Which place is cheaper, Vieques Island or Arica?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Arica or Vieques Island?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Arica and Vieques Island. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Arica or Vieques Island?
Arica
A mixture of coastline, desert and high Andean plateau, Arica is a seaside resort town, known for its surfing beaches located at the tip of Northern Chile. Arica boasts that it is "the land of the eternal spring," but its temperate climate and beaches are not the only reason to visit this small city. Arica's tourism is still principally geared toward domestic visitors and those from southern Peru and La Paz, who flock to its beaches mid-December through February. It is very easy to spend a few days in Arica in the sand, or seeing the sights in town, at a slow pace but the city also offers plenty of fun activities and exciting day trips.
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 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArica $79Vieques Island $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Arica is $79, while the average daily cost in Vieques Island is $170. 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 Arica and Vieques Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArica $35Vieques Island $92
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArica $70Vieques Island $184
Compare Hotels in Arica and Vieques Island
Looking for a hotel in Arica 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.
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: Arica Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arica $18Vieques Island $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
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Short Taxi Ride$2.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arica Airport Private Transfer: $85
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $31
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $31
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $27
- Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $27
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $24
- Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $24
- Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vieques Island
Also for Vieques Island, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Taxi Transfer From San Juan Airport to El Conquistador Hotel: $115
- Private Transfer Fajardo or Ceiba to San Juan Airport: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Arica or Vieques Island?
Prices for flights to both Vieques Island and Arica 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 dayArica $28Vieques Island $54
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arica $20Vieques Island $34
Tours and Activities in Arica
For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Archaeological Tour: $32
- Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $103
- Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $134
- Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
- Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $256
Tours and Activities in Vieques Island
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vieques Island.
- 1-Hour Bioluminescent Boat Tour in Mosquito Bay, Vieques : $128
- Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Fajardo: $65
- Bio Bay Kayak Tour in Fajardo: $72
- Bioluminescent Bay Night Kayaking Tour in Laguna Grande Fajardo: $65
- Culebra Island Snorkel with Turtles Adventure - Ferry Tickets Included: $135
- El Yunque Waterfalls and Waterslide River Tour: $50
- Fajardo Afternoon Snorkeling Boat Tour: $110
- Full-Day Snorkeling Tour to Culebra Island with Lunch: $139
- Half Day Adventure Private Tour in El Yunque Rainforest: $234
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $45
- Icacos Island All-Inclusive Snorkel and Boat Tour : $125
- Isla de Vieques Beach Sightseeing Day Tour: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArica $19Vieques Island $30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arica and Vieques Island, we can see that Vieques Island is more expensive. And not only is Arica much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arica 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 Arica would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Arica 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 Arica.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arica Expensive? and Is Vieques Island Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arica or Vieques Island?
Arica has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Vieques Island. When comparing the sizes of Arica 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.
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.