Which place is cheaper, Banos or Acapulco de Juarez?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Acapulco de Juarez or Banos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Banos? 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.
Where Should I go: Acapulco de Juarez or Banos?
Acapulco de Juarez
Located on the southwestern Pacific Coast of Mexico is the beautiful beach city of Acapulco de Juarez. Acapulco is one of the original travel and resort destinations in Mexico, and it's still considered a popular spring break destination for Americans. Known as simply "Acapulco" to many travelers, this region is a popular spot for cruise lines to stop and timeshares to grow. Thanks to those cruise lines and timeshares, tourist activities like water parks and jet skis have experienced considerable growth.
Banos
Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Acapulco de Juarez Prices
Mexico PricesBanos Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAcapulco de Juarez $92Banos $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Acapulco de Juarez is $92, while the average daily cost in Banos is $57. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Acapulco de Juarez and Banos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAcapulco de Juarez $35Banos $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAcapulco de Juarez $70Banos $32
Compare Hotels in Acapulco de Juarez and Banos
Looking for a hotel in Acapulco de Juarez or Banos? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Acapulco de Juarez Hotel Prices and Banos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $15Banos $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Acapulco de Juarez
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Acapulco de Juarez:
- Private - One Way or Round Trip Airport Transfer: $66
- Acapulco Airport (ACA) to Acapulco hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Acapulco Airport Roundtrip Transfers: $75
- Acapulco hotels to Acapulco Airport (ACA) – Departure Private Transfer : $45
- Airport Transfer In Suburban: $45
- Private Airport Transfer &on 2nd Day 4Hr TourAll AttractionsCombo: $90
- Private Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
- Private Transfer to Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $27
- Roundtrip Shared Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $27
- Shared Transfer from Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
- Shared Transfer to Acapulco Airport (ACA): $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Acapulco de Juarez or Banos?
Prices for flights to both Banos and Acapulco de Juarez change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAcapulco de Juarez $45Banos $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Acapulco de Juarez
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Acapulco de Juarez.
- Lucha Libre-Wrestling FiestaExper Taco Dinner Beer ONLY SUNDAYS: $62
- High Divers DeLuxe Three Course Dinner + Two Drinks plus SUNSET: $66
- Wrestling-Lucha Libre Experience Tacos Beer Dinner Only On SUNDAY: $74
- Sunset Dinner and Cliff Divers in Acapulco: $91
- Mexican Cooking Class & Market Tour with a Professional Chef: $100
- Mexican Fiesta Show & Dinner: $115
- Super DeLuxe Bella Vista Dinner &1 Drink +2 Drinks at CliffDivers: $253
- Off the Beaten Path Mexican Cooking Class Lagoon Boatride &Lunch: $286
Typical Food Prices in Banos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:
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Dinner$13
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Ice cream$1.50
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Coffee$2.50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Acapulco de Juarez $16Banos $19
Tours and Activities in Acapulco de Juarez
Here are a few actual costs in Acapulco de Juarez for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kayaks Tour to El Morro Islet: $22
- Acapulco Malibu, Avenida Kids Tour : $50
- Small-Group or Private All Inclusive 4 Hours City Tour & Divers: $53
- Different Faces Of Acapulco Tour: $55
- Acapulco Port Tour in 4 hours: $56
- 4hr Fun Guide Tour For Cruisers or Hotels Guests with Divers Show: $58
- 4Hrs City Tour Exclusively for Hotels, Divers, Chapel & Mural.: $60
- Acapulco City Tour: $65
- Acapulco Historical Tour with Cliff Divers Show: $65
- City Tour & Sunset High Cliff Divers by Night w/Different Choices: $67
- 4 Hrs Exclusive to Cruise Ship Passengers Sightseeing Experience : $67
- Tour Isla de la Roqueta Stand up paddle Acapulco: $67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banos
Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two Rented Bikes for the Day$10
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Cost to see Waterfall$2.00
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Day at the Spa$45
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2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)$10
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Entrance to Waterfall$2.00
Tours and Activities in Banos
Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Pailón del Diablo | Waterfall Route | Tour for 3 hours: $20
- The Hands of God | Tours | The highest viewpoint in the city: $22
- Adventure Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
- Canopy Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park: $26
- 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
- Canyoning Adventure Tour in the Ravine: $30
- City Viewpoint Night Tours: $35
- 1 day jungle tour: $35
- Puyo Jungle Tour in 1 Day: $35
- One day tour in the jungle. all inclusive.: $35
- Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $35
- Full Day Amazon Jungle Tour: $37
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAcapulco de Juarez $9.81Banos $9.74
Typical Alcohol Prices in Banos
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:
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Beer$4.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Acapulco de Juarez and Banos, we can see that Acapulco de Juarez is more expensive. And not only is Banos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Acapulco de Juarez is in North America and Banos is in South 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 Banos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banos 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 Acapulco de Juarez would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Acapulco de Juarez than you might in Banos.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Acapulco de Juarez Expensive? and Is Banos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Acapulco de Juarez or Banos?
Acapulco de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Banos. When comparing the sizes of Acapulco de Juarez and Banos, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.