A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Elena vs. Key Largo for Families, Backpackers, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Santa Elena or Key Largo?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Santa Elena and Key Largo. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Santa Elena

Santa Elena is a outdoorsy, scenic, and tranquil town. Santa Elena offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the hiking and shopping. See Santa Elena travel costs.

Key Largo

Key Largo is a family-friendly, beautiful, and relaxed island. As it is a quaint destination, it has a nice vibe. It's also popular because of the scuba diving and snorkeling and beaches. See Key Largo travel costs.

Santa Elena and Key Largo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Elena or Key Largo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santa Elena. Although Santa Elena and Key Largo are popular destinations, Santa Elena has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Elena is very popular for its museums and attractions, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Key Largo attracts visitors for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and quaint atmosphere. Santa Elena is famous for its birdwatching and environmental conservation. It is also well known for Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. Key Largo is famous for its snorkeling and scuba diving including that around John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the artificial reef around the USS Spiegel Grove.

How is Santa Elena different from Key Largo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Elena or Key Largo?

Santa Elena is mediocre for its historical sights. However, Key Largo does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Santa Elena. The area is filled with outdoor gardens, parks, and nature reserves, but there are few museums to visit.

Key Largo does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Both Santa Elena and Key Largo offer a number of reasonable restaurants to choose from.

Santa Elena may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. You'll find some basic but good restaurants around town. Many offer pasta, pizza, and typical Costa Rican dishes.

Key Largo offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Like the rest of the Florida Keys, Key Largo is known for its Key Lime pie and seafood. You'll find a great selection of restaurants that serve seafood dishes and options for the land-loving crew. There are even a few international restaurants to choose from.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is reasonable in both Santa Elena and Key Largo.

Santa Elena doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There's a couple of bars but not much else for nightlife in town.

Most people don't head to Key Largo specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. This area is not known for its nightlife, so you'll need to head further south if partying is your style.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo Better for Resorts?

Key Largo is great for its luxury resorts. However, Santa Elena is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Key Largo to choose from. Popular resorts in the area include Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, Reefhouse Resort & Marina, and Largo Resort.

Santa Elena is not a resort destination.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Key Largo is great for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Santa Elena is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near Key Largo. Near this island you'll find some of the best snorkeling and diving in the Florida Keys at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. There are private tours that head out to the reef for either snorkeling or diving. There are also shipwrecks and other fascinating spots to explore.

Santa Elena is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo Better for Beaches?

Key Largo is a good destination for the beach. However, Santa Elena is not a beach destination.

Key Largo offers a nice beach destination. Many of the beaches around Key Largo are man-made, but they do offer nice sand and beautiful blue water. The water is turquoise, although not as striking as further south.

Santa Elena is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo Better for Hiking?

Santa Elena is great for hiking. However, Key Largo is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Santa Elena for the hiking trails. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve has a range of trails including a walk along the Continental Divide. There's also the famous red hanging bridge.

Key Largo is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Elena or Key Largo?

Santa Elena is a town with good options for its shopping areas. However, Key Largo is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Santa Elena has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are some art galleries and artisan shops around town where you can pick up some interesting souvenirs.

Key Largo is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo More Beautiful?

Santa Elena is a town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Key Largo 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.

Key Largo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo Better for Families?

Key Largo is a must-visit destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Santa Elena is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Key Largo is very family-friendly. This area has some of the best family-friendly snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. There's also several places where your kids can interact with dolphins or experience wildlife. If you want to get out on the water, there's kayaking, sunset cruises, and glass bottom boats, all of which are great for the whole family.

Santa Elena is 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.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo Better for Couples?

Santa Elena is great for couples. Also, Key Largo is not as popular, but is still a nice island for romance.

Santa Elena is a great town 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.

Key Largo is a nice destination for couples. Most couples head further down the Florida Keys, but for snorkeling and scuba diving, Key Largo is the better option. You'll also find kayaking and sunset cruises that leave from the area.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Elena is an unbeatable place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Key Largo is not a good destination for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Santa Elena, as it is a very popular town for budget travelers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and affordable activities. There are also many hostels with social activities that make this a great backpacker-friendly destination.

Key Largo is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. This area is a bit more affordable than the more southern keys so it appeals to budget travelers and backpackers.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Elena is a town with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Key Largo is not a good destination for its public transit.

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.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Key Largo. There's no real public transit around the island and you must have a car to get around.

Is Santa Elena or Key Largo a more walkable city?

Santa Elena is a town with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Key Largo is not a good destination 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.

Key Largo is not a walkable town. It is a sprawling area that spreads out along a main highway that is not pedestrian friendly.

For even more information, also check out Is Santa Elena Worth Visiting? and Is Key Largo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Key Largo or Santa Elena?

How long in Santa Elena or Key Largo?

Both Santa Elena and Key Largo have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Key Largo than in Santa Elena. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Santa Elena, and 5-7 days is enough time in Key Largo.

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

Couples should spend more time in Santa Elena than Key Largo. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Santa Elena 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 Key Largo 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 Santa Elena or Key Largo?

You'll find shopping around the town of Santa Elena. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the family-friendly island of Key Largo. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. 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.

A weekend in Santa Elena or Key Largo?

You'll find shopping around the scenic destination of Santa Elena. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the beautiful destination of Key Largo. It's also a relaxing resort destination. This island offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Santa Elena or Key Largo?

Travelers enjoy the shopping when visiting the outdoorsy town of Santa Elena. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the peaceful island of Key Largo. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Santa Elena or Key Largo?

Santa Elena is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Key Largo. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this island.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Santa Elena or Key Largo?

Key Largo 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 Santa Elena or Key Largo in the Summer?

Both Key Largo and Santa Elena are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Key Largo because of the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences.

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

It's quite sunny in Key Largo. Santa Elena usually receives less sunshine than Key Largo during summer. Santa Elena gets 164 hours of sunny skies, while Key Largo receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Key Largo. It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. In July, Santa Elena usually receives more rain than Key Largo. Santa Elena gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Key Largo receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Santa Elena or Key Largo in the Autumn?

Both Key Largo and Santa Elena during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Santa Elena is around the same temperature as Key Largo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Santa Elena in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Key Largo averages at about 78°F (26°C).

In Key Largo, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Santa Elena often gets less sunshine than Key Largo. Santa Elena gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Key Largo receives 275 hours of full sun.

Key Largo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. Santa Elena usually gets more rain in October than Key Largo. Santa Elena gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Key Largo receives 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Santa Elena is June to October.

Should I visit Santa Elena or Key Largo in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Elena and Key Largo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Santa Elena year-round. Also, many travelers come to Key Largo for the cuisine.

In January, Santa Elena is generally a little warmer than Key Largo. Daily temperatures in Santa Elena average around 27°C (81°F), and Key Largo fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Key Largo this time of the year. In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. Santa Elena usually receives more sunshine than Key Largo during winter. Santa Elena gets 264 hours of sunny skies, while Key Largo receives 243 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Santa Elena usually receives less rain than Key Largo. Santa Elena gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Key Largo receives 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain each month for the winter. February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season.

Should I visit Santa Elena or Key Largo in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Santa Elena as well as Key Largo. Santa Elena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many visitors come to Key Largo in the spring for the beaches.

Santa Elena is a little warmer than Key Largo in the spring. The daily temperature in Santa Elena averages around 29°C (85°F) in April, and Key Largo fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Key Largo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena this time of the year. In the spring, Santa Elena often gets less sunshine than Key Largo. Santa Elena gets 255 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Key Largo receives 300 hours of full sun.

Santa Elena usually gets less rain in April than Key Largo. Santa Elena gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Key Largo receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, February to May in Santa Elena is the dry season. Keep in mind that June to October is the hurricane season in Santa Elena.

Typical Weather for Key Largo and Santa Elena