Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Grande-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grande-Terre or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Cuenca? 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: Grande-Terre or Cuenca?
Grande-Terre
Grande Terre is an island that makes up the eastern half of the Guadeloupe 'mainland.' It is divided from the other half of the main Guadeloupe island, Basse Terre, by a narrow channel called Rivière Salee (or the Salt River). The island itself is characterized by rolling hills, white sand beaches, and cliffs, and its indented coastline is surrounded by coral reefs. It is home to most of Guadeloupe's farmlands and tourist resorts.
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrande-Terre $155Cuenca $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Grande-Terre is $155, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $42. 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 Grande-Terre and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrande-Terre $87Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrande-Terre $174Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre or Cuenca? 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: Grande-Terre Hotel Prices and Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grande-Terre $9.64Cuenca $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grande-Terre
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Grande-Terre:
- Arrival Private Transfer Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Pointe a Pitre by SUV: $41
- Arrival Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Le Gosier by SUV: $50
- Departure Private Transfer from Le Gosier to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $51
- Departure Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $41
- Departure Private Transfer from Saint-Francois to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92
- Departure Private Transfer from Sainte-Anne to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $60
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $159
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island hotel-Arrival Private Transfer: $79
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
- Pointe-a-Pitre Airport to Pointe-a-Pitre Hotels Arrival Transfer: $23
- Pointe-a-Pitre to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
- Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport to Deshaies or Trois Riviers by SUV: $91
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.: $104
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Cuenca: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Grande-Terre 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 dayGrande-Terre $51Cuenca $15
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour from Cuenca): $112
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grande-Terre $48Cuenca $16
Tours and Activities in Grande-Terre
Here are a few actual costs in Grande-Terre for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cruise stopover - Plage du Gosier Round trip: $15
- Cruise Stopover at Village Sainte Anne and its Beach: $31
- Guided tour by electric tuk-tuk: $49
- Stand Up Paddle Adventure in Guadeloupe: $49
- Stopover Cruise - Valombreuse Botanical Garden + Sainte-Anne Beach: $49
- *Cruise Stopover* - Tropical Forest - Sainte-Anne Beach: $60
- Private Surf Lessons Tour in Guadeloupe: $97
- Photoshoot + Drone on a Caribbean paradise beach or day tour : $100
- Full Day Tour of Guadeloupe: $157
- Private Ultralight Seaplane Experience in Guadeloupe: $169
- Full Day Private Boat Tour to the Lagoon of Guadeloupe: $232
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Shared Tour: $25
- Cuenca-Ec- City Tour with Panama Hat factory Half Day: $30
- Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $30
- Private Cuenca City Tour including Turi Viewpoint: $40
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $40
- El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
- Experience Historical City Tour: $44
- City Sightseeing Tour: $45
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Tour: $46
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cuenca City Tour: $48
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrande-Terre $13Cuenca $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grande-Terre and Cuenca, we can see that Grande-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grande-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Cuenca is in South 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 Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Grande-Terre would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grande-Terre than you might in Cuenca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Grande-Terre Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Grande-Terre or Cuenca?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Cuenca in the Summer?
Both Cuenca and Grande-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grande-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Grande-Terre. In July, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Grande-Terre is a little warmer than Cuenca in the summer. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Cuenca fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrande-Terre 27°C (81°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Cuenca in the Autumn?
Both Cuenca and Grande-Terre during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Grande-Terre because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in October than Cuenca. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Grande-Terre is much warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grande-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Cuenca averages at about 12°C (54°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrande-Terre 27°C (80°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Cuenca in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and Cuenca. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Cuenca. In January, Grande-Terre is generally much warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrande-Terre 24°C (76°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Cuenca in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as Cuenca. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
Grande-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Cuenca. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
Grande-Terre is much warmer than Cuenca in the spring. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Cuenca fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrande-Terre 26°C (78°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Grande-Terre
| Grande-Terre | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (76°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 25°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (78°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 148 mm (5.8 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 137 mm (5.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 15 mm (0.6 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.