Which place is cheaper, Galapagos Islands or Colonia del Sacramento?
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 Colonia del Sacramento or Galapagos Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Colonia del Sacramento and Galapagos Islands can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Colonia del Sacramento or Galapagos Islands?
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is in the Rio de la Plata region of Uruguay. It is filled with old colonial buildings and cobbled streets, and is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Colonia del Sacramento was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish Viceroyalty of the River Plate, later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil. Its strategic position and use as a smuggling port meant that its sovereignty was constantly contested and the city changed hands several times between Spain and Portugal. The irresistibly picturesque town's charm and its proximity to Buenos Aires draw thousands of Argentine and other visitors on weekends and in summer. Prices rise in these periods and it can be difficult to find a room so make sure to book your trip well in advance.
Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are a small archipelago of islands belonging to Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos archipelago is world-renowned for its unique and fearless wildlife, much of which was inspiration for Charles Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. Thanks to a lack of natural predators, friendly wildlife such as sea lions and gigantic sea tortoises let visitors get up close. This archipelago of about 19 islands and many smaller islets found over 620 miles off Ecuador's coast in the Pacific Ocean is a double World Heritage site, where both land and sea are protected. Each island boasts its own unique landscape, ranging from black, volcanic rocks to white sand beaches and gemstone-blue waters. There is no bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands but the busiest months for tourism tend to be June, July and August, as well as mid-December to mid-January. This is when prices are at their highest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Uruguay, The Best Adventure Tours to Uruguay, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Ecuador, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Ecuador.
-
Colonia del Sacramento Prices
Uruguay PricesGalapagos Islands Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayColonia del Sacramento $78Galapagos Islands $29,200
The average daily cost (per person) in Colonia del Sacramento is $78, while the average daily cost in Galapagos Islands is $29,200. 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 Colonia del Sacramento and Galapagos Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personColonia del Sacramento $33Galapagos Islands $12,681
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomColonia del Sacramento $66Galapagos Islands $
Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /homepages/12/d310477359/htdocs/citycomparison.php on line 2880
24
Compare Hotels in Colonia del Sacramento and Galapagos Islands
Looking for a hotel in Colonia del Sacramento or Galapagos Islands? 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: Colonia del Sacramento Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $17Galapagos Islands $3,523
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Colonia del Sacramento
Also for Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Colonia to Carmelo (or vice - versa): $290
- Colonia del Sacramento Half-Day City Tour with Transfers: $68
- Colonia Port Terminal Private Transfer: $21
- Colonia Bus Terminal Private Transfer: $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galapagos Islands
Also for Galapagos Islands, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $95
- Private Transfer from Hotels in Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport: $137
- Private Transfer from Baltra Airport to Hotels in Santa Cruz Island: $137
- Maritime transfer between the Galapagos Islands: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Colonia del Sacramento or Galapagos Islands?
Prices for flights to both Galapagos Islands and Colonia del Sacramento 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 dayColonia del Sacramento $31Galapagos Islands $11,857
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Colonia del Sacramento $23Galapagos Islands $7,364
Tours and Activities in Colonia del Sacramento
For Colonia del Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Authentic Colony on Walking Tour of Its Historic Quarter: $20
- Bus Ticket from Colonia del Sacramento to Carmelo: $27
- Candombe experience: $35
- Candombe in Colonia: an immersive experience with the local community: $75
- Cerros de San Juan Winery Tour – Tastings & History: $461
- City Tour Colonia del Sacramento - Uruguay: $90
- Cologne Experiences : Cologne Historic Quarter Private Tour: $75
- Cologne Südstadt: Group Bike Tour with Cheese and Craft Beer: $65
- Colonia Walking Tour & Chivito Lunch at Casa Páez Vilaró: $55
- Colonia del Sacramento Full City Tour: $81
- Colonia del Sacramento Historical Tour Duration of 1 hour: $13
- Colonia del Sacramento Tourist Bus Hop On Hop Off: $20
Tours and Activities in Galapagos Islands
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Galapagos Islands.
- Bay Tour in Santa Cruz - Galapagos Islands: $57
- Beach Wildlife and Snorkel Adventure with Underwater Specialist: $179
- BiciTour Giant Turtles and Lava Tunnel in Galapagos: $90
- Day Tour to Floreana Island with Highland Tour and Snorkeling: $259
- Day Tour to Floreana Island with Snorkeling and Fishing: $259
- Day Tour to Isabela Island with Tintorera Islet, Snorkeling Wetlands & Flamingos: $285
- Day Tour to Santa Fe Island and Hidden Beach with snorkeling and fishing: $229
- Day tour to Pinzón Island and La Fé/Palmitas Bay with snorkeling and fishing: $249
- Day tour to San Cristobal Island with private Land Tour and snorkeling: $285
- Full Day Floreana Tour: $220
- Full Day Santa Fe Playa escondida snorkeling tour: $230
- Full Day Tour Pinzon Island + La Fe/Las Palmas - Snorkeling & Fishing: $188
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayColonia del Sacramento $5.61Galapagos Islands $2,906
Sample the Local Flavors in Colonia del Sacramento
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Colonia del Sacramento:
- Cheese and Wine Tasting - Roots of Colonia del Sacramento: $32
- Private Guided Colonia Wine Tour: $190
- Carmelo from Colonia: Wine Tasting Experience & Lunch at the Zubizarreta Winery: $204
- Indulge in a Scenic Wine Tour from Colonia to Carmelo: $250
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Colonia del Sacramento and Galapagos Islands, we can see that Galapagos Islands is more expensive. And not only is Colonia del Sacramento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Colonia del Sacramento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Colonia del Sacramento 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 Galapagos Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Galapagos Islands than you might in Colonia del Sacramento.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Colonia del Sacramento Expensive? and Is Galapagos Islands Expensive?.
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.