A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) vs. San Ignacio for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or San Ignacio?

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 San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio?

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.

San Ignacio

So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.

You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.

This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!

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 Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.


Which place is cheaper, San Ignacio 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is $231, while the average daily cost in San Ignacio is $86. 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 San Ignacio in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $141
    San Ignacio $19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $282
    San Ignacio $38
Compare Hotels in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and San Ignacio

Looking for a hotel in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or San Ignacio? 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.

Hotels in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)


Hotels in San Ignacio


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 San Ignacio Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $9.01
    San Ignacio $3.10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)

Also for Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Cibao International Airport (STI) to Santiago hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
  • Damajagua Waterfalls, Zipline with Lunch and Transfer: $110
  • Private Airport Transfer in Puerto Plata : $44
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Puerto Plata International Airport to Hotels (1 - 6): $62
  • Private Puerto Plata Airport Transfer – Fast, Safe & Hassle-Free: $40
  • Private Santiago Airport Transfer to Puerto Plata Hotels: $120
  • Private Transfer Puerto Plata to Cibao Airport: $128
  • Private Transfer Santiago Airport (STI): $61
  • Private Transfer between STI Airport Santiago to Puerto Plata: $109
  • Private Transfer from Cibao Airport (STI) to Puerto Plata Port: $118
  • Private Transfer from Cibao International Airport to Puerto Plata: $110
  • Private Transfer from Puerto Plata Airport to Cabarete: $80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:

  • Transfer from Belize Airport to San Ignacio: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or San Ignacio?

Prices for flights to both San Ignacio 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $75
    San Ignacio $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in San Ignacio.

  • Maya Fish Cooking Experience: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $40
    San Ignacio $100
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:


  • Snorkeling Tour
    $42
  • Banana Boat Ride
    $5.96
  • Paragliding
    $51
  • 1 Hr Kayak Rental
    $12
  • 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).

  • Damjagua Waterfalls Tickets: $19
  • Puerto Plata Fort de San Felipe and Beach City Tour: $32
  • Puerto Plata City Tour with Pickup: $40
  • 27 Charcos de Damajagua Adventure: $44
  • city and history tours: $44
  • Guided Puerto Plata City Tour – Fortress, Rum & Umbrella Street: $45
  • Cultural and Historical Tour of Puerto Plata: $45
  • Half Day Tour in Puerto Plata: $45
  • Puerto Plata City Tour Ron Puros Culture and History: $50
  • The POP Experience with Ámbar : $50
  • Waterfalls of Damajagua Tour: $50
  • Damajagua 7 Waterfalls Adventure – In Puerto Plata: $50

Tours and Activities in San Ignacio

Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2-Hour The Best of Belmopan Private Walking Tour: $192
  • 3 in 1 Adventure Combo in San Ignacio: $275
  • 5 Waterfall Adventure at Dreaming Giant Falls Belize: $145
  • 7:30am Jungle Farm trail Ride plus Xunantunich adventure: $100
  • ATM Cave Tour from San Ignacio Actun Tunichil Muknal: $124
  • ATV Excursions in Cayo with Waterfalls Experience: $174
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic: $131
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour from San Ignacio : $140
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch: $131
  • Barton Creek Tour: $146
  • Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $95
  • Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch: $122

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $13
    San Ignacio $17


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and San Ignacio, we can see that Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is in Caribbean Islands and San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio.

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 San Ignacio Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or San Ignacio?

Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and San Ignacio, 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.