Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Copan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Copan or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Copan Prices
Honduras PricesSanta Elena Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCopan $98Santa Elena $121
The average daily cost (per person) in Copan is $98, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $121. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCopan $21Santa Elena $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCopan $42Santa Elena $120
Compare Hotels in Copan and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Copan or Santa Elena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Copan $73Santa Elena $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Direct transfer from Monteverde to San Jose, English Speaking Driver: $194
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $229
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to your Destination: $260
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Saint Helena Monte Verde: $45
- Shuttle Transfer Lake crossing from Monteverde To Arenal: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Copan or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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
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Food Meals for one dayCopan $34Santa Elena $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Copan $23Santa Elena $33
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- Monteverde Night Experience: $25
- High Ropes "Day Pass Adventure" an activity for families and friends: $25
- Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour: $27
- Shore Excursion Mix Adventure Zip Line Day for Families and Friends: $29
- Guided Butterfly Conservatory Tour in Costa Rica: $30
- Wildlife Refuge Monteverde Night Walking Tour: $33
- Monteverde Cloud Forest hanging bridges Nature Tour: $34
- Monteverde: Oktari Monteverde Night Walk Tour: $35
- Monteverde Night Tour Unique Experience: $35
- Guided Tour in Monteverde with a Local Guide and Binoculars: $35
- Guided Wildlife Tour in Monteverde Cloud Forest: $35
- Three Wattled Bellbird Tour In Monteverde: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCopan $6.69Santa Elena $6.85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Copan and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena is more expensive. And not only is Copan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena 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.