Which place is cheaper, Ponce or Basse-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Basse-Terre or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Ponce? 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 Ponce?
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.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre $164Ponce $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is $164, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $205. 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 Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre $97Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre $194Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or Ponce? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basse-Terre $8.67Ponce $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $46
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $60
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce 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 $50Ponce $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Food Tour : $130
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basse-Terre $50Ponce $56
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: $213
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Talking Buildings of Old San Juan: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Footsteps in San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- Salsa Tours PR Sunset Salsa Beach Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico : $29
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Guided City Walking Tour: $32
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Bio Bay Boat Tour with Swimming from La Parguera, Puerto Rico: $50
- Turtle spotting snorkeling adventure- no Jets : $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasse-Terre $14Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Basse-Terre much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Basse-Terre would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Basse-Terre 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in Basse-Terre.
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 Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Ponce, 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 Ponce?
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 Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce and Basse-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Basse-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Ponce. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basse-Terre in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasse-Terre 27°C (81°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Ponce in the Autumn?
Both Ponce and Basse-Terre during the autumn 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 Ponce year-round.
Ponce gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Ponce. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the autumn, Basse-Terre often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
In October, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (80°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasse-Terre 27°C (80°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Ponce. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce during winter. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Ponce in the winter. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasse-Terre 24°C (76°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Ponce in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Ponce. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Ponce. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basse-Terre in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Ponce averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasse-Terre 26°C (78°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Basse-Terre
| Basse-Terre | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.