Should you visit Flores or Jaco?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Flores and Jaco can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
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 city is cheaper, Jaco or Flores?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Flores is $26, while the average daily cost in Jaco is $62. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Flores and Jaco in more detail.
Accommodation
Travelers usually pay around $14 for a double occupancy room in Flores If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Jaco can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $40, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $80.
Food
While meal prices in Flores can vary, the average travelers spends about $10 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Flores should cost around $4.00 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Flores is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
The average traveler spends about $12 per day in Jaco for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Flores $10
Jaco $12
Typical Food prices in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Hermosa BeachLlunch
$3.20
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Taco Bar Dinner
$7.30
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Pizza & Smoothie Lunch
$5.11
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Ice Cream
$4.79
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Breakfast Taco Bar
$2.71
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Fruit Plate
$2.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaco
For Jaco, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Traveling Spoon Ceviche Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Online Costa Rican Cooking Class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman:
$35
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Costa Rican cooking class with cookbook author Melissa Guzman:
$70
Local Transportation
To get around in Flores, the average visitor spends $6.32 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores
Also for Flores, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Tikal National Park Tour with Guide and Transfer:
$45
-
Round-Trip Private Transfer to Tikal from Flores:
$90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaco
Also for Jaco, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer from Jaco to Monteverde up to 5 passengers:
$210
-
Transfer TO or FROM Jaco Beach Area to SJO Airport:
$95
-
Private transfer from Jaco Beach to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport:
$152
-
Private Departure Transfer: Jaco Beach to Juan Santamaría International Airport:
$153
-
Jacó Private Transfer to San Jose Airport for 1 to 5 People:
$146
-
Jaco to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) - Departure Private Transfer:
$112
-
Jaco Airport Transfers:
$149
Is it cheaper to fly into Flores or Jaco?
Prices for flights to both Jaco 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.
Entertainment
In Flores, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $16 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Jaco can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $39 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Flores
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Flores's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Tikal Entrance (for 2)
$39
-
Map of Tikal
$3.23
Tours and Activities in Flores
For Flores, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2-Day Mayan Ruins Tour of Tikal and Yaxha from Flores:
$302
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Bird Observation Tour:
$117
-
Bird Watch Tour in Ixpanpajul, Tikal or Taxha:
$274
-
Birding Tour In Tikal:
$130
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Crater Azul, Full day Tour, From FLORES, Petén.:
$171
-
Day Tour to Ixpanpajul Natural Park:
$171
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Day Tour to Petén Itzá Lake and Petencito Zoo:
$123
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Day Trip from Flores with Sunrise in Tikal and Archeology Tour:
$80
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El Mirador And Crater Azul Tour From Flores 2d / 1n:
$703
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El Mirador And Tikal Tour From Flores 2d / 1n:
$670
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El Mirador And Yaxha Tour From Flores City 2d / 1 N:
$650
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El Mirador Tour By Helicopter From Flores:
$482
Typical Entertainment prices in Jaco
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Jaco's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Dance Class
$7.96
-
Surf Lesson
$40
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Bike Rental
$7.96
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Tortuga Island Tour
$79
-
Massage
$36
Tours and Activities in Jaco
For Jaco, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2 Hour ATV Adventure Through Costa Rican Jungle in Jaco:
$71
-
2hrs ATV & Crocodile COMBO Tour:
$113
-
3 Hour ATV Tour Through Costa Rican Rainforest:
$90
-
3 hrs ATV Tour:
$87
-
3hrs ATV & Monkey Mangrove COMBO Tour:
$145
-
3hrs ATV Plus Horseback Waterfall COMBO Tour:
$159
-
4x4 Land Cruiser Ride to the Waterfalls Tour:
$33
-
4x4 Rainforest Adventure Booze Safari:
$98
-
4x4 Rainforest Tour - Lunch & Waterfall Included:
$95
-
ATV 2 Hour tour With Waterfall Experience:
$70
-
ATV Full-Day Tour in Jaco:
$186
-
ATV Tour in Jaco:
$54
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Flores spend on average $17 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Jaco spend on average $21 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Flores
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Flores are as follows:
Typical Alcohol prices in Jaco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Jaco:
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Wine
$12
-
Night at the Bar
$22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flores and Jaco, we can see that Jaco is more expensive. And not only is Flores much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Jaco would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaco than you might in Flores.
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