Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Banos?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Banos or Bonaire?
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 Bonaire. 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 Bonaire?
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.
Bonaire
An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and Curaçao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBanos $46Bonaire $256
The average daily cost (per person) in Banos is $46, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $256. 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 Bonaire in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBanos $16Bonaire $155
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBanos $32Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Banos and Bonaire
Looking for a hotel in Banos or Bonaire? 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: Banos Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Banos $10Bonaire $65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:
- Airport Transfer Return Included: $44
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk City to Kralendijk Cruise Port: $59
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
- Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
- Private Transfers from Bonaire airport to any address on Bonaire: $43
Is it cheaper to fly into Banos or Bonaire?
Prices for flights to both Bonaire 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
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Food Meals for one dayBanos $15Bonaire $59
Typical Food Prices in Banos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:
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Dinner$13
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Ice cream$1.50
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Coffee$2.50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Banos $19Bonaire $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banos
Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two Rented Bikes for the Day$10
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Cost to see Waterfall$2.00
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Day at the Spa$45
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2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)$10
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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 Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
- Canopy Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park: $26
- 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
- Canyoning Adventure Tour in the Ravine: $30
- Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience in Chamana: $30
- Private Canyoning Experience in Baños de Agua Santa Ecuador: $30
- Full Day Jungle Tour: $32
- Puyo Jungle Tour in 1 Day: $35
- Full Day Guided Tour in the Ecuadorian Amazon: $35
- Pailón del Diablo | Waterfall Route | Tour for 3 hours: $35
- Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $35
- One day tour in the jungle. all inclusive.: $39
Tours and Activities in Bonaire
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bonaire are as follows:
- Semi Submarine Boat Experience to Klein Bonaire: $33
- Walking Tours & Private Tours on Bonaire: $36
- 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
- Half-Day Bonaire Island Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-off: $46
- Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
- Sunset Adventure: $55
- Yacht tour with local guide & snorkeling activities: $57
- Highlights of Bonaire & Cultural Experience: $59
- Clearbottom Mangrove Kayak & Snorkel tour: $59
- Explore North & South Tour: $65
- Small-Group Guided North & South Tour of Bonaire with Pick Up: $65
- Donkey Sanctuary Tour with a Local Guide : $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBanos $9.74Bonaire $33
Typical Alcohol Prices in Banos
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:
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Beer$4.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Banos and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Banos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Banos is in South America and Bonaire 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 Banos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banos 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire than you might in Banos.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Banos Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Banos or Bonaire?
Bonaire has a larger population, and is about 41% larger than the population of Banos. When comparing the sizes of Banos and Bonaire, 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.