Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) Prices
Dominican Republic PricesSanta Elena Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $231Santa Elena $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is $231, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $109. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $141Santa Elena $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $282Santa Elena $110
Compare Hotels in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Santa Elena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $9.01Santa Elena $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
Also for Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer STI Airport: Taxi and Shuttle to Home: $300
- Puerto Plata to Rio San Juan transfer: $189
- Private Transfer from Santiago STI Airport to Santo Domingo: $160
- Private Transfer Puerto Plata to Cibao Airport: $128
- Private Santiago Airport Transfer to Puerto Plata Hotels: $120
- Puerto Plata VIP Transferencias y tours: $120
- Private Transfer from Cibao Airport (STI) to Puerto Plata Port: $118
- Puerto Plata Airport (POP) to Puerto Plata - Round-Trip Transfer: $111
- Private Transfer from Cibao International Airport to Puerto Plata: $110
- Damajagua Waterfalls, Zipline with Lunch and Transfer: $110
- Private Transfer between STI Airport Santiago to Puerto Plata: $109
- Puerto Plata to Lifestyle LHVC transfer: $91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to your Destination: $240
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $233
- MiniVan Departure Transfer Monteverde to San Jose Airport SJO: $215
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Saint Helena Monte Verde: $210
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $197
Is it cheaper to fly into Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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) $75Santa Elena $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Monteverde Cooking Class: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $40Santa Elena $30
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
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Cloud Forest hanging bridges with a local naturalist tour guide: $22
- Curi-cancha Bird-Watching tour semi private : $40
- 2x1 Guided Tour Combo Hanging Bridges and Night Walk: $40
- 3 Hours Bird Watching Guided Experience in Bajo Cebadilla: $90
- 3 hours of the Longest and Highest Extreme Zip line Experience in Monteverde: $95
- Admission Ticket to Las Pumas Rescue Center : $20
- Adventure Day - Outdoor Fun for Family & Friends Package: $29
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course : $69
- Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde : $85
- Canopy Adventure From Monteverde: $86
- Cloud Forest Small Group Tour: $30
- Coffee Tour Monteverde : $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $13Santa Elena $6.21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Santa Elena, we can see that Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.
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 Santa Elena Expensive?.
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.