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

Should you visit Copan or Ponce?

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 Ponce 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 Ponce?

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.

Ponce

Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).

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


Which place is cheaper, Ponce 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 Ponce is $205. 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 Ponce in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Copan $23
    Ponce $151
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Copan $46
    Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Copan and Ponce

Looking for a hotel in Copan or Ponce? 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 Ponce


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Copan $78
    Ponce $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:

  • Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
  • Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
  • Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
  • Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
  • Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
  • Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
  • San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
  • San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
  • San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
  • San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
  • San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
  • San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46

Is it cheaper to fly into Copan or Ponce?

Prices for flights to both Ponce 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
    Ponce $35

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.

  • Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
  • Private Half-Day Food Tour : $130
  • Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Copan $25
    Ponce $56

Tours and Activities in Ponce

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:

  • Talking Buildings of Old San Juan: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
  • Footsteps in San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
  • Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
  • Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
  • Salsa Tours PR Sunset Salsa Beach Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico : $29
  • Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
  • Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
  • Guided City Walking Tour: $32
  • La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
  • Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
  • Bio Bay Boat Tour with Swimming from La Parguera, Puerto Rico: $50
  • Turtle spotting snorkeling adventure- no Jets : $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Copan $7.22
    Ponce $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce

Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
  • Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
  • Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
  • Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour: $99


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Copan and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Copan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Copan is in Central America and Ponce is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Copan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Copan 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in Copan.

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


Which is Bigger, Copan or Ponce?

Ponce has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Copan. When comparing the sizes of Copan and Ponce, 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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