A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Cabarete vs. San Fernando for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Cabarete or San Fernando?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cabarete or San Fernando, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Cabarete or San Fernando?

Cabarete

Nestled on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Cabarete is a vibrant beach town known for its stunning coastline, world-class water sports, and lively nightlife. Originally a small fishing village, Cabarete has transformed into a hub for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation.

Traveling to Cabarete on a budget is entirely feasible with a bit of planning. Accommodation options range from budget-friendly hostels to affordable hotels and guesthouses. Eating on a budget is easy in Cabarete, with numerous local eateries and street vendors serving delicious Dominican dishes at reasonable prices. Look for "comedores," small local restaurants where you can enjoy meals like "la bandera" (rice, beans, and meat) for under $5. Public transportation in Cabarete is both affordable and convenient. The local "guaguas" (minibuses) and "motoconchos" (motorcycle taxis) are inexpensive ways to get around.

San Fernando

As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, and The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic.


Which place is cheaper, San Fernando or Cabarete?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Cabarete is $170, while the average daily cost in San Fernando is $188. 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 Cabarete and San Fernando in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Cabarete $70
    San Fernando $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Cabarete $140
    San Fernando $148
Compare Hotels in Cabarete and San Fernando

Looking for a hotel in Cabarete or San Fernando? 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 Cabarete


Hotels in San Fernando


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: Cabarete Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Cabarete $39
    San Fernando $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cabarete

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

  • Transfers from Samana Airport to cabarete, sosua: $250
  • Transfers from Jarabacoa to cabarete, sosua: $75
  • Transfers from Cabarete to Santiago Airport: $50
  • Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata Roundtrip Private Transfer: $45
  • Punta Cana Airport PUJ to Puerto Plata -Arrival Private Transfer: $23

Is it cheaper to fly into Cabarete or San Fernando?

Prices for flights to both San Fernando and Cabarete 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
    Cabarete $68
    San Fernando $83

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Cabarete $50
    San Fernando $28

Tours and Activities in Cabarete

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

  • 10-Hour Guided Tour of Samana and Bacardi Island Los Haitises: $130
  • 27 Waterfalls Damajagua Tour from Cabarete Sosua & Puerto Plata: $79
  • 4 Wheel Adventure: $128
  • 4-Wheel Adventure: $102
  • Deep Caves in Cabarete with Guided Tour and Swimming: $60
  • Full-Day Tour to Punta Rucia and Cayo Arena with Snorkeling: $89
  • Monkeyland and Zipline Adventure from Puerto Plata: $90
  • Paradise Island Cruise Snorkeling Excursion: $95
  • Private tour: Dudu cenotes + Playa Grande Beach + much more: $220
  • Puerto Plata Triple Adventure: $120
  • Scuba Diving tour in puerto plata Hotel/Cruise: $189
  • Snorkeling Tour & Sosua Beach Day: $81

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Cabarete $16
    San Fernando $22


When comparing the travel costs between Cabarete and San Fernando, we can see that San Fernando 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 Caribbean Islands, 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 Cabarete Expensive? and Is San Fernando Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Cabarete or San Fernando?

San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cabarete. When comparing the sizes of Cabarete and San Fernando, 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.

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