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

Should you visit Flores or Liberia?

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 Liberia 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 Liberia?

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.

Liberia

Liberia is a town in northwestern Costa Rica. It is the capital of the Guanacaste province, which is about 140 miles away from Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. The town has a population of about 56,000 and is one of the tourism centers of the country.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best G Adventures Tours to Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Eco Tours in Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Liberia or Flores?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Flores is $43, while the average daily cost in Liberia is $128. 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 Liberia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Flores $8.73
    Liberia $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Flores $17
    Liberia $120
Compare Hotels in Flores and Liberia

Looking for a hotel in Flores or Liberia? 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 Liberia


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 Liberia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Flores $7.97
    Liberia $43

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores

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

  • Private transfer Mundo Maya Airport to Flores Island Hotels: $10
  • Bus transfer from Flores, Guatemala to Belize City: $20
  • Tikal Transfer and Tour Guide From Flores: $90
  • Same day Round-Trip VIP Exclusive Transfer to Tikal from Flores : $133

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Liberia

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


  • Bike Rental
    $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Liberia

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Liberia:

  • Transfer from Playas del Coco to Liberia Airport (LIR): $90
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Palace Hotel in Guanacaste: $90
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Riu Guanacaste Hotel in Guanacaste: $85
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Rio Perdido Resort: $210
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playas del Coco Guanacaste: $85
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Playa Hermosa Guanacaste: $85
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Planet Hollywood Beach Resort: $91
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort & Spa: $148
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Dreams Las Mareas Hotel: $149
  • Transfer from Liberia Airport (LIR) to Andaz Papagayo Resort: $115
  • Transfer from Dreams Las Mareas Hotel to Liberia Airport (LIR): $148
  • Transfer Liberia Airport to Planet Hollywood or Andaz Papagayo, ROUND TRIP.: $149

Is it cheaper to fly into Flores or Liberia?

Prices for flights to both Liberia 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 $23
    Liberia $36

Typical Food Prices in Liberia

Some typical examples of dining costs in Liberia are as follows:


  • Snacks
    $1.97
  • Lunch at The Shack (for 1)
    $4.94
  • Lunch
    $11
  • Coffee & Tres Leches (for 2)
    $14
  • Ginger Ale
    $1.28

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Flores $20
    Liberia $25
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
    $3.26

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
  • From Flowers Sunset Tour in Tikal: $25
  • Basic Tour to Tikal Includes Transportation and Guide Service: $25
  • Tikal Ruins Day Tour from Flores: $31
  • Full Day Tikal Sunrise Tour from Flores and Archaeological Tour: $48
  • Tikal National Park Full-Day Guided Tour from Flores: $65
  • From Flowers Eco Tour to Blue Crater All Inclusive: $70
  • All Inclusive Tikal Tour from Flores or Mayan World Airport: $78
  • Tour to Tikal (Awesome): $85
  • Yaxha Day Tour from Flores: $100
  • All Inclusive Tikal Tour from Flores and Airport: $105
  • Full-Day Shared Tour to Tikal from Flores Peten with Lunch: $110

Tours and Activities in Liberia

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Liberia are as follows:

  • Birdwatching Experience private tour : $300
  • 2 Hour ATV Experience From Guanacaste: $189
  • 2 Hour ATV Private Tour in Costa Rica: $81
  • 2 Hour Coffee & Chocolate Tour in Playas del Coco: $40
  • 3 Hour ATV Adventure Tour in El Jobo: $140
  • 3 In 1 Volcano Hot Springs & Mud Baths And River Floating Tour: $235
  • 4-Hour Private Guided ATV Tour in Costa Rica: $122
  • 5 Tours in 1 – The Ultimate Volcano Adventure!: $159
  • 7 Hour Private Tour in Palo Verde National Park with Pickup: $120
  • 8 Essential Guanacaste Experiences: culture, nature & wellness : $78
  • ATV Beach Tour: $125
  • ATV Tour 2hrs - Dreams Las Mareas: $135

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Flores $21
    Liberia $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Flores

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


  • Two Margaritas
    $2.61


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flores and Liberia, we can see that Liberia 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 Liberia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Liberia 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 Liberia Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Flores or Liberia?

Liberia has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Flores. When comparing the sizes of Flores and Liberia, 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.