Should you visit Buzios or Arica?
Should I visit Buzios or Arica? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Buzios
Initially a fishing village, Armação dos Buzios is a small beach resort town about three hours from Rio de Janeiro by bus. Buzios is a common weekend getaway destination for Cariocas. With 23 beaches, visitors from all over come to swim, snorkel, surf and enjoy sun and sand.
Arica
A mixture of coastline, desert and high Andean plateau, Arica is a seaside resort town, known for its surfing beaches located at the tip of Northern Chile. Arica boasts that it is "the land of the eternal spring," but its temperate climate and beaches are not the only reason to visit this small city. Arica's tourism is still principally geared toward domestic visitors and those from southern Peru and La Paz, who flock to its beaches mid-December through February. It is very easy to spend a few days in Arica in the sand, or seeing the sights in town, at a slow pace but the city also offers plenty of fun activities and exciting day trips.
Which city is cheaper, Arica or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $60, while the average daily cost in Arica is $77. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Buzios and Arica in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $58 in Buzios For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Arica, $68 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Arica, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $34, such as in a hostel.
Food
The price of a meal in Buzios can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $19 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $7.60 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Food in Arica costs travelers about $27 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Buzios $19
Arica $27
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Buzios than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $15 on transportation in Buzios on average per day.
To get around in Arica, the average visitor spends $17 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Arica
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica
Also for Arica, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arica Airport Private Transfer:
$76
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Arica?
Prices for flights to both Arica and Buzios 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Buzios, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $21 per day, per person.
In Arica, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $19 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
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Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches:
$28
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Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios:
$14
Tours and Activities in Arica
For Arica, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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4-Days Unique Experience at the Chilean High Plateau:
$1,038
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Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica:
$82
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Arica Private City Tour:
$262
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Arica Private Sightseeing Tour:
$76
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Arica Sightseeing Tour:
$41
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Half day Panoramic City Tour:
$23
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Full Day Tour to Tacna from Arica:
$72
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Private Arica and Ancient Cultures Tour:
$346
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Private Tour to Tacna from Arica:
$165
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Buzios, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $14.
Typically, people visiting Arica spend on average $19 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Arica, we can see that Arica is more expensive. And not only is Buzios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Buzios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Buzios 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 Arica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arica than you might in Buzios.
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