Which place is cheaper, Santa Elena or Flores?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Flores or Santa Elena?
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 Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena?
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.
Santa Elena
Santa Elena is a cute town, and the closest to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, and is a great place to experience the cloud forest and see some of country's unique wildlife.
In the Monteverde Cloud Forest you have a good chance of seeing rare quetzals which are the national bird of Costa Rica. Other common animals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-kneed tarantulas, any of 8-9 species of hummingbirds, and sloth.
Santa Elena is about 1,400 meters above sea level and has a humid and damp environment. The average yearly temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 3,000 millimetres. Humidity can be anywhere between 74% and 97%.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best G Adventures Tours to Guatemala, The Best G Adventures Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Costa Rica.
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Flores Prices
Guatemala PricesSanta Elena Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlores $43Santa Elena $122
The average daily cost (per person) in Flores is $43, while the average daily cost in Santa Elena is $122. 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 Santa Elena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlores $8.77Santa Elena $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlores $18Santa Elena $122
Compare Hotels in Flores and Santa Elena
Looking for a hotel in Flores or Santa Elena? 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 Santa Elena Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Flores $8.00Santa Elena $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Flores
Also for Flores, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Same day Round-Trip VIP Exclusive Transfer to Tikal from Flores: $160
- Tikal Transfer and Tour Guide From Flores: $90
- One way shared transfer to Semuc Champey, Lanquin: $49
- Transfer from Flores to Semuc Champey, Lanquin, Tourists Only: $40
- Flores, Peten: One way shared transfer to Rio Dulce, Izabal: $39
- From Flores, Peten: One way shared transfer to Tikal: $39
- Tikal National Park Guided Tour with Transfers: $24
- Bus transfer from Flores, Guatemala to Belize City: $20
- Belize/Caye Caulke/San Pedro Van or Ferry Transfer: $20
- Transfer : Mayan World Airport to Flores Island Hotels: $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Elena
Also for Santa Elena, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Saint Helena Monte Verde: $45
- Private Transfer From Monteverde to San Jose With 2 Stops: $222
- One-Way Private Transfer: Monteverde to Quepos and Manuel Antonio: $276
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde to Samara: $269
- One Way Private Transfer from Monteverde - Liberia: $276
- Monteverde Private Transfer to San Jose or SJO Airport: $240
- MiniVan Departure Transfer Monteverde to San Jose Airport SJO: $228
Is it cheaper to fly into Flores or Santa Elena?
Prices for flights to both Santa Elena 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
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Food Meals for one dayFlores $23Santa Elena $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Flores $20Santa Elena $33
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
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Map of Tikal$3.27
Tours and Activities in Flores
For Flores, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2-Day Tour to Tikal and Yaxhá from Flores Island: $220
- 4 Hours Private Tour to see the sunset at El Rey Canek Viewpoint: $100
- All Inclusive Tikal Tour from Flores and Airport: $105
- All Inclusive Tikal Tour from Flores or Mayan World Airport: $78
- Basic Tour to Tikal Includes Transportation and Guide Service: $25
- Classic Tour to Tikal from Flores Mayan Temples and Tropical Jungle: $110
- Exclusive VIP Tour to Tikal All-Inclusive from Flores: $240
- 1-Day Tikal Tour Private Service From your Hotel: $185
- Blue Crater, Imox Lagoon & Hidden Pools Tour: $75
- Tikal National Park Tour with Mayan Energy Reading: $222
- Yaxha Shared Sunset Tour with Transportation & Guide: $25
- From Flores Guided Tour to Tikal with transportation + lunch: $75
Tours and Activities in Santa Elena
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santa Elena.
- 18-Zipline Adventure Over 11 Waterfalls in Costa Rica: $109
- 5-Hour Birdwatching and Photography Tour in Monteverde: $120
- Adventure Day - Outdoor Fun for Family & Friends Package: $39
- Adventure Park High Ropes Course: $69
- Authentic Coffee Farm Tour in Monteverde with Local Family: $40
- Best Monteverde Bird Watching Tour Curi-Cancha Reserve: $55
- Birdwatching Tour in Monteverde: $85
- Birdwatching Tour in the Cloud Forest hanging Selvatura: $75
- Birdwatching Tour in the Wildlife of Monteverde: $65
- Birdwatching Tour: unlock the wonder, whether beginner or advanced: $175
- Birdwatching tour with local guide + Binoculars: $38
- Canopy Adventure From Monteverde: $98
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlores $21Santa Elena $6.94
Typical Alcohol Prices in Flores
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Flores are as follows:
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Two Margaritas$2.62
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flores and Santa Elena, we can see that Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Elena 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 Santa Elena Expensive?.
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.