Should I Visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena for Vacation? Which is Better? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive?

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.

Deprecated: explode(): Passing null to parameter #2 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/citycomparison.php on line 2529

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia.

Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Basse-Terre?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

Basse-Terre Prices
Guadeloupe Prices

Cartagena Prices
Colombia Prices
Average Daily Cost Per person, per day

Basse-Terre €185

Cartagena €46

The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €185, while the average daily cost in Cartagena is €46. 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

Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person

Basse-Terre €90

Cartagena €23
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room

Basse-Terre €180

Cartagena €46

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

Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.

Basse-Terre €8.00

Cartagena €6.36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cartagena:

Airport Air Conditioning Bus transfer: $7.00
Transfer from the Airport - Hotels in Marbella: $8.12
Airport transfer to any hotel in Getsemani: $8.12
Transfer airport - old city (walled city /center): $8.34
Airport Transfer to Cartagena Hotels: $9.15
Transfer from Cartagena hotels to the airport: $9.15
Airport transfer to any hotel in Manga: $9.15
Transfer from the Airport to Hotels in Laguito: $9.15
Shared Transfer from the Airport to Cartagena City or Vice Versa: $10
Cartagena Private Transfer from City Center to Airport (CTG): $10
Cartagena Private Airport Transfer (CTG) to City Center: $10
transfer Airport to any Hotels in Bocagrande: $11

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

Food Meals for one day

Basse-Terre €80

Cartagena €14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cartagena.

Street food tour Cartagena: $30
The best food tour of the old city: $36
Cooking Class In A Real Restaurant At Old City: $38
Street food tour Cartagena: $40
Local Flavors Food Tour with Native Chef: $42
Guided Street Food Tour with Tastings: $42
Street Food Tour in Cartagena: $44
Private Dinner at a Local Chef's House in Cartagena: $54
Fenix Beach Island Dinner: $59
Dinner Cruise Along Cartagena's Bay: $60
Cartagena Island Dinner (Island of Tierra Bomba): $60
Street food tour: $61

Entertainment

Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.

Basse-Terre €47

Cartagena €18

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: $174

Tours and Activities in Cartagena

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

Trendy Cartagena photo/ Video Tour Free: $0.02
Shared Tour Cartagena's First Getsemani District Tour: $5.25
Shared Tour Gabriel García Marquez in Cartagena: $5.25
Shared Complete Tour of Cartagena's Old Walled City: $5.25
Shared Most Complete Tour Cartagena's Old City & Getsemani: $5.25
Into the Walls of The City: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
Cartagena de Indias: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
Shared Tour to San Felipe de Barajas Castle in Cartagena: $6.69
Artists' Quarter Getsemani Self-guided Tour: $8.10
Old Town & Getsemani Quarter Self-guided Tour: $8.10
Old Town Highlights Self-guided Tour: $8.10
Shared walking tour in the historic center: $9.55

Alcohol

Alcohol Drinks for one day

Basse-Terre €13

Cartagena €7.81

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: $17
Group Night Experience: Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl all included!: $23
Friday Night Bar Crawl in Cartagena, Colombia: $25
Pub Crawl Only Locals Have Fun In The Walled City: $35
Pub Crawl-Last Call For Alcohol-Cartagena Night Tour (Bar/Club) : $39
Pub Crawl Nightlife in Cartagena : $44
Nightlife Pub crawl in Cartagena: $60

How are these travel costs calculated?

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).

Summer Average Temperatures July

Basse-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).

Autumn Average Temperatures October

Basse-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).

Winter Average Temperatures January

Basse-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).

Spring Average Temperatures April

Basse-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)

A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basse-Terre vs. Cartagena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Where Should I go: Basse-Terre or Cartagena?

Basse-Terre

Cartagena

Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Basse-Terre?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Cartagena

Local Transportation

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena

Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Cartagena?

Food

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre

Tours and Activities in Cartagena

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena

Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Cartagena?

When is the best time to visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena?

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Summer?

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Autumn?

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Winter?

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Spring?

Typical Weather for Cartagena and Basse-Terre

Related Articles for Basse-Terre

Related Articles for Cartagena

A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basse-Terre vs. Cartagena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Where Should I go: Basse-Terre or Cartagena?

Basse-Terre

Cartagena

Which place is cheaper, Cartagena or Basse-Terre?

Accommodation

Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Cartagena

Local Transportation

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cartagena

Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Cartagena?

Food

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cartagena

Entertainment

Tours and Activities in Basse-Terre

Tours and Activities in Cartagena

Alcohol

Sample the Local Flavors in Cartagena

Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Cartagena?

When is the best time to visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena?

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Summer?

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Autumn?

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Winter?

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Cartagena in the Spring?

Typical Weather for Cartagena and Basse-Terre

Related Articles for Basse-Terre

Related Articles for Cartagena

Subscribe to our Newsletter