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

Should you visit Basse-Terre or San Ignacio?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Ignacio? 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 San Ignacio?

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.

San Ignacio

So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.

You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.

This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!

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


Which place is cheaper, San Ignacio or Basse-Terre?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €151, while the average daily cost in San Ignacio is €67. 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 San Ignacio in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Basse-Terre 90
    San Ignacio 18
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Basse-Terre 180
    San Ignacio 36
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and San Ignacio

Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or San Ignacio? 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 San Ignacio


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 San Ignacio Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Basse-Terre 8.00
    San Ignacio 2.91

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:

  • From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
  • San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or San Ignacio?

Prices for flights to both San Ignacio 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 46
    San Ignacio 19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio

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

  • Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Basse-Terre 47
    San Ignacio 93

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 San Ignacio

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

  • Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $65
  • Xunantunich & Adventure Horse Ride: $75
  • Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $75
  • Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure: $75
  • From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
  • Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
  • Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
  • Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
  • Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
  • Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $100
  • Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $100
  • Private Tour:Xunantunich Mayan Ruin from San Ignacio: $103

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Basse-Terre 13
    San Ignacio 16


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

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 San Ignacio Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or San Ignacio?

San Ignacio has a larger population, and is about 47% larger than the population of Basse-Terre. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and San Ignacio, 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 San Ignacio?

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 San Ignacio in the Summer?

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

San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the summer. Basse-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than San Ignacio. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Ignacio this time of the year. In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than San Ignacio during summer. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while San Ignacio receives 226 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as San Ignacio. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basse-Terre in July average around 27°C (81°F), and San Ignacio averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Basse-Terre 27°C (81°F) 
    San Ignacio 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Ignacio in the Autumn?

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

It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Basse-Terre usually gets less rain in October than San Ignacio. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 255 mm (10 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 San Ignacio. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Ignacio receives 196 hours of full sun.

In October, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as San Ignacio. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (80°F), and San Ignacio fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).


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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Ignacio in the Winter?

Both San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. In January, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than San Ignacio. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than San Ignacio during winter. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while San Ignacio receives 199 hours of full sun in the winter.

Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as San Ignacio in the winter. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and San Ignacio fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Basse-Terre 24°C (76°F) 
    San Ignacio 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit Basse-Terre or San Ignacio in the Spring?

Both San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio year-round.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than San Ignacio. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In San Ignacio, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Ignacio. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Ignacio receives 256 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as San Ignacio. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basse-Terre in April average around 26°C (78°F), and San Ignacio averages at about 27°C (80°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Basse-Terre 26°C (78°F) 
    San Ignacio 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for San Ignacio and Basse-Terre

Basse-Terre San Ignacio
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 24°C (74°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 24°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 26°C (78°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 27°C (80°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 258 mm (10.2 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 243 mm (9.6 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 187 mm (7.4 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 26°C (80°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 25°C (76°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)