A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Banos vs. Bogota for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Banos or Bogota?

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 Banos and Bogota. 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: Banos or Bogota?

Banos

Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.

Bogota

Sprawling across a high altitude in the Columbian Andes region, Bogota is the capital city of Columbia. It is a mix of the old and new with century-old plazas and churches shadowed by towering skyscrapers, museums representing the history, art, and culture of the region, as well as a mix of distinct neighborhoods from quaint and historic to trendy and contemporary.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Bogota or Banos?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Banos is $46, while the average daily cost in Bogota is $53. 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 Banos and Bogota in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Banos $16
    Bogota $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Banos $32
    Bogota $52
Compare Hotels in Banos and Bogota

Looking for a hotel in Banos or Bogota? 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 Banos


Hotels in Bogota


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: Banos Hotel Prices and Bogota Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Banos $10
    Bogota $8.77

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bogota

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


  • Taxi from Airport
    $7.56
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.39
  • 2 Bus Passes
    $0.89

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bogota

Also for Bogota, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Arrival Private Transfer Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City in a Luxury Van: $134
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Bogota Airport BOG to Bogota City by Minibus: $124
  • Bogotá Private Luxury Transfer - Airport Pick Up or Drop Off - SUV Mercedes Benz: $97
  • Bogotá to or from Villa de Leyva Private Transfer: $80
  • Bogota Airport (BOG) to Downtown Round-Trip Private Transfer: $48
  • Bogota Airport BOG to Downtown Hotels Round Trip Private Transfer: $48
  • Departure Private Transfer Bogota City to Bogota Airport BOG in Business Car: $118
  • Departure Private Transfer from Bogota City to Bogota Airport BOG in Minibus: $124
  • Downtown to Bogota Airport (BOG) Departure Private Transfer: $24
  • El Dorado International Airport (BOG) - Private Round trip transfer Bogota: $80
  • Premium Private Transfer from Bogota Hotels to El Dorado Airport: $17
  • Premium Private Transfer from El Dorado Airport to Bogota Hotels: $21

Is it cheaper to fly into Banos or Bogota?

Prices for flights to both Bogota and Banos 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
    Banos $15
    Bogota $14
Typical Food Prices in Banos

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


  • Dinner
    $13
  • Ice cream
    $1.50
  • Coffee
    $2.50

Typical Food Prices in Bogota

For Bogota, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $1.57
  • Hot Dog
    $0.92

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bogota

For Bogota, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Bogota Local Food Tour in the City Center: $13
  • Peruvian cooking workshop: $26
  • Street Food Tour in Bogota with 10+ Tastings: $45
  • Viejo Bogota Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $49
  • PALOQUEMAO MARKET FOOD TOUR. EXOTIC FRUIT. LOCAL SNACKS. /Min 2 pax: $55
  • Bogota Food Tour • Private Car • Fruits Cacao Lunch Coffee Beer: $59
  • Carimañola Cooking Class in Bogota: $60
  • Bogotá Food Tour - La Candelaria: $61
  • Private Colombian Cooking Class and Market Tour In Bogota: $90
  • Dinner and party at Andres Carne de Res DC: $100
  • Private Street Food Tour in Candelaria Bogota: $130
  • Gastronomy & Cooking Class Private Tour (6 Hrs.): $229

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Banos $19
    Bogota $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banos

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


  • Two Rented Bikes for the Day
    $10
  • Cost to see Waterfall
    $2.00
  • Day at the Spa
    $45
  • 2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)
    $10
  • Entrance to Waterfall
    $2.00

Tours and Activities in Banos

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

  • Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $35
  • 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
  • 3 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Baños: $40
  • 5-Hour Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Baños: $62
  • Adventure Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
  • Adventure in Baños 3 Days 2 Nights: $225
  • Animalpark | Theme Park | Tours | naturally fun: $45
  • Baths Nature and Adventure 2 Days.: $190
  • Canopy Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park: $26
  • Canyoning Adventure Tour in the Ravine: $30
  • Chimborazo Volcano Bike Tour: $95
  • Chimborazo Volcano from Baños private day Tour: $139

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bogota

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bogota's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Beer
    $1.31

Tours and Activities in Bogota

For Bogota, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Party Tour: 6 nightclubs, Disco-Truck, After Party, 2 openbars: $2.95
  • Colonial Bogotá: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of La Candelaria: $5.99
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - El Dorado Expedition, Part II: $6.99
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour - El Dorado Expedition, Part I : $6.99
  • Graffiti Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $13
  • Shared Tour of the Historic Candelaria in Bogotá: $13
  • Graffiti Tour: a fascinating walk through a street art City: $13
  • Walking Tour in La Candelaria Bogotá: $14
  • Walking Tour through Candelaria: $14
  • Walking tour La Candelaria bogotá: $15
  • Ghost Tour Bogotá/ Tour de fantasmas bogotá : $15
  • Full Day Tour to the Colonial Town of Villa de Leyva: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Banos $9.74
    Bogota $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Banos

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $4.00

Sample the Local Flavors in Bogota

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bogota:

  • Thursday Bar Crawl in Bogotá: $25
  • Friday Night Bar Crawl in Bogotá : $25
  • Pub Crawl in Bogotá: $40
  • Pub Crawl in Bogota - Ancient Brews : $103


When comparing the travel costs between Banos and Bogota, we can see that Bogota is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Banos or Bogota?

Bogota has a larger population, and is about 750 times larger than the population of Banos. When comparing the sizes of Banos and Bogota, 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.