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

Should you visit Buzios or Guayaquil?

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

Should I visit Buzios or Guayaquil? 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 Guayaquil?

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.

Guayaquil

Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or Buzios?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Buzios is $77, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $74. 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 Guayaquil in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Buzios $37
    Guayaquil $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Buzios $74
    Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in Buzios and Guayaquil

Looking for a hotel in Buzios or Guayaquil? 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 Guayaquil


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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Buzios $19
    Guayaquil $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Buzios

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

  • Tour in Buzios City Tour, Lunch and Transfer: $60
  • Private transfer from Buzios to the GIG Airport : $186
  • Private transfer Minivan from GIG Rio Galeao airport up to 6 pax to Buzios: $110
  • Private transfer Buzios in Rio to the SDU Airport : $186
  • Private Transfer from GIG Airport to City Buzios in Rio : $170
  • Private Transfer from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Santos Dumont Airport (SDU): $32
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $47
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Port to Cabo Frio Airport (CFB): $42
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Santos Dumont (SDU): $28
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Rio de Janeiro hotels: $28
  • Private Transfer from Buzios Cruise Port to Cabo Frio hotels: $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil

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

  • Private transfer Guayaquil - Montañita: $250
  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE): Transfer to Guayaquil hotels: $129
  • Transfer Cuenca - Guayaquil (or Vice versa) With Visit To Cajas National Park: $128
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil hotels to Manta Cruise Port: $98
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $88
  • Guayaquil Airport Private Transfer Service: $80
  • Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Guayaquil - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52
  • Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
  • Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
  • Transfer from Guayaquil airport to the hotel and vice versa: $30
  • Private Transfers to and from the Airport in Guayaquil: $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Buzios or Guayaquil?

Prices for flights to both Guayaquil 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 $24
    Guayaquil $29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil

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

  • Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Buzios $27
    Guayaquil $21

Tours and Activities in Buzios

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Buzios.

  • Buzios Trolley City Tour: $29
  • 3-hour Small Group Buzios Peninsula Open Air Trolley Tour: $33
  • 7 Beaches In Búzios With Photos On A Private Tour!: $34
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Arraial do Cabo: $128
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Búzios: $99
  • Búzios Full day: Boat and Trolley Tour with Lunch from Cabo Frio: $116
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo: $23
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo Panoramic City Tour in Cabo Frio: $96
  • Boat Tour in Arraial do Cabo from Buzios with Lunch: $60
  • Buggy Ride in Buzios by Buziana Tour: $16
  • Buggy Tour in Arraial do Cabo by Arraial Viagens: $31
  • Cabo Frio Full-Day Tour From Buzios with Lunch: $68

Tours and Activities in Guayaquil

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

  • City Tour Guayaquil: $40
  • City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
  • Cocoa and Gastronomy Tour at Hacienda CacaoyMango: $155
  • Dolphin Watching Experience in Puerto El Morro from Guayaquil: $165
  • From Cloud Forest/Waterfalls Private Tour & Lunch: $159
  • From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
  • Full Day Ayangue Tour with Snorkeling in The Pelado's Islote: $295
  • Full Day Private Churute Mangroves Reserve and Cocoa Farm Tour: $255
  • Full Day Zhagal Thermal Baths Tour from Guayaquil: $263
  • Full day private tour Mangroves, dolphins and birds from guayaquil : $215
  • Full day tour Mangroves, dolphins and cocoa farm from guayaquil: $225
  • Full-Day Cuenca and Traditional Craft Beer Tasting Tour: $295

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Buzios $17
    Guayaquil $17

Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:

  • Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $55


When comparing the travel costs between Buzios and Guayaquil, we can see that Buzios is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Buzios or Guayaquil?

Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Buzios. When comparing the sizes of Buzios and Guayaquil, 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.