Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Basse-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena? 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: Basse-Terre or Cartagena?
Basse-Terre
In Guadeloupe there is Basse Terre the city and Basse-Terre the island - the city is the capital of Guadeloupe, and the island is Guadeloupe's western half of the main island. As a whole, the place is very green, featuring lush vegetation and a mountainous landscape with a sulfuric volcano.
Cartagena
The capital of the Bolivar Department of Colombia, Cartagena is one of the most visited cities in the country. It sits on Colombia's northern coast by the Caribbean Sea. It's a port city with a population of almost 900,000, making it the fifth largest city in Colombia. The city has a rich history and was the first Spanish colony on the American continent. It was also one of the first sanctuaries for freed African slaves in the Americas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best Eco Tours in Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre €151Cartagena €45
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €151, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is €45. 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 Basse-Terre and Cartagena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre €90Cartagena €25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre €180Cartagena €50
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Cartagena
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or Cartagena? 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: Basse-Terre Hotel Prices and Cartagena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basse-Terre €8.00Cartagena €7.03
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Cartagena: $7.81
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $7.81
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Morros: $7.81
- Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $7.81
- Transfer aeropuerto-centro: $8.02
- Cartagena Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfer: $10
- Shared Transfer from the Airport to Cartagena City or Vice Versa: $10
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $11
- Cartagena:Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in the Bosque: $11
- Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $11
- Airport transfer to any hotel in Castillogrande: $11
- Bilingual Private Transfer In Cartagena : $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Cartagena?
Prices for flights to both Cartagena and Basse-Terre 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 dayBasse-Terre €46Cartagena €9.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.
- Featured in NYTimes > Arepas and Dancing: Danceable Cooking Class in Cartagena: $32
- Cooking class of typical food at the beach and sunset view: $39
- Taste Cartagena Food tour: $40
- Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $42
- Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $43
- Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $50
- Cooking Class: Street food & Mojito making: $50
- Cruise by the Bay with Dinner and Wine: $55
- Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $58
- Cartagena Gourmet: Cooking Class with a View, Elegance & Flavor: $59
- Cooking class: Street Food & Mojito making: $60
- Street food tour: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basse-Terre €47Cartagena €20
Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Basse-Terre are as follows:
- Full day tour: the best of the island w/photos drone sunset: $214
Tours and Activities in Cartagena
Here are a few actual costs in Cartagena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Emeralds Tour: $0.03
- Totumo Mud Volcano Experience: $0.21
- Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $6.31
- Self-Guided Audio Tour - The Great Battle: Fort of San Felipe: $6.99
- Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.45
- Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.02
- Tour the city on a rumba in a typical bus: $9.23
- Old Town & Getsemani Quarter Self-guided Tour: $9.52
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of San Diego Neighborhood Tour: $10
- Republican Architecture Self-Guided Audio Tour in Cartagena: $10
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: The Rise of the Wall City Part II: $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasse-Terre €13Cartagena €8.63
Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena
Also in Cartagena, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Dancing Lessons and Free Shots: $18
- Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
- Cartagena Pub Crawl: Let's Party & Matching in Getsemaní: $24
- Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $71
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Cartagena, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Cartagena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Cartagena is in South America, 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 Cartagena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cartagena 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 Basse-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basse-Terre than you might in Cartagena.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Basse-Terre Expensive? and Is Cartagena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Cartagena?
Cartagena has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Cartagena, 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.
When is the best time to visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Cartagena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Cartagena attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cartagena this time of the year. In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Cartagena during summer. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 207 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basse-Terre in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Cartagena averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasse-Terre 27°C (81°F)Cartagena 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Cartagena. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cartagena throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Cartagena. Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Cartagena. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the autumn, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 175 hours of full sun.
In October, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Cartagena. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (80°F), and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasse-Terre 27°C (80°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Winter?
Both Cartagena and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cartagena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Cartagena. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Cartagena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives less sunshine than Cartagena during winter. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Cartagena receives 278 hours of full sun in the winter.
Basse-Terre is cooler than Cartagena in the winter. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Cartagena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasse-Terre 24°C (76°F)Cartagena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Spring?
Both Cartagena and Basse-Terre during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Basse-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cartagena year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Cartagena. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Cartagena receives 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Cartagena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Cartagena. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cartagena receives 209 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Cartagena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basse-Terre in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Cartagena averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasse-Terre 26°C (78°F)Cartagena 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Cartagena and Basse-Terre
| Basse-Terre | Cartagena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
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.