Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Basse-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Basse-Terre or Santa Elena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Santa Elena? 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 Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre €151Santa Elena €87
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €151, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is €87. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre €90Santa Elena €52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre €180Santa Elena €104
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or Santa Elena? 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 €8.00Santa Elena €11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Peñas Blancas to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $179
- Private Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal From 1 to 6 passengers: $249
- Private Transfer From Monteverde To La Fortuna From 1 to 6 passengers: $270
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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 €46Santa Elena €22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Elena
For Santa Elena, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Night Walk in Monteverde with Dinner Included: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basse-Terre €47Santa Elena €28
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 Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Selvatura Park: Herpetarium Tour in Monteverde: $22
- Wildlife Tour in Curicancha : $25
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens Tour: $26
- Guided Butterfly Conservatory Tour in Costa Rica: $26
- Adventure Day - Outdoor activities for Family and Friends Special Package.: $29
- Kinkajou Night Walk Tour: $30
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $30
- Night Adventures in Monteverde: $30
- CuriCancha Reserve Admission Ticket: $33
- Curicancha Birdwatching Tour: $34
- Guided walk Monteverde Biological Reserve-John's Nature Tours-: $35
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasse-Terre €13Santa Elena €5.90
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Santa Elena, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Santa Elena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena.
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 Santa Elena Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Basse-Terre or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Santa Elena. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Santa Elena throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Santa Elena. Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the summer. Basse-Terre usually gets less rain in July than Santa Elena. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 164 mm (6.5 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 Santa Elena. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 164 hours of full sun.
In July, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (81°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasse-Terre 27°C (81°F)Santa Elena 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Santa Elena in the Autumn?
Both Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Santa Elena. It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In October, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than Santa Elena. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 254 mm (10 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 Santa Elena during autumn. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Santa Elena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Santa Elena fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasse-Terre 27°C (80°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Santa Elena in the Winter?
Both Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena year-round.
Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in January than Santa Elena. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Santa Elena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the winter, Basse-Terre often gets less sunshine than Santa Elena. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Santa Elena receives 264 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Basse-Terre is cooler than Santa Elena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basse-Terre in January average around 24°C (76°F), and Santa Elena averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasse-Terre 24°C (76°F)Santa Elena 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Santa Elena in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Santa Elena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Santa Elena receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena during spring. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Santa Elena receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Basse-Terre is generally cooler than Santa Elena. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 26°C (78°F), and Santa Elena fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasse-Terre 26°C (78°F)Santa Elena 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Santa Elena and Basse-Terre
| Basse-Terre | Santa Elena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.