Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Bocas del Toro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bocas del Toro or La Serena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Bocas del Toro or La Serena, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Bocas del Toro or La Serena?
Bocas del Toro
The capital of the Bocas del Toro province, this city of the same name sits in the Caribbean West region of Panama. Bocas del Toro, or Bocas Town, is in the district of Bocas del Toro, which also includes the towns of Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel, and Tierra Oscura. The district has a population of about 17,000 and covers a total area of 433.2 square kilometers, and the town has a population of about 13,000. The area is a tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving, and interesting culture.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBocas del Toro $77La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Bocas del Toro is $77, while the average daily cost in La Serena 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 Bocas del Toro and La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBocas del Toro $33La Serena $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBocas del Toro $66La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Bocas del Toro and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Bocas del Toro or La Serena? 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: Bocas del Toro Hotel Prices and La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bocas del Toro $10La Serena $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bocas del Toro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bocas del Toro:
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Water Taxi$3.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bocas del Toro
Also for Bocas del Toro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo: $54
- Transfer Colon Cruise Terminal - Tocumen Airport or Panama City: $55
- Private Transfer from Colón Port to Panama Tocumen Airport PTY: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Bocas del Toro or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena and Bocas del Toro 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 dayBocas del Toro $27La Serena $27
Typical Food Prices in Bocas del Toro
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bocas del Toro:
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Lunch$15
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Breakfast$14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bocas del Toro $22La Serena $24
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bocas del Toro
For Bocas del Toro, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Island Boat Tour$25
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Starfish Island Boat Trip$20
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Yoga Class$5.01
Tours and Activities in Bocas del Toro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bocas del Toro.
- Dolphin Bay and Coral Cay with Drinks Private Tour in Zapatilla: $66
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in Panama from Colón Cruise Port: $231
- Full-Day Speedboat Tour, Wildlife, and Snorkeling in Bocas del Toro in Panama: $68
- Speed Boat tour to Mangrove Point -Starfish Beach -Bocas del Drago and Birds Island: $65
- Stand Up Paddle Board Experience in Bahia Honda Bocas del Toro: $60
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBocas del Toro $12La Serena $22
When comparing the travel costs between Bocas del Toro and La Serena, we can see that La Serena 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 Bocas del Toro is in Central America and La Serena 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 Bocas del Toro Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bocas del Toro or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bocas del Toro. When comparing the sizes of Bocas del Toro and La Serena, 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.
When is the best time to visit Bocas del Toro or La Serena?
La Serena has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bocas del Toro experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Bocas del Toro or La Serena in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bocas del Toro and La Serena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bocas del Toro year-round.
In July, Bocas del Toro is generally a little warmer than La Serenain January. Daily temperatures in Bocas del Toro average around 26°C (79°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in La Serena this time of the year. Bocas del Toro usually receives less sunshine than La Serena during summer. Bocas del Toro gets 124 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
Bocas del Toro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Bocas del Toro usually receives more rain than La Serenain January. Bocas del Toro gets 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)La Serena 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Bocas del Toro or La Serena in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bocas del Toro as well as La Serena. Bocas del Toro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Bocas del Toro is much warmer than La Serena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bocas del Toro averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and La Serena fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in April.
In the autumn, Bocas del Toro often gets around the same amount of sunshine as La Serenain April. Bocas del Toro gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 159 hours of full sun.
Bocas del Toro receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bocas del Toro usually gets more rain in October than La Serenain April. Bocas del Toro gets 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)La Serena 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Bocas del Toro or La Serena in the Winter?
Both La Serena and Bocas del Toro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bocas del Toro throughout the year.
In the winter, Bocas del Toro is much warmer than La Serena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bocas del Toro in January average around 25°C (77°F), and La Serena averages at about 12°C (54°F)in July.
Bocas del Toro usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as La Serena during winter. Bocas del Toro gets 159 hours of sunny skies, while La Serena receives 160 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Bocas del Toro. In January, Bocas del Toro usually receives more rain than La Serenain July. Bocas del Toro gets 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBocas del Toro 25°C (77°F)La Serena 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Bocas del Toro or La Serena in the Spring?
Both La Serena and Bocas del Toro during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bocas del Toro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Bocas del Toro is generally much warmer than La Serenain October. Daily temperatures in Bocas del Toro average around 26°C (79°F), and La Serena fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In the spring, Bocas del Toro often gets less sunshine than La Serenain October. Bocas del Toro gets 172 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while La Serena receives 190 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bocas del Toro. Bocas del Toro usually gets more rain in April than La Serenain October. Bocas del Toro gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while La Serena receives 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)La Serena 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for La Serena and Bocas del Toro
| Bocas del Toro | La Serena | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Sep | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.