Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Flores?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Flores or La Serena?
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 La Serena 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 La Serena?
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.
La Serena
La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!
Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.
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 Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlores $33La Serena $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Flores is $33, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $87. 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 La Serena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlores $8.62La Serena $42
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlores $17La Serena $84
Compare Hotels in Flores and La Serena
Looking for a hotel in Flores or La Serena? 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.
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 La Serena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Flores $7.86La Serena $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores
Also for Flores, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Flores Guatemala to Caye Caulker Belize: $43
- Tikal Transfer and Tour Guide From Flores: $60
- Round-Trip VIP Exclusive Transfer to Tikal from Flores: $137
- Private transfer Mundo Maya Airport to Flores Island Hotels: $10
- Belize, Caye Caulke, San Pedro Van/ Ferry Transfer: $20
- Bus transfer from Flores, Guatemala to Belize City: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Flores or La Serena?
Prices for flights to both La Serena 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 dayFlores $13La Serena $27
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Flores $20La Serena $24
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:
- Shared Guided Sunset Tour in Yaxhá from Flores: $25
- 2-Day Tour to Tikal and Yaxhá from Flores Island: $220
- Admire The Sunrise In Tikal - Private Tour From Flores: $214
- Awaken to Tikals' Sunrise Exclusive Tour: $199
- Basic Tour to Tikal Includes Transportation and Guide Service: $25
- Enjoy The Sunset On Top Of A Mayan Pyramid In Yaxha - Private Tour From Flores: $199
- 1-Day Tikal Tour Private Service From your Hotel: $185
- From Flores Guided Tour to Tikal with transportation + lunch: $75
- From 2-Day Tikal & Yaxhá Tour: $299
- From Blue Crater private day tour: $160
- From El Pucte Blue Crater Private Day Tour: $200
- From Exclusive Tikal Group Tour: $77
Tours and Activities in La Serena
For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
- Dama Island or Chañaral Navigation Tour Humboldt Penguin Reserve: $140
- Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $85
- Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
- Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
- Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
- Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
- Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
- La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
- La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
- La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
- La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlores $21La Serena $22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Flores
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Flores are as follows:
-
Two Margaritas$2.57
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flores and La Serena, we can see that La Serena 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 La Serena 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena 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 La Serena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Flores or La Serena?
La Serena has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Flores. When comparing the sizes of Flores and La Serena, 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.
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.