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

Should you visit Grande-Terre or Machu Picchu?

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

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Machu Picchu? 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 Machu Picchu?

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.

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu is €95. 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 Machu Picchu in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grande-Terre 82
    Machu Picchu 39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grande-Terre 164
    Machu Picchu 78
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and Machu Picchu

Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre or Machu Picchu? 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 Machu Picchu


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 Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grande-Terre 9.00
    Machu Picchu 28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grande-Terre

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Grande-Terre:

  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $159
  • Departure Private Transfer from Saint-Francois to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $92
  • Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport to Deshaies or Trois Riviers by SUV: $91
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island hotel-Arrival Private Transfer: $79
  • Private Transfer in Guadeloupe: $71
  • Departure Private Transfer from Sainte-Anne to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $60
  • Private Transfers (Airport, Port, Hotels) Guadeloupe : $54
  • Departure Private Transfer from Le Gosier to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $51
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Le Gosier by SUV: $50
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
  • Departure Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre to Pointe a Pitre Airport by SUV: $41
  • Arrival Private Transfer Pointe a Pitre Airport PTP to Pointe a Pitre by SUV: $41

Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or Machu Picchu?

Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu 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
    Machu Picchu 18

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grande-Terre 45
    Machu Picchu 69

Tours and Activities in Grande-Terre

Here are a few actual costs in Grande-Terre for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • *Cruise Stopover* - Tropical Forest - Sainte-Anne Beach: $60
  • Cruise Stopover at Village Sainte Anne and its Beach: $31
  • Cruise stopover - Plage du Gosier Round trip: $15
  • Full Day Private Boat Tour to the Lagoon of Guadeloupe: $232
  • Full Day Tour of Guadeloupe: $157
  • Guided tour by electric tuk-tuk: $49
  • Photoshoot + Drone on a Caribbean paradise beach or day tour : $100
  • Private Surf Lessons Tour in Guadeloupe: $97
  • Private Ultralight Seaplane Experience in Guadeloupe: $169
  • Stand Up Paddle Adventure in Guadeloupe: $49
  • Stopover Cruise - Valombreuse Botanical Garden + Sainte-Anne Beach: $49

Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu

For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Gardens of Mandor
    2.54

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grande-Terre 12
    Machu Picchu 6.46


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

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 Machu Picchu Expensive?.