A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Flores vs. Arequipa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Flores or Arequipa?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Flores and Arequipa 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: Flores or Arequipa?

Flores

The town of Flores is located in Peten, Guatemala. The main hub is located on an island on Lago Peten Itza, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway. On the other side of the causeway are the towns of Santa Elena and San Benito, however, all three are often referred to as Flores. Most people visit the area for its proximity to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, though the town itself is also charming with colonial buildings and historic churches lining the cobbled streets.

Arequipa

Sitting in the middle of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes of Peru is the enchanting city of Arequipa. With 468 years of history, the city is full of Spanish colonial architecture. Known to locals as the "white city," the city center, Plaza de Armas, is quite the sight with buildings of sillar white stone made from the rocks of the surrounding volcanoes.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours in Guatemala, The Best 2-Week Tours in Guatemala, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Arequipa or Flores?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Flores is $33, while the average daily cost in Arequipa is $47. 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 Flores and Arequipa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Flores $8.62
    Arequipa $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Flores $17
    Arequipa $46
Compare Hotels in Flores and Arequipa

Looking for a hotel in Flores or Arequipa? 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 Flores


Hotels in Arequipa


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: Flores Hotel Prices and Arequipa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Flores $7.86
    Arequipa $6.02

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores

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

  • Bus transfer from Flores, Guatemala to Belize City: $20
  • Belize, Caye Caulke, San Pedro Van/ Ferry Transfer: $20
  • Private transfer Mundo Maya Airport to Flores Island Hotels: $10
  • Round-Trip VIP Exclusive Transfer to Tikal from Flores: $137
  • Tikal Transfer and Tour Guide From Flores: $60
  • Transfer from Flores Guatemala to Caye Caulker Belize: $43

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.36
  • Bus Ride
    $0.43
  • Taxi Ride
    $0.95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arequipa

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Arequipa:

  • Transfer Between Arequipa's Airport and Hotels: $35
  • Sihanouk Ville Airport Pickup or Transfer Private Car: $32
  • Private Transfer from Arequipa to Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón (AQP) Airport : $35
  • Private Transfer from Alfredo Rodríguez Ballón Airport to Hotel: $20
  • Private Transfer From Arequipa to Puno, English Speaking Driver: $262
  • Private Transfer From Arequipa To Puno With a 2 Hour Stop: $241
  • Koh lanta any hotel to Phuket airport Private transfer: $147
  • Koh Lanta any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer: $71
  • From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $98
  • From 2-Day Colca Canyon Tour with Transfer to Puno: $103
  • Colca Canyon Sightseeing Tour 2D1N and Transfer to Puno: $120
  • Colca Canyon 2 days from Arequipa with final transfer to Puno: $110

Is it cheaper to fly into Flores or Arequipa?

Prices for flights to both Arequipa and Flores 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
    Flores $13
    Arequipa $14

Typical Food Prices in Arequipa

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Arequipa:


  • Coke
    $0.41
  • Lunch
    $2.85
  • Ice Cream
    $1.09
  • Fruit
    $0.81
  • Ice Cream
    $0.95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arequipa

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

  • Skip the Line: Dinner and Typical Dances Show Ticket: $25
  • Peruvian Cooking Experience in Arequipa: $34
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
  • Peruvian Cooking Class: $48
  • Peruvian Cooking Class in arequipa: $50
  • Guided Food Tour in Arequipa City: $69
  • 3-hour guided food tour / 5 iconic restaurants of Arequipa: $72
  • A 3-hour Guided Food Tour with 4 Iconic Restaurants of Arequipa: $79
  • Arequipa Food Tour: Ancestral Cuisine & City Tour: $85
  • Peruvian cooking experience, pisco sour and visit local market: $95
  • Peruvian cooking class + PiscoSour class + visit the local market: $95
  • Food Tour Experience: $115

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Flores $20
    Arequipa $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Flores

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


  • Tikal Entrance (for 2)
    $39
  • Map of Tikal
    $3.22

Tours and Activities in Flores

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

  • From Tikal Guided Tour with Transportation: $25
  • Shared Guided Sunset Tour in Yaxhá from Flores: $25
  • Basic Tour to Tikal Includes Transportation and Guide Service: $25
  • Yaxha: Shared Sunset Tour / Transportation & Guide: $25
  • From Tikal Sunset Tour: $30
  • Tikal Ruins Day Tour from Flores: $34
  • Tikal Group Tour : $42
  • Full Day Tikal Sunrise Tour from Flores and Archaeological Tour: $48
  • Tikal National Park Full-Day Guided Tour from Flores: $55
  • From Flores Guided Tour to Tikal with transportation + lunch: $75
  • From Exclusive Tikal Group Tour: $77
  • Tikal Day Tour: $90

Typical Entertainment Prices in Arequipa

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


  • Monastery Entry
    $2.71
  • Salsa Class
    $2.71
  • Movie Ticket
    $2.96
  • Hot Springs
    $2.71

Tours and Activities in Arequipa

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

  • 2 Day - Colca Canyon and Condor Tour from Arequipa, Peru - Group Service : $288
  • 2-Day Misti Volcano Tour: $117
  • 2-Day Tour to the Magical Colca Canyon: $68
  • 2-Day || Adventure From Arequipa to Chachani Volcano ||: $143
  • 2-day tour to the Colca Valley and the Cruz del Condor: $99
  • 3 Hour Congata Rover Biking Ride Tour in Arequipa: $45
  • 3-Day Cotahuasi Canyon Tour: $350
  • 3-Hour Tour by Mountain Bike in Arequipa: $69
  • 3-day tour of the Valley of the Volcanoes: $350
  • 4-hour tour to the Sillar Route in Arequipa: $10
  • 8-Hours Tour in Arequipa Laguna de Salinas with Pick-up: $25
  • AREQUIPA BIKING CITY TOUR: $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Flores $21
    Arequipa $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Flores

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Flores are as follows:


  • Two Margaritas
    $2.57

Typical Alcohol Prices in Arequipa

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Arequipa are as follows:


  • Beer
    $2.44

Sample the Local Flavors in Arequipa

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arequipa:

  • Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with VIP Access.: $25
  • From Pisco and wine tour through the Majes Valley: $50
  • Pub Crawl Tour in Arequipa with Drinks and VIP Access.: $60


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

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


Which is Bigger, Flores or Arequipa?

Arequipa has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Flores. When comparing the sizes of Flores and Arequipa, 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.