Which place is cheaper, Tena or Flores?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Flores or Tena?
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 Tena 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 Tena?
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.
Tena
Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours in Guatemala, The Best 2-Week Tours in Guatemala, The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayFlores $33Tena $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Flores is $33, while the average daily cost in Tena is $51. 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 Tena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personFlores $8.62Tena $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomFlores $17Tena $48
Compare Hotels in Flores and Tena
Looking for a hotel in Flores or Tena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Flores $7.86Tena $17
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:
- Transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $42
- Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15
- San Andres hotels to San Andres Airport (ADZ) Departure Transfer: $36
- Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
- Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Flores or Tena?
Prices for flights to both Tena 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 $13Tena $15
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Flores $20Tena $15
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$3.22
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
Tours and Activities in Tena
Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
- Enjoy a Coffee Tour & Santa Fe de Antioquia Colonial Town!!: $135
- Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
- Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
- Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
- Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240
- Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
- Private Guided Tour to Piedra Colgada and Indian Face and Lagoon: $75
- Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
- Tour 5 Rosario Islands: $94
- Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayFlores $21Tena $10
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$2.57
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flores and Tena, we can see that Tena 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 Tena 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 Tena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tena 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 Tena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Flores or Tena?
Flores has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Flores and Tena, 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.