A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Grande-Terre vs. Cusco for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Grande-Terre or Cusco?

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

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Cusco? 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 Cusco?

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.

Cusco

Cusco is most famous as the historic capital of the Inca Empire. It is in the southern Sierras and is one of the most popular travel destinations within Peru. The city is located at 3,400 meters above sea level so it is best to acclimate yourself slowly to avoid altitude sickness.

Cusco is the starting point for many travelers making their way to the famed Machu Picchu or other Inca sites in the surrounding area.

The city is very beautiful and has impressive architecture throughout. The history is obvious as you walk around town and there are impressive ruins nearby, with the most impressive being Sacsayhuaman. The city also has a significant indigenous population that is obvious from their traditional clothing and style.

Cusco has a subtropical highland climate with a pleasant daytime temperature year around. There are two distinct seasons with the dry season being between May and August and the wet season between December and March. During the dry season there is plenty of sun with occasional nighttime freezes. Frost is less common in the wet season.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.


Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Grande-Terre?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Grande-Terre is €145, while the average daily cost in Cusco is €48. 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 Cusco in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grande-Terre 82
    Cusco 21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grande-Terre 164
    Cusco 42
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and Cusco

Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre or Cusco? 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 Grande-Terre


Hotels in Cusco


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 Cusco Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grande-Terre 9.00
    Cusco 9.43

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grande-Terre

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Grande-Terre:

  • Pointe-a-Pitre to Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) - Departure Private Transfer: $23
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport to Pointe-a-Pitre Hotels Arrival Transfer: $23
  • PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Cruise Port to Airport (PTP) : $26
  • Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre City Hotels to Cruise Port: $26
  • Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Cruise Port to City Hotels: $26
  • PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Cruise Port : $26
  • Transfer Guadeloupe Airport to Cruise Port: $38
  • Arrival Private Transfer Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Pointe a Pitre by SUV: $41
  • Departure Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $41
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
  • 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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:


  • Taxi Ride
    1.02

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:

  • Airport Cusco Transfers: $69
  • Arrival Transfer & Cusco City Tour (Private Service): $80
  • Cusco – Puno Direct Transfers: $24
  • Cusco Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer : $13
  • Cusco Airport Pickup and Private Transfer: $15
  • Cusco Airport: Private 1-Way Transfer: $15
  • Cusco Bus Station Arrival or Departure Transfer: $13
  • Cusco Private Transfer to Poroy Railway Station: $15
  • Cusco to Ollantaytambo: One-Way Private Transfer: $55
  • Abode of the Gods ATV Tour with Transfer: $30
  • Alpaca and Llama Farm Tour w/ Transfer & Weaving Demo: $34
  • Full-Day Trip to Machu Picchu with Hotel Transfers: $290

Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or Cusco?

Prices for flights to both Cusco 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Grande-Terre 48
    Cusco 12

Typical Food Prices in Cusco

Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:


  • Sandwich
    2.04
  • Mango
    0.51

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco

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

  • Folkloric Andean Show & 3-Course Dinner at Tunupa: $15
  • 3-Hour Peruvian Cooking Class: $49
  • Pete's Peruvian Cooking Class: $52
  • Market Tour & Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $53
  • Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
  • Cooking Class and market tour with a local chef: $56
  • Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market in Cusco: $59
  • Peruvian Cooking Class and Local Market Tour: $63
  • Peruvian Cooking Class & Market Tour: $65
  • Awamaki Cooking Class: $68
  • Curious Monkey Cusco- Eat the Streets, Walking Food Tour: $70
  • The 10 Tastings of Cusco With Locals: Private Food Tour : $77

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grande-Terre 45
    Cusco 27

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:


  • Salsa Class
    2.54

Tours and Activities in Cusco

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

  • Free Walking Tour of Cusco: $2.00
  • Cusco Walking Tour: A Journey Through Ancient Streets: $5.00
  • Cusco : Half Day City Tour: $9.00
  • Open-Top Bus City Tour: $12
  • Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
  • Mirabus Cusco city tour | Panoramic view |: $12
  • City tours Cusco: $12
  • Mirabus City Tour | Panoramic View: $12
  • Open Bus Tour of the City’s Wonder’s: $12
  • Sightseeing Tour of the City on an Open-Top Bus: $12
  • Historic Walking Tour with Pisco Sour and Music Show: $13
  • City Tour in Cusco: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grande-Terre 12
    Cusco 8.96

Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco

Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Exclusive Pub Crawl with 10+ benefits: $18
  • Pub Crawl with Skip-the-Line Access and Drinks: $18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grande-Terre and Cusco, we can see that Grande-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Cusco much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grande-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Cusco 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 Cusco would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cusco 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 Cusco.

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 Cusco Expensive?.