A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Cristobal de Las Casas vs. Jaco for Nightlife, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco?

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

Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco? 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.

San Cristobal de Las Casas

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a charming, colorful, and cultural town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. San Cristobal de Las Casas offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See San Cristobal de Las Casas travel costs.

Jaco

Jaco is a laid back, popular, and touristy town. Other reasons to visit include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping. See Jaco travel costs.

San Cristobal de Las Casas and Jaco: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco?

Visitors will usually find more to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Jaco, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. San Cristobal de Las Casas is better known for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Jaco is more popular for its nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Jaco is more touristy than San Cristobal de Las Casas and is known for its surfing, nightlife, and beaches. San Cristobal de Las Casas is well known for its historical buildings, local markets, and traditional churches. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is famous for the Cathedral of San Cristobal de las Casas.

How is San Cristobal de Las Casas different from Jaco?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Jaco and San Cristobal de Las Casas. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Jaco is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to San Cristobal de Las Casas can be an interesting and educational experience. The town is filled with historical churches such as the main Cathedral of San Cristobal. While this is the most notable church, there are also smaller churches worth visiting like the Templo Santo Domingo, Iglesia de Guadalupe, and Iglesia de San Cristobal. For museums, make sure you check out the Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya, Na Bolom, and Museo de Ambar.

Jaco offers a few options for museum-goers. Most people spend their time outside or partying while they're in town.

Is the Food Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Jaco is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

San Cristobal de Las Casas has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The cuisine is a mix of Spanish-influenced cured meats such as ham and sausage, as well as indigenous flavors like tamales and burritos. There's also a lot of great pizza around town as well as several Asian restaurants.

Jaco offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There's a range of restaurants around town that include hamburger joints, pizza shops, and other casual favorites. You'll find a variety of options along the main strip as well.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco Better for Nightlife?

Jaco is very popular for nightlife. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Jaco is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. What was once a quiet surfing town is now one of the most famous party destinations in Costa Rica. There are a constantly growing number of bars and clubs around town and you'll find tons of young tourists and backpackers looking for a party.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. There's an active nightlife scene that includes everything from late night clubs to salsa lessons. Most tourists who want to party head to the pedestrian streets around the plaza. There are countless bars where you'll likely find a crowd late into the night. Some clubs have a cover charge on weekends but, in general, drinks are cheap and getting around is easy.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Jaco is a popular place for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Jaco has a few good snorkeling spots. You can't really snorkel at Jaco Beach because of the waves and water conditions, but there are a number of snorkeling tours that leave from town and take you to better spots.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco Better for Beaches?

Jaco is a popular place for its beaches. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a beach destination.

Jaco is a good option for a beach vacation. Jaco Beach is a great spot for swimming and surfing. It's lost some of its original charm, but there's still golden sand and nearby horseback riding.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a beach destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco Better for its Old Town?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Jaco does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to San Cristobal de Las Casas to see the historical old town. The town is filled with narrow pedestrian streets, colorful markets, and historic churches.

Jaco does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Jaco is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to San Cristobal de Las Casas specifically to go shopping. The nearby villages are famous for their weaving, leather, pottery, and embroidery, so many visitors pick up souvenirs at the colorful markets around town. This is one of the best towns in Mexico to purchase local items, and you should definitely set aside time to explore and shop.

Jaco is a great destination for shopping. Many of the shops are found along the main street. There are a number of souvenir stores and a few art galleries that are worth checking out.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco More Beautiful?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Jaco is not a destination known for its beauty.

San Cristobal de Las Casas offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Set against the backdrop of mountains, this town is colorful and charming.

Jaco is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a family-friendly town. While kids may not appreciate the town's beauty and culture, they will have fun exploring the night market or taking a chocolate-making class. There are pedestrian streets where everyone can explore without fear of traffic and pizza restaurants that appeal to the kids as well.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Jaco. Nearby you'll find horseback riding, monkey tours, and other fun kid-friendly activities. Kids will enjoy the beaches in the area as well.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco Better for Couples?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very popular place for couples. Also, Jaco is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

San Cristobal de Las Casas makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy culture, markets, traditional cuisines, and new experiences will love their time here. It's a fun place to simply wander. You can explore the markets and then eat at a local restaurant before making your way back to your boutique hotel.

Jaco is a nice destination for couples. It's one of the more touristy parts of Costa Rica, but if you enjoy surfing and beach life, then you'll find a lot to do in the area.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Cristobal de Las Casas and Jaco are both very good destinations for backpackers.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are a number of hostels in town as well as budget-friendly hotels. Backpackers love the laid back nature of this town as well as the many markets and nature-oriented activities.

Jaco is a great town to visit for backpackers. It's a touristy town with a bit of a party reputation. There are plenty of hostels and other backpackers around so you shouldn't have trouble meeting people.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Jaco is lacking in good options for its public transit.

San Cristobal de Las Casas has some public transit options. Urbano buses are minibuses that connect the town to the outlying residential areas. There are also colectivos that travel to nearby villages.

Public transit is generally limited in Jaco. Most people walk or get around by bicycle.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco a more walkable city?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a world-class destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Jaco is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in San Cristobal de Las Casas. Walking is the best way to experience the town. Most of the sights can be reached on foot and there are pedestrian-only streets that let you avoid the traffic.

Jaco is very walkable. The town is compact and walkable. You'll find many of the restaurants and shops along the main street, and it's easy to reach the beach on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Worth Visiting? and Is Jaco Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Jaco or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

How long in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco?

It's fun to spend time in either San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Jaco due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for San Cristobal de Las Casas, and 3-4 days is enough time in Jaco.

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

Couples should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Jaco. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in San Cristobal de Las Casas that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Jaco 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 San Cristobal de Las Casas.

One day in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Jaco, many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife that this popular destination offers. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the nightlife. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the shopping. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Jaco, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This town offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting Jaco. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. This town offers something for everyone.

A week in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco?

Because San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the town of Jaco. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Lots of people come for the nightlife. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.

When comparing the travel costs between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Jaco, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America and Jaco is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Jaco?

San Cristobal de Las Casas has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Jaco, 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.