A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Belize City vs. Castro for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Belize City or Castro?

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

Should I visit Belize City or Castro? 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: Belize City or Castro?

Belize City

Belize City is the largest city in Belize. It was once the capital of the country, but due to massive hurricane damage in 1961, the country decided to relocate it capital. With a population of 57,000 people, Belize City is located right at the mouth of the Haulover Creek.

This gorgeous tropical city experiences a monsoon climate – meaning there are warm and humid conditions throughout the course of the year. There is a wet season from May to January, so plan for a little bit of rain in that time.

Castro

The capital of Chiloe, modern and dynamic, has succeeded in keeping its authenticity even though it now has many gigantic supermarkets, hotels and other touristic infrastructures. It is located on the island's eastern coast, halfway between Ancud in the north and Quellon in the south, and is a convenient base for exploring the stunning sites in the region of Chiloe Island. The tourist information is located on the town square in front of the church.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Castro or Belize City?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $88, while the average daily cost in Castro is $88. 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 Belize City and Castro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Belize City $49
    Castro $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Belize City $98
    Castro $74
Compare Hotels in Belize City and Castro

Looking for a hotel in Belize City or Castro? 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 Belize City


Hotels in Castro


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: Belize City Hotel Prices and Castro Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Belize City $5.82
    Castro $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City

Also for Belize City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Belize City to/from Placencia/Hopkins Shuttle Transfer: $113
  • Belize city water taxi terminal to Airport transfer: $30
  • Belize: Belize City to/from San Ignacio Shuttle Transfer: $68
  • Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $60
  • Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
  • Transfer Belize city to bacalar: $50
  • We do transfers from airport to any where in Belize.: $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Castro

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Castro:

  • Chiloe Airport Private Transfer: $50

Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Castro?

Prices for flights to both Castro and Belize City 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
    Belize City $27
    Castro $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Belize City

For Belize City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Altun Ha Mayan Site & Food Tour: $80

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Belize City $29
    Castro $21

Tours and Activities in Belize City

For Belize City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Belize City Tour: $40
  • Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $50
  • Hassle free Cave Tubing Adventure from Belize City with Lunch: $55
  • Charlie's Cave Tubing Tour for cruisers (lunch included): $65
  • Second largest Barrier Reef Adventure Snorkeling: $70
  • Guided Cave Kayaking Tour with Pickup: $77
  • Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and River Wallace and Manatee Watch Tour: $85
  • Cave Tubing Experience from Belize City: $85
  • Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
  • Half-Day Altun Ha Temple & Belize City Tour: $86
  • Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break : $90
  • Howler Monkey Sanctuary Tour from Belize City: $90

Tours and Activities in Castro

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

  • Bosque Piedra Reserve Tour: $106
  • Castro Sightseeing Tour in Chiloe: $58
  • Dalcahue and Quinchao Island Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $123
  • Dock of Souls Trekking in Chiloe Private Tour: $189
  • From Puerto Varas: Chiloe Island Full-day Tour: $65
  • Full Day Private Chiloe National Park Tour Following "The Darwin´s Route" : $179
  • Lemuy Island Tour from Castro: $178
  • Lemuy Island in Chiloe Full Day Private Tour: $164
  • Pier of Light Full Day Tour in Chiloe: $156
  • Private Half Day Tour in Patrimonial Castro: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Belize City $12
    Castro $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Belize City

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Belize City:

  • Belize: City Highlights Tour with Rum Distillery Visit: $49


When comparing the travel costs between Belize City and Castro, we can see that Belize City is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Belize City is in Central America and Castro is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Belize City Expensive? and Is Castro Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Belize City or Castro?

Belize City has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Castro. When comparing the sizes of Belize City and Castro, 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.