A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sao Paulo vs. Puerto Viejo for Attractions, Nightlife, Food, and Families

Should you visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo, 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.

Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo is a dynamic, vibrant, and colorful city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Sao Paulo travel costs.

Puerto Viejo

Puerto Viejo is a authentic, laid back, and relaxed town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Puerto Viejo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Puerto Viejo travel costs.

Sao Paulo and Puerto Viejo: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Sao Paulo. Although Sao Paulo and Puerto Viejo are popular destinations, Sao Paulo has more sights and attractions for tourists. Sao Paulo is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Puerto Viejo attracts visitors for its scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Sao Paulo is famous for its large size, vibrant neighborhoods, and world-class nightlife scene. It is also well known for Ibirapuera Park. Puerto Viejo is famous for its surfing, snorkeling, and seafood.

How is Sao Paulo different from Puerto Viejo?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Puerto Viejo and Sao Paulo. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for its museums and history. However, Puerto Viejo is lacking in options for its museums and landmarks.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Sao Paulo has many famous sights for visitors. While many visitors overlook Sao Paulo for other destinations in Brazil, those that do visit will be rewarded with a large number of museums and sights. It's the largest city in South America, and there's plenty to do. Highlights include Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte, Museu de Arte Contemporânea, and the cathedral

Puerto Viejo offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There aren't any real museums in the area, but there are a couple of art galleries.

Is the Food Better in Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Sao Paulo is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Sao Paulo has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city offers a huge mix of fine dining restaurants, street food vendors, family-friendly restaurants, and large local markets. The cuisine has many influences such as the Portuguese, West Africa, and even the Middle East. Popular dishes include the street food coxinha, feijoada (black bean and beef stew), and cachooro-quente (local hot dogs).

Puerto Viejo offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Many restaurants have a local atmosphere and serve typical Costa Rican food or seafood. You'll find no shortage of rice and beans!

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo Better for Nightlife?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for its evening party scene. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

People head to Sao Paulo just to party. As the economic hub for Brazil, you'll find tons of bars, clubs, and venues throughout the city. The best neighborhood for a party is Vila Madalena, which is filled with restaurants and bars. For live music and food trucks, check out Rua Augusta. There are also many different neighborhoods in this megacity, and many have a lively energy and plenty to do at night. Every night you should be able to find something different to do.

The people in Puerto Viejo know how to have a good time. It's a laid back town during the day and at night there's a chill but lively atmosphere. You'll find a few bars and clubs that have live music, and it's not hard to find something interesting to do.

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Sao Paulo is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Puerto Viejo has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. You'll find the best snorkeling in Cahuita National Park, where you'll see coral and colorful fish. There's a dive shop in town as well, but most people enjoy the snorkeling in the area more.

Sao Paulo is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo Better for Beaches?

Puerto Viejo is a great town for the beach. However, Sao Paulo is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Puerto Viejo. The beaches in the area are beautiful and offer great waves for surfing and patches of coral reef for snorkeling. Many of the beaches are lined with forest and have a more laid back and less developed atmosphere than the beaches on the Pacific side.

Sao Paulo is not a beach destination.

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo Better for Hiking?

Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for hiking. However, Sao Paulo is not a hiking destination.

Puerto Viejo has hiking trails worth exploring. The hike through nearby Cahuita National Park is a highlight for many visitors. It wanders along the coastline and takes about three hours to walk. You'll likely see some wildlife during your walk.

Sao Paulo is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for its shopping areas. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many people travel to Sao Paulo specifically to go shopping. The shopping opportunities are diverse, from megamalls to local markets, and international boutiques. There are many great neighborhoods for shopping, like Jardins, where you'll find high end stores. The main shopping street is Rua Oscar Freire. Downtown Sao Paulo has a mix of retail stores and market stalls that sell everything from cheap fashion to inexpensive odds and ins.

Puerto Viejo is a great destination for shopping. You can wander through the town center and enjoy shopping at the local boutiques that sell clothes and other touristy items.

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo More Beautiful?

Puerto Viejo is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Puerto Viejo offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The beaches are beautiful and lined with rainforests. There's also easy access to the beautiful Cahuita National Park.

Sao Paulo is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo Better for Families?

Puerto Viejo is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Puerto Viejo. With its easy access to Cahuita National Park and many wildlife experiences, this is a great destination for the kids. Kids can see sloths and monkeys, or enjoy snorkeling and hanging out on a chill beach.

Sao Paulo is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy a visit to the zoo or one of the kid-friendly museums around town. There are also a number of parks, some kid-friendly restaurants, and even an amusement park.

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo Better for Couples?

Puerto Viejo is a great town for couples. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Puerto Viejo is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, which has a more laid back and less touristy atmosphere. While you won't find the larger resorts and tourist amenities in this area, couples who enjoy hiking and a local vibe will love their time here.

Sao Paulo is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with culture and you'll find many great activities that will make for an exciting couples trip. There are parks and museums, bars and restaurants, and theaters where you can see a show. Many couples enjoy a visit to the Botanical Garden of Sao Paulo or a stroll through Ibirapuera Park. You can watch the sunset with a view of the city from one of the many rooftop bars and then enjoy some samba dancing on the town.

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Puerto Viejo is a great town for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Sao Paulo is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Puerto Viejo. There's a local atmosphere and enough hostels and budget accommodation to keep backpackers happy. It's also easy to explore and makes the perfect place to chill out for a few days.

Sao Paulo is a good city to visit for backpackers. While it's overlooked by many travelers, backpackers who linger for awhile will enjoy the city's authenticity and cultural scene. There are also a number of hostels around town.

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo Better for Students?

Sao Paulo is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Puerto Viejo is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Sao Paulo. The city is large with a diverse population and plenty to offer students. There are good educational institutions and a great international vibe as well.

Puerto Viejo is not popular with students.

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sao Paulo is a world-class destination for times when you don't have a car. Also, Puerto Viejo is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its public transit.

With a huge network, the transit system in Sao Paulo can get you around easily. It's a huge city, so you'll likely make use of the metro during your trip. There are six lines to the metro system and they provide convenient access to many of the city's top attractions. The city also has many bus routes as well.

You'll find some public transit in Puerto Viejo, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses that travel the longer distances, but most people walk or bike around town.

Is Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo a more walkable city?

Sao Paulo and Puerto Viejo are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Sao Paulo is a very walkable destination. It's a megacity that has a wide range of neighborhoods. The city center is generally very walkable, but because of its size, you'll want to have an itinerary planned out for each day.

Puerto Viejo is very walkable. It's a small town that's easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Sao Paulo Worth Visiting? and Is Puerto Viejo Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Puerto Viejo or Sao Paulo?

How long in Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Sao Paulo and Puerto Viejo. In our opinion, Puerto Viejo has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Puerto Viejo than Sao Paulo. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Sao Paulo. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Puerto Viejo that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Puerto Viejo than Sao Paulo 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 Puerto Viejo.

One day in Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo?

Each neighborhood in Sao Paulo has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the town of Puerto Viejo. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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.

A weekend in Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo?

Sao Paulo is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the mellow destination of Puerto Viejo. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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.

Five days in Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural big city of Sao Paulo. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the relaxed town of Puerto Viejo. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo?

Sao Paulo is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Puerto Viejo is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best 2-Week Tours in Costa Rica, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Costa Rica.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo?

Sao Paulo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Puerto Viejo experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sao Paulo and Puerto Viejo. Most visitors come to Sao Paulo for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Puerto Viejo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Sao Paulo is around the same temperature as Puerto Viejo in the summer. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in July.

Puerto Viejo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sao Paulo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Sao Paulo usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin July. Sao Paulo gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo. September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Sao Paulo as well as Puerto Viejo. The autumn months attract visitors to Sao Paulo because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. The warm climate attracts visitors to Puerto Viejo throughout the year.

In the autumn, Sao Paulo is cooler than Puerto Viejo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Sao Paulo in April average around 22°C (72°F), and Puerto Viejo averages at about 26°C (79°F)in October.

It's quite rainy in Puerto Viejo. Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in April than Puerto Viejoin October. Sao Paulo gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to August in Sao Paulo is the dry season. Also, September to October in Puerto Viejo is the dry season. November to January in Puerto Viejo is the rainy season.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo in the Winter?

Both Puerto Viejo and Sao Paulo are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sao Paulo this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Puerto Viejo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In July, Sao Paulo is generally cooler than Puerto Viejoin January. Daily temperatures in Sao Paulo average around 19°C (66°F), and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Puerto Viejo. In July, Sao Paulo usually receives less rain than Puerto Viejoin January. Sao Paulo gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Sao Paulo is June to August. The rainy season in Puerto Viejo is November to January.

Should I visit Sao Paulo or Puerto Viejo in the Spring?

Both Puerto Viejo and Sao Paulo during the spring are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Sao Paulo for the activities around the city. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Puerto Viejo year-round.

Sao Paulo is cooler than Puerto Viejo in the spring. The daily temperature in Sao Paulo averages around 21°C (70°F) in October, and Puerto Viejo fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in April.

Puerto Viejo gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sao Paulo usually gets less rain in October than Puerto Viejoin April. Sao Paulo gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Puerto Viejo receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Sao Paulo.

Typical Weather for Puerto Viejo and Sao Paulo