Which place is cheaper, Bocas del Toro or Granada?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Granada or Bocas del Toro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Granada and Bocas del Toro. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Granada or Bocas del Toro?
Granada
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
Bocas del Toro
The capital of the Bocas del Toro province, this city of the same name sits in the Caribbean West region of Panama. Bocas del Toro, or Bocas Town, is in the district of Bocas del Toro, which also includes the towns of Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel, and Tierra Oscura. The district has a population of about 17,000 and covers a total area of 433.2 square kilometers, and the town has a population of about 13,000. The area is a tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving, and interesting culture.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Panama, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGranada $40Bocas del Toro $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Granada is $40, while the average daily cost in Bocas del Toro is $77. 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 Granada and Bocas del Toro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGranada $17Bocas del Toro $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGranada $34Bocas del Toro $66
Compare Hotels in Granada and Bocas del Toro
Looking for a hotel in Granada or Bocas del Toro? 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: Granada Hotel Prices and Bocas del Toro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Granada $8.57Bocas del Toro $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Granada
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Granada:
- One-Way Private Transfer From/To Airport or Hotels in Granada: $80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bocas del Toro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bocas del Toro:
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Water Taxi$3.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bocas del Toro
Also for Bocas del Toro, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Colón Port to Panama Tocumen Airport PTY: $42
- Transfer from Bocas del Toro to Puerto Viejo: $54
- Transfer Colon Cruise Terminal - Tocumen Airport or Panama City: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Granada or Bocas del Toro?
Prices for flights to both Bocas del Toro and Granada 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 dayGranada $14Bocas del Toro $27
Typical Food Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of dining costs in Granada are as follows:
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Pizza$2.29
Typical Food Prices in Bocas del Toro
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bocas del Toro:
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Lunch$15
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Breakfast$14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Granada $10Bocas del Toro $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Granada
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Granada are as follows:
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Lago de Nicaragua Boat Tour$8.17
Tours and Activities in Granada
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Granada are as follows:
- Bird Watching Tour: $90
- Boat Tour and Granada City Tour: $120
- Charming Granada Outdoor "Private Tour" : $92
- Experience Granadas Best Sights Carriage ride + Local Guide: $65
- Fabulous Night Tour in Masaya Volcano from Granada: $157
- From Full-Day Tour to 6 Attractions with Lunch incl: $125
- Full Day Tour Isletas + Pueblos Blancos + Laguna from Granada: $120
- Full Day Tour in Granada with Volcano Visit: $222
- Full-Day Tour: Masaya Volcano, Art Market and White Villages: $60
- Granada City Tour: $40
- Granada Colonial City Tour and Masaya Volcano: $130
- Granada Kayak Tour: $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bocas del Toro
For Bocas del Toro, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Island Boat Tour$25
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Starfish Island Boat Trip$20
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Yoga Class$5.01
Tours and Activities in Bocas del Toro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bocas del Toro.
- Stand Up Paddle Board Experience in Bahia Honda Bocas del Toro: $60
- Speed Boat tour to Mangrove Point -Starfish Beach -Bocas del Drago and Birds Island: $65
- Dolphin Bay and Coral Cay with Drinks Private Tour in Zapatilla: $66
- Full-Day Speedboat Tour, Wildlife, and Snorkeling in Bocas del Toro in Panama: $68
- Full Day Private Shore Tour in Panama from Colón Cruise Port: $231
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGranada $7.50Bocas del Toro $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Granada
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Granada:
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Tequila$1.36
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Granada and Bocas del Toro, we can see that Bocas del Toro is more expensive. And not only is Granada much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Granada would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Granada 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 Bocas del Toro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bocas del Toro than you might in Granada.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Granada Expensive? and Is Bocas del Toro Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Granada or Bocas del Toro?
Granada has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Bocas del Toro. When comparing the sizes of Granada and Bocas del Toro, 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.
When is the best time to visit Granada or Bocas del Toro?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Granada or Bocas del Toro in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Granada as well as Bocas del Toro. Granada attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bocas del Toro throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Bocas del Toro. Granada receives a lot of rain in the summer. Granada usually gets less rain in July than Bocas del Toro. Granada gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Granada often gets more sunshine than Bocas del Toro. Granada gets 175 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bocas del Toro receives 124 hours of full sun.
In July, Granada is generally around the same temperature as Bocas del Toro. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 27°C (81°F), and Bocas del Toro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGranada 27°C (81°F)Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Granada or Bocas del Toro in the Autumn?
Both Bocas del Toro and Granada are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Granada throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Bocas del Toro because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bocas del Toro. It's quite rainy in Granada. In October, Granada usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bocas del Toro. Granada gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Granada usually receives more sunshine than Bocas del Toro during autumn. Granada gets 195 hours of sunny skies, while Bocas del Toro receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Granada is around the same temperature as Bocas del Toro in the autumn. The daily temperature in Granada averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Bocas del Toro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGranada 27°C (81°F)Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Granada or Bocas del Toro in the Winter?
Both Bocas del Toro and Granada during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Granada because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bocas del Toro year-round.
Bocas del Toro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Granada usually gets less rain in January than Bocas del Toro. Granada gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Granada. In the winter, Granada often gets more sunshine than Bocas del Toro. Granada gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bocas del Toro receives 159 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Granada is around the same temperature as Bocas del Toro. Typically, the winter temperatures in Granada in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Bocas del Toro averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGranada 26°C (79°F)Bocas del Toro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Granada or Bocas del Toro in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Granada and Bocas del Toro. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Granada year-round. Bocas del Toro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Bocas del Toro receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Granada usually receives less rain than Bocas del Toro. Granada gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In Granada, it's very sunny this time of the year. Granada usually receives more sunshine than Bocas del Toro during spring. Granada gets 242 hours of sunny skies, while Bocas del Toro receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Granada is generally a little warmer than Bocas del Toro. Daily temperatures in Granada average around 29°C (84°F), and Bocas del Toro fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGranada 29°C (84°F)Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Bocas del Toro and Granada
| Granada | Bocas del Toro | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 in) |
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.