Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) Prices
Dominican Republic PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $245Tamarindo $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is $245, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $161. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $150Tamarindo $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $300Tamarindo $112
Compare Hotels in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $9.54Tamarindo $77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amber Cove (Puerto Plata)
Also for Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Santiago de los Caballeros Airport (STI): $22
- Cibao International Airport (STI) to Santiago hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $31
- Roundtrip Private Transfer from Santiago Caballeros Airport (STI): $45
- Pop Airport Transfers 1 to 6 persons: $45
- Puerto Plata Airport(POP)to Puerto Plata/Cofresi-Arrival Transfer: $54
- Private Puerto Plata Airport Transfer – Fast, Safe & Hassle-Free: $54
- Transfer Private Santiago Airport (STI) to Hotel in the City: $54
- Private Airport Transfer in Puerto Plata: $55
- Transfer Private airport Santigo STI to hotels in santiago: $55
- Private Transfer Puerto Plata Airport to Hotels.: $55
- Puerto Plata Airport (POP) to Sosua/Cabarete - Arrival Transfer: $60
- Puerto Plata Airport(POP) to Sosua/Cabarete - Round-Trip Transfer: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Minivan Departure Transfer Tamarindo to San Jose Airport SJO: $293
- Private Round Trip Transfer: Liberia Airport to W- Conchal with Free Drinks: $280
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Las Catalinas: $250
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Liberia Airport to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort: $230
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Casa Chameleon At Las Catalinas: $225
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To JW Marriott Guanacaste: $205
- Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hacienda Pinilla Guanacaste: $185
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Westin Resort, Conchal, Costa Rica: $185
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Westin Resort Costa Rica: $180
- Private Transfer Service From Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Guanacaste: $180
- Private Transfer: Liberia Airport to JW Marriott Guanacaste: $180
- Airport Transfer from Liberia Airport to Andaz Papagayo Hyatt (Round Trip): $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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) $80Tamarindo $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Tamarindo : Traditional Cooking Class: $95
- Discover Tamarindo's Blue Zone: Healthy Cooking Class: $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) $43Tamarindo $19
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$44
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Banana Boat Ride$6.31
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Paragliding$54
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1 Hr Kayak Rental$13
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Water Skiing$19
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
- City Tour puerto Plata jhensy: $30
- Half Day City Tour in Puerto Plata: $35
- puerto plata city tours guiado: $40
- Puerto Plata: City Tour, Beach-Break Playa Dorada: $40
- Private Puerto Plata Tour from Amber Cove & Taino Bay: $40
- Puerto Plata Sightseeing & Local Flavors Tour: $45
- Guided Puerto Plata City Tour – Fortress, Rum & Umbrella Street: $45
- Puerto Plata City Tour: $45
- Half Day City Tour in Puerto Plata: $45
- Damajagua experience: $45
- Best Puerto Plata City Tour with beach: $47
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- "KOKORUGA" Private Boat Tour with Food, Free Drink, Snorkel: $130
- 1 Full Private Tour to Arenal Volcano + Baldi Hot Springs: $183
- 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $70
- 1,5 Hours Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $85
- 2 Hours Jet Ski Tour in Papagayo with Snorkel Caves Mangrove: $280
- 2 Hours Pura Vida ATV Adventure from Tamarindo to Playa Conchal: $180
- 2-Hour Guided Tour by ATV near Playa Conchal: $130
- 3 HOURS Coastal ATV Adventure from Tamarindo to Playa Negra: $270
- 3 Hour ATV Secluded Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo, Conchal & Grande: $125
- 3 Hours Flamingo Beach ATV Tour: $105
- 3-in-1 Rincon de la Vieja National Park Nature Day Tour: $300
- 30 Minutes Private Guided Jet Ski Tour in Conchal & Brasilito: $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmber Cove (Puerto Plata) $14Tamarindo $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl – #1 Nightlife Experience | Shots all night!: $20
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl – #1 Nightlife Experience: $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) and Tamarindo, we can see that Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is more expensive. And not only is Tamarindo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amber Cove (Puerto Plata) is in Caribbean Islands and Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo.
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 Tamarindo 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.