A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Florianopolis vs. Paracas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Florianopolis or Paracas?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Florianopolis or Paracas? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Florianopolis or Paracas?

Florianopolis

With a population of almost 500,000, Florianopolis is the capital city of the state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil. The city is split between mainland Brazil and Santa Catarina Island.

Florianopolis has grown in popularity with tourists recently because of its wonderful scenery, beautiful beaches, and fascinating culture. Many Brazilians have also moved here, leaving behind the big cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Florianopolis has a warm humid subtropical climate. There are summer, winter, spring and fall seasons. Frosts are rare but do occur occasionally. Highs during the warmest months are usually in the high 70s Fahrenheit. Rain is evenly distributed throughout the year and there is no distinct dry season.

Paracas

Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Paracas or Florianopolis?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Florianopolis is $62, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $63. 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 Florianopolis and Paracas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Florianopolis $26
    Paracas $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Florianopolis $52
    Paracas $44
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Paracas

Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis or Paracas? 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 Florianopolis


Hotels in Paracas


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: Florianopolis Hotel Prices and Paracas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Florianopolis $13
    Paracas $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis

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

  • Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $39
  • Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
  • One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
  • Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $31
  • Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
  • Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $83
  • Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
  • Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
  • Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
  • Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:

  • Private Transfer from Pisko Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $78
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $78
  • Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
  • Private Transfer From Paracas To Lima With 2 Stops: $175
  • Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
  • Oneway Transfer from San Juan Airport, Hotel, Airbnb to Bayamon: $60
  • Lima: Private taxi transfer from Lima airport to Paracas: $129
  • Direct Private Transfer From Paracas to Lima, English Speaking Driver: $163

Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or Paracas?

Prices for flights to both Paracas and Florianopolis 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
    Florianopolis $22
    Paracas $23
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis

For Florianopolis, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Snack
    $0.44

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paracas

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paracas.

  • From Lima:Paracas,Ica and cooking class Ceviche semi-private: $139

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Florianopolis $26
    Paracas $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florianopolis

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Florianopolis's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Internet
    $0.59

Tours and Activities in Florianopolis

For Florianopolis, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Walking Tour Historic Center of Florianópolis: $12
  • Historic Center Walking Tour in Florianopolis with Local Bar Hop: $14
  • Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
  • Shared Shuttle between Florianópolis Airport and Hotel with optional City Tour: $23
  • Florianópolis Full Day City Tour: $25
  • Rafting Adventure in Apuama - Rio Cubatão in Greater Florianópolis: $29
  • Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $31
  • Balneário Camboriú City Tour from Florianópolis: $35
  • Tour Balneario Camboriu and Laranjeiras Beach TELEFERICO INCLUDED: $36
  • Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $37
  • Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $38
  • Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $41

Tours and Activities in Paracas

Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín: $49
  • 2D: Tour Ica, Huacachina, Sandboarding, Ballestas Islands: $215
  • 3-Day Paracas Tour Package: $235
  • 4-Hour Guided Tour Paracas National Reserve: $20
  • 7-Hours Tour in Paracas National Reserve with Pickup: $38
  • ATV Tour Adventure in Reserva Nacional de Paracas: $45
  • Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas : $26
  • Ballestas Islands Group Tour from San Martin Port: $50
  • Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride from Paracas: $24
  • Ballestas Islands Tour: $24
  • Ballestas Islands Tour - Paracas: $25
  • Ballestas Islands Tour Boat with roof: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Florianopolis $8.68
    Paracas $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florianopolis

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florianopolis from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.59


When comparing the travel costs between Florianopolis and Paracas, we can see that Paracas is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Florianopolis Expensive? and Is Paracas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Paracas?

Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 350 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis and Paracas, 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.