Comparison · San Juan vs Saint Lucia · Puerto Rico / Saint Lucia
San Juan vs Saint Lucia
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose San Juan for El Morro, Old San Juan, day trips and a short break; choose Saint Lucia for The Pitons and Honeymoons. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 746 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 746 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for San Juan
- December–April
- Best time for Saint Lucia
- January–April
Side by side
| San Juan | Saint Lucia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Puerto Rico | Saint Lucia |
| Known for | El Morro, Old San Juan and Mofongo | The Pitons, Honeymoons and Sulphur Springs |
| Best time to visit | December–April | January–April |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 7 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $220–$370 | $200–$400 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | June, 31°C (88°F) | April, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 28°C (82°F) | January, 29°C (84°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 3 |
| Beaches | Isla Verde Beach | Reduit Beach |
| Airports | SJU | UVF, SLU |
Which one is right for you?
Choose San Juan for…
El Morro, Old San Juan, day trips and a short break. San Juan, founded by the Spanish in 1521, is one of the oldest European-founded cities in the Americas. Its walled old town sits on an islet guarded by the massive forts of El Morro and San Cristóbal, with pastel colonial houses along streets paved in…
Choose Saint Lucia for…
The Pitons and Honeymoons. Saint Lucia is a mountainous volcanic island in the Windward Islands, about 40 km long, best known for the Pitons — two forested volcanic spires rising from the sea near Soufrière, at the centre of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The calm Caribbean west coast…
Top sights compared
| # | San Juan | Saint Lucia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castillo San Felipe del Morro | The Pitons |
| 2 | Castillo San Cristóbal | Gros Piton hike |
| 3 | Old San Juan streets and plazas | Sulphur Springs |
| 4 | Paseo de la Princesa and Paseo del Morro | Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens |
| 5 | La Fortaleza | Tet Paul Nature Trail |
Food compared
| San Juan | Saint Lucia |
|---|---|
| Mofongo | Green fig and saltfish |
| Lechón asado | Bouyon |
| Arroz con gandules | Accra |
| Alcapurrias | Bakes and saltfish |
Which is cheaper?
San Juan and Saint Lucia cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $220–$370 in San Juan and $200–$400 in Saint Lucia (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). San Juan on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 746 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 13 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is San Juan or Saint Lucia cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $220–$370 in San Juan and $200–$400 in Saint Lucia (estimates).
+Is San Juan or Saint Lucia better for a first trip?
Pick San Juan for El Morro, Old San Juan, day trips and a short break, or Saint Lucia for The Pitons and Honeymoons.
+How far is San Juan from Saint Lucia?
About 746 km in a straight line.