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

Should you visit Florianopolis or Salento?

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

Should I visit Florianopolis or Salento? 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 Salento?

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.

Salento

Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Salento 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 Salento is $33. 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 Salento in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Florianopolis $26
    Salento $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Florianopolis $52
    Salento $22
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Salento

Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis or Salento? 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 Salento


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 Salento Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Florianopolis $13
    Salento $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis

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

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:

  • Pereira Airport Private Transfer Service: $55

Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or Salento?

Prices for flights to both Salento 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
    Salento $9.56
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 Salento

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

  • Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Florianopolis $26
    Salento $12
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 Salento

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

  • Book a Private Tourist Guide through the Coffee Region: $140
  • Cocoa and Coffee Farm Tours from Pereira or Armenia: $187
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Horseback Riding Day Tour: $137
  • Cocora Valley, Salento and Coffee Farm Day Tour : $124
  • Cocora, Salento and Filandia Tour: $100
  • Coffe Experience: Daily departure from Salento: $90
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
  • Coffee Tour and Salento Walking Tour with lunch: $95
  • Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $28
  • Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $62
  • Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $105

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Florianopolis $8.68
    Salento $12
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Florianopolis and Salento, we can see that Florianopolis is more expensive. And not only is Salento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Salento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salento 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 Florianopolis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florianopolis than you might in Salento.

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


Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Salento?

Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis and Salento, 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.