Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)?
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 Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Jaco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Jaco can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Jaco?
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
Puerto Plata, nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, is a captivating destination known for its beautiful beaches, historical landmarks, and vibrant culture. Whether you're arriving via the bustling Amber Cove cruise port or planning an extended stay, Puerto Plata offers a diverse range of experiences for every traveler.
Jaco
Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.
Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica.
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Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) Prices
Dominican Republic PricesJaco Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $231Jaco $119
The average daily cost (per person) in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is $231, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $119. 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 Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $141Jaco $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $282Jaco $134
Compare Hotels in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Jaco
Looking for a hotel in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Jaco? 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: Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) Hotel Prices and Jaco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $9.01Jaco -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
Also for Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- transportation and Private transfer Airport pop, silver port: $45
- Transfer of Gregorio Luperón International to Puerto Plata: $30
- Transfer STI Airport: Taxi and Shuttle to Home: $300
- Transfer Premium Airport POP to your Destination: $60
- Puerto Plata to Rio San Juan transfer: $189
- Puerto Plata to Punta Cana Airport PUJ Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Puerto Plata to Lifestyle LHVC transfer: $91
- Puerto Plata VIP Transferencias y tours: $120
- Puerto Plata Airport(POP)to Puerto Plata/Cofresi-Arrival Transfer: $54
- Puerto Plata Airport(POP) to Sosua/Cabarete - Round-Trip Transfer: $60
- Puerto Plata Airport (POP) to Sosua / Cabarete - Arrival Transfer: $30
- Puerto Plata Airport (POP) to Puerto Plata - Round-Trip Transfer: $111
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Jaco beach from San José or the airport one way: $235
- Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $204
- One-Way Private Transfer from Jaco to Juan Santa Maria Airport: $175
- Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $144
- Private Direct SJO ↔ Jaco Beach/Los Sueños Transfer Service: $70
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Jaco Beach Puntarenas: $66
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Playa Jaco Puntarenas: $63
- Shuttle & transfer rides to SJO Airport Costa Rica: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco and Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) 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 dayAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $75Jaco $36
Typical Food Prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch$3.94
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Tsunami Sushi Dinner$18
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Taco Bar Dinner$9.00
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch$6.30
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Ice Cream$5.91
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Breakfast Taco Bar$3.34
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Fruit Plate$2.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
- Traditional Costa Rican cooking class and meal with a modern twist: $139
- Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $195
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $40Jaco $60
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
For Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Snorkeling Tour$42
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Banana Boat Ride$5.96
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Paragliding$51
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1 Hr Kayak Rental$12
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Water Skiing$18
Tours and Activities in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Amber Cove (Puerto Plata).
- Puerto Plata: Wild, Wet & Furious Adventure: $165
- 2 Hours Buggy Adventure from Puerto Plata: $130
- 2 Person Buggy Tour: $126
- 27 Charcos de Damajagua Adventure: $44
- 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua – Adventure Tour from Puerto Plata: $75
- 3 Hours Four-wheel Adventures : $100
- 7 Damajagua & Monkey Home Tours waterfalls: $99
- ATV 4 wheel from Amber Cove & Taino bay port silver Cruise port: $110
- ATV Adventure: $60
- ATV Adventure Tour in Puerto Plata Culture and Beach: $55
- ATV Adventure from Puerto Plata: $120
- ATV Adventure from Puerto Plata: $125
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class$9.81
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Surf Lesson$49
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Bike Rental$9.81
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Tortuga Island Tour$98
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Massage$44
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- All Inclusive Catamaran Day Tour to Tortuga Island: $169
- Mountain View Zip-line Tour: $67
- Ocean views Zip Line Canopy Tour in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $71
- 10 WATERFALLS and NATURAL POOLS HIKING EXPERIENCE 4x4 TRUCK RIDE: $60
- 2 HRS Buggy Tour + Waterfalls in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos: $212
- 2 Hour ATV Jungle Adventure Jaco: $75
- 2 Hour ATV Tour and 2 Hour Zipline Experience in Jaco: $119
- 2 hour ATV Tour & Waterfalls + Chocolate Experience : $110
- 2 hour Double ATV Tour + Waterfalls in Jaco Beach : $99
- 3-Hour ATV Jungle Waterfall Adventure: $95
- 3-Hour Private Guided Experience of 7 Course Contemporary Indian Tasting Menu: $225
- 4 Hours ATV and Waterfall Tour at Quebrada Ganado: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $13Jaco $32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine$15
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Night at the Bar$27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Jaco, we can see that Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is more expensive. And not only is Jaco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is in Caribbean Islands and Jaco 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 Jaco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jaco 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 Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) than you might in Jaco.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) Expensive? and Is Jaco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Jaco?
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the sizes of Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) 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.
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.