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

Should you visit Grande-Terre or Quepos?

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

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Quepos? 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 Quepos?

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.

Quepos

Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.


Which place is cheaper, Quepos 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 Quepos is €111. 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 Quepos in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grande-Terre 82
    Quepos 73
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grande-Terre 164
    Quepos 146
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and Quepos

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


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 Quepos Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grande-Terre 9.00
    Quepos 9.07

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Grande-Terre

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Grande-Terre:

  • Transfer Guadeloupe Airport to Cruise Port: $38
  • PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Cruise Port to Airport (PTP) : $26
  • PrivateTransfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Cruise Port : $26
  • Private Transfers (Airport, Port, Hotels) Guadeloupe : $54
  • Private Transfer in Guadeloupe: $71
  • Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre Cruise Port to City Hotels: $26
  • Private Transfer from Pointe-à-Pitre City Hotels to Cruise Port: $26
  • Private Transfer from Pointe a Pitre Airport to Deshaies or Trois Riviers by SUV: $91
  • 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
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Pointe-a-Pitre - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46
  • Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (PTP) to Guadeloupe island hotel-Arrival Private Transfer: $79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos

Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Manuel Antonio & Quepos one way transfer to SJO hotels - Airport up to 5 people.: $274
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Quepos - Manuel Antonio to Monteverde: $276
  • One-Way Private Transfer from Uvita to Quepos - Manuel Antonio: $140
  • Private Transfer - San Jose Airport & Manuel Antonio/Quepos : $300
  • Private Transfer From San Jose Airport To Manuel Antonio Beach: $125
  • Private Transfer from Manuel Antonio to Nauyaca Waterfalls (Round Trip): $199
  • Private Transfer from Quepos Cruise Port to San Jose City Hotels: $91
  • Private transfer from SJ Airport to Manuel Antonio and vice versa: $230
  • Shuttle Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San Jose: $60
  • Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $209

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

Prices for flights to both Quepos 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
    Quepos 28

Typical Food Prices in Quepos

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


  • Lunch
    14
  • Seafood Dinner (for 1)
    19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos

For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Night Jungle Tour with Dinner (Rainmaker Park): $59
  • 3 Hour Cooking Class and Medical Plants Garden: $77
  • Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
  • Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grande-Terre 45
    Quepos 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* - 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

Tours and Activities in Quepos

For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Beach Day Experience in Manuel Antonio: $20
  • Manuel Antonio National Park tour : $27
  • Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $28
  • Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $28
  • Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
  • Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $30
  • Manuel Antonio National Park Group Guided Tour: $30
  • Guided Tour in Manuel Antonio National Park!: $35
  • Manuel Antonio Jungle Night Tour with pick up included: $39
  • Guided hiking Tour by the Mystic Ebano Rainforest in Costa Rica: $40
  • Manuel Antonio: Manuel Antonio National Park Tour: $45
  • Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grande-Terre 12
    Quepos 14


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

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 Quepos Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Grande-Terre or Quepos?

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 Grande-Terre or Quepos in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as Quepos. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Quepos. Grande-Terre receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grande-Terre usually gets less rain in July than Quepos. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Grande-Terre this time of the year. In the summer, Grande-Terre often gets more sunshine than Quepos. Grande-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Quepos. Typically, the summer temperatures in Grande-Terre in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Quepos averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Grande-Terre 27°C (81°F) 
    Quepos 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Quepos in the Autumn?

Both Quepos and Grande-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grande-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Quepos. It's quite rainy in Grande-Terre. In October, Grande-Terre usually receives less rain than Quepos. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Quepos during autumn. Grande-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Grande-Terre is generally around the same temperature as Quepos. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 27°C (80°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Grande-Terre 27°C (80°F) 
    Quepos 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Quepos in the Winter?

Both Quepos and Grande-Terre during the winter 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 Quepos year-round.

Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in January than Quepos. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Grande-Terre. In the winter, Grande-Terre often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Grande-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun.

Grande-Terre is cooler than Quepos in the winter. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 24°C (76°F) in January, and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Grande-Terre 24°C (76°F) 
    Quepos 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Grande-Terre or Quepos in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Grande-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than Quepos. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Quepos this time of the year. In Grande-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Grande-Terre usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos during spring. Grande-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Grande-Terre is cooler than Quepos. Typically, the spring temperatures in Grande-Terre in April average around 26°C (78°F), and Quepos averages at about 29°C (85°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Grande-Terre 26°C (78°F) 
    Quepos 29°C (85°F)

Typical Weather for Quepos and Grande-Terre

Grande-Terre Quepos
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 8 mm (0.3 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 28°C (83°F) 2 mm (0.1 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 29°C (84°F) 4 mm (0.2 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 29°C (85°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 29°C (83°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 226 mm (8.9 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 26°C (79°F) 289 mm (11.4 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 328 mm (12.9 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 27°C (81°F) 254 mm (10 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 121 mm (4.8 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 33 mm (1.3 in)