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

Should you visit Basse-Terre or Tena?

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

Should I visit Basse-Terre or Tena? 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 Tena?

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.

Tena

Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.


Which place is cheaper, Tena 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 Tena is €47. 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 Tena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Basse-Terre 90
    Tena 22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Basse-Terre 180
    Tena 44
Compare Hotels in Basse-Terre and Tena

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


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 8.00
    Tena 15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:

  • Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15
  • Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
  • San Andres hotels to San Andres Airport (ADZ) Departure Transfer: $36
  • Transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $42
  • Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
  • Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272

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

Prices for flights to both Tena 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
    Tena 14

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Basse-Terre 47
    Tena 13

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

Tours and Activities in Tena

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

  • Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
  • 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
  • Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
  • Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
  • Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
  • Private Guided Tour to Piedra Colgada and Indian Face and Lagoon: $75
  • Tour 5 Rosario Islands: $94
  • Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
  • Enjoy a Coffee Tour & Santa Fe de Antioquia Colonial Town!!: $135
  • Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
  • Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Basse-Terre 13
    Tena 9.53


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

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 Tena Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Basse-Terre or Tena?

Basse-Terre has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Basse-Terre and Tena, 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.

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