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

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Montanita?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Montanita? 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 Montanita?

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.

Montanita

Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Montanita or Basse-Terre?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is $162, while the average daily cost in Montanita is $96. 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 Montanita in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Basse-Terre $96
    Montanita $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Basse-Terre $192
    Montanita $82
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Montanita

Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or Montanita? 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 Basse-Terre


Hotels in Montanita


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Basse-Terre $8.57
    Montanita $39

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

Prices for flights to both Montanita 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 $49
    Montanita $28

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Basse-Terre $50
    Montanita $31

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Basse-Terre $14
    Montanita $7.86


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Montanita, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Montanita much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Montanita 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 Montanita would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Montanita 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 Montanita.

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 Montanita Expensive?.



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

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

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

The summer brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Montanita. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Montanita throughout the year.

Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the summer. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in July than Montanita. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 10 mm (0.4 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 summer, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 107 hours of full sun.

In July, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Basse-Terre 27°C (81°F) 
    Montanita 25°C (78°F)

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

Both Montanita and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Montanita because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In October, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Montanita. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during autumn. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 117 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Montanita in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Montanita fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Basse-Terre 27°C (80°F) 
    Montanita 26°C (78°F)

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

Both Montanita and Basse-Terre during the winter 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 Montanita year-round.

Basse-Terre usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Montanita. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the winter, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Montanita. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Montanita receives 88 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Basse-Terre is cooler than Montanita. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basse-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Montanita averages at about 27°C (80°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Basse-Terre 24°C (76°F) 
    Montanita 27°C (80°F)

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

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Montanita. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Montanita attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Montanita. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Montanita receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Montanita during spring. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Montanita receives 133 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Montanita. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and Montanita fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Basse-Terre 26°C (78°F) 
    Montanita 27°C (81°F)

Typical Weather for Montanita and Basse-Terre

Basse-Terre Montanita
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 27°C (80°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 107 mm (4.2 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 27°C (80°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 26°C (79°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 25°C (78°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 25°C (78°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 26°C (78°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 26°C (79°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 27°C (80°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)