sunshine than Santa Elena during spring. Salvador gets 228 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Salvador. In October, Salvador usually receives more rain than Santa Elenain April. Salvador gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Santa Elena is February to May. The hurricane season in Santa Elena is June to October.

Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Salvador