Which place is cheaper, Boquete or Buzios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Buzios or Boquete?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Buzios or Boquete? 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 Boquete?
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.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama, and The Best Adventure Tours to Panama.
-
Buzios Prices
Brazil PricesBoquete Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBuzios $91Boquete $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $91, while the average daily cost in Boquete is $67. 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 Boquete in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBuzios $36Boquete $22
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBuzios $72Boquete $44
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Boquete
Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Boquete? 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: Boquete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Buzios $18Boquete $5.21
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) - Private Transfer: $45
- Beach Resorts to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) - Departure Transfer : $45
- Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
- Rio de Janeiro Transfer from Buzios to Airport (GIG)(SDU): $73
- Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Private Transfer Buzios to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Beach Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $91
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 4 pax to Buzios: $115
- Executive private transfer from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 3 pax to Buzios: $115
- Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $118
- Private Transfer from Cabo Frio Airport (CFB) to Buzios Port: $118
- Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $134
Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Boquete?
Prices for flights to both Boquete 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 dayBuzios $40Boquete $32
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Buzios $25Boquete $17
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: $11
- Boat Tour Open Bar A Floor Arraial do Cabo : $13
- Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $19
- Tour of Bugre in Arraial (Buggy): $21
- Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
- Catamaran Boat Tour in Búzios: $26
- Half-Day Schooner Sightseeing Trip in Buzios Peninsula Beaches: $27
- 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $31
- Buzios Trolley City Tour: $31
- Tour in Boat Tour in Buzios: $38
- Underwater Adventure in Diving and Snorkeling: $46
- Schooner Tour in Buzios - Departure from Buzios: $51
Tours and Activities in Boquete
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:
- Boquete E-bike Panoramic Tour: $65
- Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $45
- Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
- Boquete Panoramic Tour: $200
- Boquete Rock climbing tour: $80
- Cangilones Mini Canyons Tour: $38
- Cloud Forest Wildlife Hike Tour: $36
- Family Tour (Experiences in caldera): $85
- Guided E-Bike Panoramic Tour: $75
- Guided Hike and Coffee Farm Tour with Tasting: $99
- Hands-On Coffee Experience with Tasting: $40
- Coffee Tasting Experience-Los Molinos Hotel-Panama's Top Product: $25
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBuzios $17Boquete $4.44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Buzios and Boquete, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. And not only is Boquete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Buzios is in South America and Boquete is in Central 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 Boquete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boquete 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 Boquete.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Buzios Expensive? and Is Boquete Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Buzios or Boquete?
Buzios has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Buzios and Boquete, 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.