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

Should you visit Banos or Tena?

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 Tena. 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 Tena?

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.

Tena

Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.

Which place is cheaper, Tena 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 Tena is $48. 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 Tena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Banos $16
    Tena $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Banos $32
    Tena $44
Compare Hotels in Banos and Tena

Looking for a hotel in Banos or Tena? 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 Tena


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Banos $10
    Tena $16

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:

  • PRIVATE Transfer JMC Airport - Person in Disability (PeSD): $59
  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Private Transfer from José María Córdova (MDE) Airport to Medellín City: $64
  • Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
  • Roundtrip transfer Private Car Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $68
  • Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
  • San Andres hotels to San Andres Airport (ADZ) Departure Transfer: $37
  • Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15
  • Transfer in Private Car from Medellin ariport (MDE)- Guatape: $34
  • Transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $42

Is it cheaper to fly into Banos or Tena?

Prices for flights to both Tena 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
    Tena $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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Banos $19
    Tena $14
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:

  • The Hands of God | Tours | The highest viewpoint in the city: $15
  • City Viewpoint Night Tours: $15
  • Pailón Del Diablo Tour, Tree House And Night Tour: $18
  • Adventure Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
  • Canopy Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park: $26
  • Tourist Transportation Rental in Baños de Agua Santa: $27
  • 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
  • Canyoning Adventure Tour in the Ravine: $30
  • Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park in Baños: $30
  • Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience in Chamana: $30
  • Full Day Jungle Tour: $32
  • Full Day Tour to the Jungle of Puyo: $33

Tours and Activities in Tena

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

  • Manoa Park Admission Ticket: $9.38
  • Full Day Adventure to the Páramo de Ocetá from Mongui: $20
  • Private Waterfalls Experience with Chococamping: $32
  • Colonial Guaduas Tour: $43
  • Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $44
  • Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
  • Angelópolis Coffee Tour: $62
  • Popayan Gastronomic Wonders and City Tour: $63
  • Tour to Río Claro and La Caverna del Cóndor: $65
  • Private 40-minute Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
  • Coffee Tour Daytrip at Finca La Manchuria - Exclusive Experience.: $80
  • Experience Popayán, beautiful colonial city with a private tour guide.: $81

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Banos $9.74
    Tena $9.73
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


When comparing the travel costs between Banos and Tena, we can see that Tena 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.

Which is Bigger, Banos or Tena?

Banos is bigger, and its population is about 13.7 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the population of Banos vs. Tena, 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 and the activities 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.
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Banos vs. Tena Travel Comparison

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