A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eagle Beach vs. Bocas del Toro for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eagle Beach or Bocas del Toro?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Eagle Beach or Bocas del Toro, 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: Eagle Beach or Bocas del Toro?

Eagle Beach

Aruba, only fifteen miles north of Venezuela, is a top Caribbean tourist destination. It's a small island, only 20 miles long and 6 miles wide, and is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One of the most popular and beautiful beaches on the island is Eagle Beach. It's a popular beach with the locals, and a common destination for many who are looking for a party. The beach is particularly crowded on Easter weekend. The sand is a sugary white and the waters are a stunning crystal blue color. The beach itself is quite flat and the ocean is so calm it's like swimming in a pool. There are a handful of palm trees if you're seeking shade, but otherwise it's the ideal place to soak up some rays. You'll find some shaded picnic areas as well if you're hoping to enjoy a casual lunch.

Bocas del Toro

The capital of the Bocas del Toro province, this city of the same name sits in the Caribbean West region of Panama. Bocas del Toro, or Bocas Town, is in the district of Bocas del Toro, which also includes the towns of Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel, and Tierra Oscura. The district has a population of about 17,000 and covers a total area of 433.2 square kilometers, and the town has a population of about 13,000. The area is a tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving, and interesting culture.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama.


Which place is cheaper, Bocas del Toro or Eagle Beach?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Eagle Beach is $341, while the average daily cost in Bocas del Toro is $77. 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 Eagle Beach and Bocas del Toro in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eagle Beach $227
    Bocas del Toro $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eagle Beach $454
    Bocas del Toro $66
Compare Hotels in Eagle Beach and Bocas del Toro

Looking for a hotel in Eagle Beach or Bocas del Toro? 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 Eagle Beach


Hotels in Bocas del Toro


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: Bocas del Toro Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eagle Beach $33
    Bocas del Toro $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eagle Beach

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eagle Beach:


  • Round-trip Bus Ticket
    $2.22
  • One Day Scooter Rental
    $40

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eagle Beach

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Eagle Beach:

  • VIP luxury limousine airport transfer one way!: $190
  • VIP Luxury SUV Airport Transfer: $120
  • Round Trip Private Airport Transfer: $120
  • VIP Luxury Sedan Airport Transfer: $105
  • Platinium Aruba Transport - All Around Luxury Private Transfers: $90
  • Aruba Queen Airport(AUA) to Aruba Island - Round-Trip Transfer: $79
  • Private Transfer from Aruba Queen Airport (AUA) to Aruba Island: $75
  • Transfers & Pickups: $67
  • Private Airport Transfers in Aruba: $58
  • Roundtrip Transfer Private Vehicle Aruba Airport (AUA) - Aruba: $55
  • Aruba Private Van Airport Transfer (Max 5): $55
  • 2 Ways Private Transfers: $45

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bocas del Toro

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bocas del Toro:


  • Water Taxi
    $3.01

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bocas del Toro

Also for Bocas del Toro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Colón Port to Panama Tocumen Airport PTY: $42
  • Transfer Colon Cruise Terminal - Tocumen Airport or Panama City: $55
  • Transfer from Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo: $54

Is it cheaper to fly into Eagle Beach or Bocas del Toro?

Prices for flights to both Bocas del Toro and Eagle Beach 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
    Eagle Beach $68
    Bocas del Toro $27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Eagle Beach

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

  • Noord, Aruba: Exclusive Private Dinner aboard the Aqua Donut: $90
  • Aruba Caribbean Dinner Sail Experience: $92
  • Sunset Sail Cruise to Boca Catalina with BBQ Dinner: $110
  • Sunset Sail: Aruba Dinner Cruise with Open Bar by Catamaran: $119
  • Caribbean Cooking Class in Aruba: $160

Typical Food Prices in Bocas del Toro

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bocas del Toro:


  • Lunch
    $15
  • Breakfast
    $14

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eagle Beach $121
    Bocas del Toro $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Eagle Beach

Here are a few typical costs in Eagle Beach for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Full Day Bike Rental
    $25
  • Kayak & Snorkeling Tour
    $98
  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $70
  • 4 Hr Snorkel Trip
    $74

Tours and Activities in Eagle Beach

Here are a few actual costs in Eagle Beach for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Aruba Semi-Submarine Cruise from Oranjestad: $60
  • Discover Snorkeling Tour Mangel Halto & Baby Beach: $115
  • 2-Hour Horseback Riding Tour to Little Natural Bridge in Aruba: $116
  • 2-Seater UTV Island Tour in Aruba: $99
  • Adventure Kayak & Snorkeling at Reef Island Aruba: $130
  • Amazing UTV Island Tour around Aruba!: $200
  • Antilla Shipwreck Seabob Tour: $120
  • Art, Facts & Baby Beach UTV Adventure by Fofoti: $235
  • Aruba ATV Adventure: Off-Road Tour in Single and Double Seaters: $109
  • Aruba ATV Rentals For Off-Road Adventure - Single & Double-Seater: $96
  • Aruba Baby Beach Express Tour: $49
  • Aruba Beach and Cave Island Tour : $78

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bocas del Toro

For Bocas del Toro, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Island Boat Tour
    $25
  • Starfish Island Boat Trip
    $20
  • Yoga Class
    $5.01

Tours and Activities in Bocas del Toro

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bocas del Toro.

  • Stand Up Paddle Board Experience in Bahia Honda Bocas del Toro: $60
  • Speed Boat tour to Mangrove Point -Starfish Beach -Bocas del Drago and Birds Island: $65
  • Dolphin Bay and Coral Cay with Drinks Private Tour in Zapatilla: $66
  • Full-Day Speedboat Tour, Wildlife, and Snorkeling in Bocas del Toro in Panama: $68
  • Full Day Private Shore Tour in Panama from Colón Cruise Port: $231

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eagle Beach $31
    Bocas del Toro $12


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eagle Beach Expensive? and Is Bocas del Toro Expensive?.