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

Should you visit Florianopolis or Tena?

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

Should I visit Florianopolis or Tena? 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 Tena?

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.

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 Wildlife Tours to Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.


Which place is cheaper, Tena 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 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 Florianopolis and Tena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Florianopolis $26
    Tena $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Florianopolis $52
    Tena $48
Compare Hotels in Florianopolis and Tena

Looking for a hotel in Florianopolis 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.

Hotels in Florianopolis


Hotels in Tena


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
    Tena $17

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 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 Florianopolis or Tena?

Prices for flights to both Tena 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
    Tena $15
Typical Food Prices in Florianopolis

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


  • A Quick Snack
    $0.44

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Florianopolis $26
    Tena $15
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 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Florianopolis $8.68
    Tena $10
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 Tena, we can see that Florianopolis is more expensive. And not only is Tena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tena 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 Tena.

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


Which is Bigger, Florianopolis or Tena?

Florianopolis has a larger population, and is about 590 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Florianopolis 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.