A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Buzios vs. Banos for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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.

Which place is cheaper, Banos or Buzios?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $81, while the average daily cost in Banos is $46. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $39
    Banos $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $78
    Banos $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.

Hotels in Buzios


Hotels in Banos


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $20
    Banos $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

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

  • Arraial do Cabo Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $52
  • Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Private Transfer: $25
  • Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Minivan: $481
  • Departure Private Transfer Arraial do Cabo to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $242
  • Departure Private Transfer from Buzios or Cabo Frio to Rio Airports by Minivan: $428
  • Departure Private Transfer from Buzios or Cabo Frio to Rio Airports by Sedan Car: $223
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $103
  • Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $113
  • Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $79
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio city hotels: $36
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $28
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Santos Dumont (SDU): $28

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Buzios $25
    Banos $15

Typical Food prices in Banos

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:


  • Dinner
    $13
  • Ice cream
    $1.50
  • Coffee
    $2.50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buzios $28
    Banos $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: $13
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $15
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $15
  • Schooner Cruise in Búzios: $15
  • Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $16
  • Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $20
  • Land and nautical city tour. unforgettable Búzios: $20
  • Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
  • Super Flor Boat Tour - Arraial do Cabo - Brazilian Caribbean: $24
  •  Trolley Tour Through the City Buzios: $24
  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $25
  • Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $30

Typical Entertainment prices in Banos

Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Two Rented Bikes for the Day
    $10
  • Cost to see Waterfall
    $2.00
  • Day at the Spa
    $45
  • 2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)
    $10
  • 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:

  • Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $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 in Baños 3 Days 2 Nights: $225
  • Amazon Tour in Ecuador: Puyo Day Trip from Baños: $85
  • Animalpark | Theme Park | Tours | funny | Ecuador: $34
  • Animalpark | Theme Park | Tours | naturally fun: $25
  • Baños Ecuador Biking Tour Waterfalls USD 30.00: $46
  • Baths Nature and Adventure 2 Days.: $190
  • Canopies | Tibetan Bridge | Via Ferrata | Extreme Tours 3 Activities in 1: $25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buzios $18
    Banos $9.74

Typical Alcohol prices in Banos

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:


  • 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.

Which is Bigger, Buzios or Banos?

Buzios is bigger, and its population is about 2.5 times larger than the population of Banos. When comparing the population of Buzios vs. 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 and the activities 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.
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Buzios vs. Banos Travel Comparison

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