A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Boquete vs. La Paz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Boquete or La Paz?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Boquete and La Paz can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Boquete or La Paz?

Boquete

Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.

La Paz

La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, has a breathtaking setting. The city is the highest national capital in the world, with an altitude ranging from about 4,058 m (13,313 ft) above sea level in El Alto, where the airport is located, to 3,100 m (10,170 ft) in the lower residential area. The dynamic and chaotic city was built in a canyon created by the Choqueyapu River. La Paz is now a fusion of architectural styles, cultures and beliefs, welcoming everyday new boutique hotels, modern shops, delicious restaurants and reinventing standing establishments. However, generally speaking, Bolivia remains more a backpacker hit than a mainstream tourist destination.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, The Best Luxury Tours to Bolivia, and The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Boquete?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Boquete is $54, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $44. 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 Boquete and La Paz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Boquete $23
    La Paz $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Boquete $46
    La Paz $32
Compare Hotels in Boquete and La Paz

Looking for a hotel in Boquete or La Paz? 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 Boquete


Hotels in La Paz


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: Boquete Hotel Prices and La Paz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Boquete $5.23
    La Paz $9.45

Typical Local Transportation Prices in La Paz

Some typical examples of transportation costs in La Paz are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $0.58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz

Also for La Paz, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer Airport to Hotels Service 24/7: $21
  • Transfer in Private Vehicle from La Paz City - La Paz Airport (LPB): $21
  • Airport Transfer In_ Day: $25
  • Airport Transfer Out_day: $25
  • Airport Transfer Out_night: $25
  • Bus Station Transfer Out_day: $25
  • Bus Station Transfer Out_night : $25
  • Bus Station Transfer In_day: $25
  • One-Way Private Transfer from La Paz Hotels to Airport : $27
  • Transfer in Private Minivan from La Paz Airport (LPB) - La Paz City: $27
  • Private Transfer La Paz Airport LPB to La Paz City by MiniVan/Bus: $28
  • Private transfer 24/7 El Alto Airport - Hotels La Paz: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Boquete or La Paz?

Prices for flights to both La Paz and Boquete 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
    Boquete $18
    La Paz $17

Typical Food Prices in La Paz

For La Paz, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Fruit
    $0.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz

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

  • La Paz Food Tour + Cable Car Cultural City tour: $45

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Boquete $17
    La Paz $16

Tours and Activities in Boquete

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

  • 2-Hour Private Mezcal and Geisha Liqueur Tasting Experience: $65
  • 3-Hour Private Tour to La Estrella Lake from Boquete on E Bike: $84
  • 3-hour Private Tour to the Peque Doraz Butterfly Garden by Ebike: $90
  • Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
  • Boquete Panoramic Tour: $200
  • Boquete Private 360° View Tour: $40
  • Dirtbike adventure in Boquete (half day): $165
  • Guided Market Tour with Sensory Coffee Tasting Boquete: $48
  • Hiking Experience in Caldera Transportation Included: $90
  • Private honey tasting bike tour and butterfly garden walk: $130
  • Schumann's BOTANICAL PARK TOUR: $30
  • Self-Guided Half-Day Boquete Tour E-Bicycle: $46

Tours and Activities in La Paz

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

  • Walking city tour La Paz: $2.67
  • La Paz Half-Day Walking Tour: $3.00
  • Be a Local - La Paz Walking Tour: $8.00
  • Live Virtual City Tour - La Paz : $10
  • La Paz Walking City tour plus Cable cars: $10
  • City Highlights Walking Tour with Cable Car Ride: $10
  • Private Sunset Tour in La Paz: $10
  • City Tour plus Cable Car La Paz: $10
  • Titicaca Lake - Bus Ticket - From La Paz City - Ow: $12
  • Gastronomic Tour Vivencial Tour de las Caseras: $13
  • Private Cable Car City Tour: $18
  • Cable Car, Cemetery, Shaman, and El Alto Tour: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Boquete $4.46
    La Paz $11

Sample the Local Flavors in La Paz

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Paz:

  • Cultural Pub Crawl La Paz Nightlife Tour : $50


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

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


Which is Bigger, Boquete or La Paz?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Boquete and La Paz, 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.