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

Should you visit Belize City or Salento?

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

Should I visit Belize City or Salento? 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 Salento?

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.

Salento

Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Belize, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Salento or Belize City?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Belize City is $108, while the average daily cost in Salento is $39. 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 Salento in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Belize City $49
    Salento $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Belize City $98
    Salento $22
Compare Hotels in Belize City and Salento

Looking for a hotel in Belize City or Salento? 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 Salento


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 Salento Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Belize City $5.81
    Salento $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Belize City

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

  • Belize City to Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
  • Belize City to Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
  • Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city hotels -Arrival Private Transfer: $55
  • Private Transfer from Belize City Port to Belize Airport (BZE): $72
  • Private transfer from the Philip Goldson Airport to San Ignacio: $80
  • Belize Airport (BZE) to San Ignacio - Arrival Private Transfer: $89
  • Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize city - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $108
  • Philip S.W. Belize Airport (BZE) to Belize City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
  • Private Transfer from Belize City To Hopkins Village : $115
  • Private Transfer from Belize City and Airport to Placencia: $150
  • Belize City Airport to Placencia Private Transfer: $150

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:

  • Private Pereira Airport Transfer: To/From Salento: $54

Is it cheaper to fly into Belize City or Salento?

Prices for flights to both Salento 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 $47
    Salento $16

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 - fish farm & restaurant : $80

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento

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

  • Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Belize City $29
    Salento $12

Tours and Activities in Belize City

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

  • The Historic Belize City Tour: $35
  • Belize City Tour: $40
  • Cucumber Beach and City Tour: $49
  • Cave Kayak tour for Belize Car Rental : $59
  • Belizean Bits & Bites Food Tastings and City Tour in Belize: $60
  • TukTuk Belize History & Culture Tour : $60
  • Taste Bud Explosion Food Tasting Belize City Tour : $74
  • Charlie's Cave Tubing Tour for cruisers (lunch included): $75
  • Altun Ha Mayan Site tour from Belize City: $85
  • The Incredible Cave Tubing Adventure from Belize City: $85
  • Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break : $90
  • Private Altun Ha Maya Ruin & Belize City Adventure From Belize City: $107

Tours and Activities in Salento

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:

  • Armenia, Quindio: Coffee Tour, Transportation, and Quimbaya Gold Museum: $64
  • Book a Private Tourist Guide through the Coffee Region: $141
  • Cocoa and Coffee Farm Tours from Pereira or Armenia: $188
  • Cocora, Salento and Filandia Tour: $115
  • Coffee Farm Tour at Finca El Ocaso from Salento: $90
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $88
  • Coffee Tour Salento-Ocaso Farm- English Tour: $15
  • Coffee Tour at Finca El Ocaso Finca Tradicional-Español: $15
  • Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $30
  • Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $87
  • Filandia, Salento and Cocora Valley Private Tour: $144
  • Filandia, Salento and Cocora Valley Tour: $214

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Belize City $12
    Salento $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Belize City and Salento, we can see that Belize City is more expensive. And not only is Salento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Belize City is in Central America and Salento 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 Salento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salento 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 Belize City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Belize City than you might in Salento.

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 Salento Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Belize City or Salento?

Belize City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Belize City and Salento, 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.