A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Copan vs. Jaco for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Copan or Jaco?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Copan and Jaco can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Copan or Jaco?

Copan

If you are a lover of history, or just really want to tap into your inner Indiana Jones, a trip to Copan, Honduras is right up your alley. Located in western Honduras, the cobblestone lined streets and white adobe buildings topped with red roofs provide the beautiful backdrop to this once powerful city.

Occupied by the Maya for 2,000 years, Copan was the ruling city in the southern Mayan kingdom. Settled nicely in a fertile river valley among rolling hills, this city is absolutely fascinating and the perfect place to explore history.

Jaco

Jaco is a beach destination on the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. This resort city is located in the county of Garabito in the Puntarenas province. It has a population of about 10,000 residents and a 2.5 mile long beach that is an excellent surfing destination.

Because Jaco is located on the coast, it's weather is influenced by the water. The climate is humid with a relative humidity of about 80%, but climbing to 90% in the month of June. The temperature is usually between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at night. There are distinct wet and dry seasons with August through early December being the rainy season and late December through early April being the dry season. Rain is irregular during the rest of the year.

Which place is cheaper, Jaco or Copan?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Copan is $90, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $99. 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 Copan and Jaco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Copan $23
    Jaco $65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Copan $46
    Jaco $130
Compare Hotels in Copan and Jaco

Looking for a hotel in Copan or Jaco? 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 Copan


Hotels in Jaco


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: Jaco Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Copan $78
    Jaco -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco

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

  • Arrival Transfer Barcelo Tambor to Juan Santamaria Airport SJO : $81
  • Jacó Private Transfer to San Jose Airport 1 to 4 People: $195
  • Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer: $67
  • Jaco/Monteverde to Liberia Airport (LIR) - Departure Transfer : $88
  • One way Transfer from Jaco to Monteverde up to 5 passengers.: $320
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Uvita: $140
  • Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Los Sueños Resort/Marriot : $135
  • Private Transfer From Guacaste Airport to Jaco: $64
  • Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Hermosa Beach Puntarenas: $170
  • Private Transfer San José capital & SJO Intl Airport to Montezuma, Malpais : $546
  • Private Transfer Uvita, Dominical or Around- Juan Santa Maria AirPort 1-4 people: $430
  • Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $219

Is it cheaper to fly into Copan or Jaco?

Prices for flights to both Jaco and Copan 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
    Copan $21
    Jaco $20

Typical Food prices in Jaco

For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Hermosa BeachLlunch
    $3.78
  • Tsunami Sushi Dinner
    $17
  • Taco Bar Dinner
    $8.63
  • Pizza & Smoothie Lunch
    $6.04
  • Ice Cream
    $5.67
  • Breakfast Taco Bar
    $3.20
  • Fruit Plate
    $2.83

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco

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

  • Traveling Spoon Ceviche Private Online Cooking Class: $40
  • Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman: $85
  • Traditional Costa Rican cooking class and meal with a modern twist: $136
  • Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Combo Tour with Lunch & Dinner: $185
  • Private Night Sensations Dinner Show: $3,550

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Copan $25
    Jaco $58

Typical Entertainment prices in Jaco

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Dance Class
    $9.41
  • Surf Lesson
    $47
  • Bike Rental
    $9.41
  • Tortuga Island Tour
    $94
  • Massage
    $42

Tours and Activities in Jaco

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

  • Guided Walking Street Art Tour in Jaco Costa Rica : $30
  • Carara National Park Tour: $31
  • Jungle Crocodile Safari and Bird Watching Tour: $35
  • Jason Crocodile Tours: $39
  • Crocodile Man Tour THE ORIGINAL: $40
  • Jaco Beach: 2-Hour Chocolate Experience Tour: $43
  • 1 hour 45 minutes Crocodile Adventure Tour in Tarcoles River: $45
  • Chocolate Experience in Jaco Beach and Los Suenos : $45
  • Guided visit to Carara National Park (Ticket included): $49
  • Guided Street Art Bike Tour in Jaco Costa Rica: $50
  • Small-Group Guided Bike Tour in Jacó: $52
  • Mountain Bike Adventure + Waterfalls in Jaco Beach: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Copan $7.22
    Jaco $31

Typical Alcohol prices in Jaco

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:


  • Wine
    $14
  • Night at the Bar
    $26

How are these travel costs calculated?

When comparing the travel costs between Copan and Jaco, we can see that Jaco 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 Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

Which is Bigger, Copan or Jaco?

Copan is bigger, and its population is about 55% larger than the population of Jaco. When comparing the population of Copan vs. Jaco, 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.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
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Copan vs. Jaco Travel Comparison

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