A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arequipa vs. Vieques Island for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Arequipa or Vieques Island?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Arequipa or Vieques Island? 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: Arequipa or Vieques Island?

Arequipa

Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.

Vieques Island

Amidst the melodious chorus of coqui frogs and gentle whispers of palm trees blowing in an evening breeze, you will find that the waters around you glow just as brightly as the stars above. This tropical paradise is none other than Vieques, Puerto Rico. Tropical forests, bioluminescent bays, coral reefs--this island attracts visitors from all around the world who seek to see the wonders and beauties of the tropics. This island suits those from all walks of life, from history buffs seeking to learn about its unique past to nature-lovers wanting to admire its untouched wilderness. Vieques is the place for a perfect vacation!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Vieques Island or Arequipa?

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 Arequipa is $60, while the average daily cost in Vieques Island is $210. 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 Arequipa and Vieques Island in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arequipa $24
    Vieques Island $92
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arequipa $48
    Vieques Island $184
Compare Hotels in Arequipa and Vieques Island

Looking for a hotel in Arequipa or Vieques Island? 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 Arequipa


Hotels in Vieques Island


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: Arequipa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arequipa $6.36
    Vieques Island $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.43
  • Bus Ride
    $0.46
  • Taxi Ride
    $1.00

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:

  • Colca Canyon 2-Day Tour with Lodge Stay and Transfer to Puno: $283
  • 2 Day Trek Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $179
  • Koh lanta any hotel to Phuket airport Private transfer: $172
  • Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $147
  • 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with optional transfer to Puno: $132
  • Full Day Tour Including Transfer to Puno / Colca Canyon: $112
  • Colca Canyon + Transfer To Puno: $103
  • Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $81
  • Colca Canyon Day Trip with Transfer to Puno: $65
  • Full Day Tour to Colca including Transfer to Puno: $60
  • Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport : $38
  • Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Arequipa or Vieques Island?

Prices for flights to both Vieques Island and Arequipa 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
    Arequipa $25
    Vieques Island $94
Typical Food Prices in Arequipa

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:


  • Coke
    $0.43
  • Lunch
    $3.01
  • Ice Cream
    $1.15
  • Fruit
    $0.86
  • Ice Cream
    $1.00

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa

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

  • Cooking Class at La Plantation: $35
  • Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $35
  • Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $53
  • Private Cooking Class in Arequipa: $57
  • Food Tour Gastronomic Guided : $113

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arequipa $19
    Vieques Island $34
Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa

Here are a few typical costs in Arequipa for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Monastery Entry
    $2.87
  • Salsa Class
    $2.87
  • Movie Ticket
    $3.13
  • Hot Springs
    $2.87

Tours and Activities in Arequipa

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

  • Colca Full Day Tour: $51
  • Walking tour history, legends & mysteries : $28
  • 2 Day - Colca Canyon and Condor Tour from Arequipa, Peru - Group Service : $295
  • 2 Days of Natural Experience in the Colca Canyon: $140
  • 2 days 1 night Colca Canyon tour from Arequipa: $110
  • 2-Day Group Tour to Colca Canyon from Arequipa: $230
  • 2-Day Hiking Tour to the Colca Canyon: $90
  • 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
  • 2-Day tour Colca Canyon ending in Puno: $95
  • 3 Hour Congata Rover Biking Ride Tour in Arequipa: $45
  • 3-hour guided tour in Arequipa: $65
  • 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $20

Tours and Activities in Vieques Island

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vieques Island.

  • Vieques Biobay Kayaking Tour: $60
  • Unforgettable One Day Bioluminescent Kayak Adventure in Vieques: $60
  • El Yunque Rainforest Tour: Natural Waterslides Adventure : $65
  • Bio Bay Tour Vieques – Full Clear Canoes Experience: $65
  • Biobay Vieques Tour Kayak Night Tour: $65
  • Overnight Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Vieques Island: $66
  • CLEAR BOTTOM KAYAKS Tour in Bioluminescent, Mosquito Bay: $67
  • Isla de Vieques Beach Hopper Sightseeing Tour: $90
  • 1-Hour Bioluminescent Boat Tour in Mosquito Bay, Vieques : $100
  • Full Clear Kayak Bioluminescent Experience Vieques, Puerto Rico: $110
  • Vieques Island Rich History Tour : $125

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arequipa $17
    Vieques Island $30
Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Beer
    $2.58


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arequipa and Vieques Island, we can see that Vieques Island is more expensive. And not only is Arequipa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arequipa is in South America and Vieques Island is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Arequipa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arequipa 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 Vieques Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vieques Island than you might in Arequipa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arequipa Expensive? and Is Vieques Island Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Arequipa or Vieques Island?

Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Vieques Island. When comparing the sizes of Arequipa and Vieques Island, 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.