Which place is cheaper, Banos or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Buzios or Banos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios or Banos? 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: Buzios or Banos?
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.
Banos
Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best 3-Day Tours from Foz Do Iguacu, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesBanos Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $96Banos $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $96, while the average daily cost in Banos is $57. 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 Buzios and Banos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $38Banos $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $76Banos $32
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Banos
Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Banos? 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: Banos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $19Banos $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios
Also for Buzios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer: $45
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $45
- Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $90
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $118
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $118
- Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio: $230
- Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport: $193
- Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banos
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banos:
- Transfer Quito → Baños (one way / round trip): $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Banos?
Prices for flights to both Banos 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBuzios $42Banos $26
Typical Food Prices in Banos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:
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Dinner$13
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Ice cream$1.50
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Coffee$2.50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $27Banos $19
Tours and Activities in Buzios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.
- Tour of the most beautiful beaches and islands of Buzios by Buziana Tour: $12
- Two Floor Boat Tour with Toboágua Arraial do Cabo: $14
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo: $14
- Stand up paddle experience: $16
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $20
- Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $24
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $31
- Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $35
- Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $38
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $40
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $41
Typical Entertainment Prices in Banos
Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two Rented Bikes for the Day$10
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Cost to see Waterfall$2.00
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Day at the Spa$45
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2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)$10
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Entrance to Waterfall$2.00
Tours and Activities in Banos
Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 day jungle tour: $35
- 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
- 3 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Baños: $40
- 5-Hour Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Baños: $62
- Adventure Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
- Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $35
- Adventure in Baños 3 Days 2 Nights: $230
- Amazon Tour in Ecuador: Puyo Day Trip from Baños: $85
- Animalpark | Theme Park | Tours | naturally fun: $45
- Bathrooms Full Day Tour : Waterfalls Route & Tree House in Ecuador: $71
- Baths Nature and Adventure 2 Days.: $190
- Bike tour of the highest volcano in Ecuador: Chimborazo: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $18Banos $9.74
Typical Alcohol Prices in Banos
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:
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Beer$4.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Banos, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Banos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Banos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banos 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 Buzios would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Buzios than you might in Banos.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Banos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Banos?
Buzios has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Banos. When comparing the sizes of Buzios and Banos, 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.
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.