Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Basse-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Basse-Terre or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBasse-Terre €151Tamarindo €115
The average daily cost (per person) in Basse-Terre is €151, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is €115. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBasse-Terre €90Tamarindo €47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBasse-Terre €180Tamarindo €94
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Basse-Terre or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Basse-Terre €8.00Tamarindo €65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport Hotel Arco Iris Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Mar Rey Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Pastiempo Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Best Western Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Tamarindo Beach: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To La Palapa In Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia/Tamarindo Guanacaste Airport: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Selina Tamarindo: $21
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport/Cabinas El Labrador: $21
- Private or VIP Transfer: Liberia Airport to Westin/Tamarindo: $22
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $31
- Flamingo/Tamarindo to Liberia Airport(LIR)- Departure Transfer: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Basse-Terre or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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 €46Tamarindo €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Basse-Terre €47Tamarindo €16
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 Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Sea turtle watching tour near playa grande: $44
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $44
- Tour of the Mangroves and Wetlands of Tamarindo by Boat: $45
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour: $50
- ATV Beach and Mountain Tour!: $62
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- Howler Monkey Mangrove Kayaking Tour: $65
- UTV Side By Side Off Road Tour Tamarindo Beach & Flamingo Beach: $65
- ATV and UTV Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal Beach: $67
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBasse-Terre €13Tamarindo €13
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Basse-Terre and Tamarindo, we can see that Basse-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Tamarindo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Basse-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo.
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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Basse-Terre or Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo in the Summer?
Both Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. It's quite rainy in Basse-Terre. In July, Basse-Terre usually receives less rain than Tamarindo. Basse-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Tamarindo during summer. Basse-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Basse-Terre is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Basse-Terre in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBasse-Terre 27°C (81°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
Both Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo year-round.
Tamarindo 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 less rain in October than Tamarindo. Basse-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Basse-Terre. In the autumn, Basse-Terre often gets more sunshine than Tamarindo. Basse-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun.
In October, Basse-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Basse-Terre average around 27°C (80°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBasse-Terre 27°C (80°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Tamarindo in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basse-Terre and Tamarindo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Basse-Terre year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Basse-Terre usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. Basse-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tamarindo this time of the year. In Basse-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Basse-Terre usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during winter. Basse-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
Basse-Terre is cooler than Tamarindo in the winter. The daily temperature in Basse-Terre averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBasse-Terre 24°C (76°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Basse-Terre or Tamarindo in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Basse-Terre as well as Tamarindo. Basse-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
Basse-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Basse-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Tamarindo. Basse-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tamarindo. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Basse-Terre this time of the year. In the spring, Basse-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo. Basse-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Basse-Terre is cooler than Tamarindo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Basse-Terre in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBasse-Terre 26°C (78°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Basse-Terre
| Basse-Terre | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.