A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Florianopolis vs. San Pedro La Laguna for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Florianopolis or San Pedro La Laguna?

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

Should I visit Florianopolis or San Pedro La Laguna? 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 San Pedro La Laguna?

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.

San Pedro La Laguna

Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rio de Janeiro, The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala.


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro La Laguna 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 San Pedro La Laguna is $36. 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 San Pedro La Laguna in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Florianopolis $26
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Florianopolis $52
    San Pedro La Laguna $16
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and San Pedro La Laguna

Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis or San Pedro La Laguna? 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 San Pedro La Laguna


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Florianopolis $13
    San Pedro La Laguna $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florianopolis

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

  • Transfer Florianópolis Airport / Costão do Santinho: $78
  • Shared transfer from Florianópolis airport to Balneário Camboriú: $35
  • Roundtrip transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $168
  • Private Transfer from Florianópolis Airport to Bombinhas: $97
  • Private Transfer from FLN Airport to the City Balneario Camboriú : $84
  • Private Transfer Florianopolis Airport to Bal. Camboriu: $96
  • Private Transfer Florianópolis Airport to City Center: $32
  • One Way Transfer : Florianopolis Airport to or from Florianopolis: $64
  • Hercilio Luz Airport - North Island Transfer: $14
  • Florianópolis Airport Transfer anywhere on the island by Floripa Nativa: $40

Is it cheaper to fly into Florianopolis or San Pedro La Laguna?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro La Laguna 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
    San Pedro La Laguna $11
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis

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


  • A Quick Snack
    $0.44

Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lemonade
    $2.06
  • Cake
    $1.29
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $2.96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Guatemalan street food tour with a local bilingual guide: $40
  • Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
  • Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Florianopolis $26
    San Pedro La Laguna $21
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:

  • Balneário Camboriú City Tour from Florianópolis: $35
  • Bike Tour in Florianopolis - Sunset, Photography and History: $70
  • Blumenau City Tour - departing from Florianópolis: $37
  • Blumenau City Tour from Florianópolis: $38
  • Bombinhas Beach and 4 Islands Tour: $22
  • Florianópolis Full Day City Tour: $25
  • Floripa City Tour by Bus - Whole Island - The Most Complete City Tour: $32
  • Historic Center Walking Tour in Florianopolis with Local Bar Hop: $14
  • Lagoinha do Leste Hiking and Photography Adventure : $42
  • Mountain biking experiences in Florianópolis: $58
  • Private Day Tour: Florianópolis Island with Professional Pictures: $154
  • Private South Island Beaches and Lagoons Tour: $44

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Canopy Tour (for 2)
    $39
  • Kayaking (for 2)
    $1.93
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $6.95

Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Lake Atitlan Boat tour from Puerto Quetzal (Group): $125
  • 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
  • Authentic local experience with a community of women.: $68
  • Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
  • Bicycle Tour Around Lake Atitlan with Weaving Coops and Coffee Plantations: $112
  • Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
  • Boat tour in Mayan villages: $85
  • Chichicastenango Market Day Tour from Panajachel: $83
  • Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
  • Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
  • Full Day Tour to Chichicastenango from Panajachel : $152
  • Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Florianopolis $8.68
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.58
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 San Pedro La Laguna, we can see that Florianopolis is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Florianopolis is in South America and San Pedro La Laguna is in Central 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 San Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 San Pedro La Laguna.

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


Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or San Pedro La Laguna?

Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis and San Pedro La Laguna, 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.