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

Should you visit Grande-Terre or San Ignacio?

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

Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Ignacio? 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 San Ignacio?

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.

San Ignacio

So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.

You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.

This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.


Which place is cheaper, San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio is €67. 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 San Ignacio in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grande-Terre 82
    San Ignacio 18
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grande-Terre 164
    San Ignacio 36
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and San Ignacio

Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre or San Ignacio? 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 San Ignacio


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 San Ignacio Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grande-Terre 9.00
    San Ignacio 2.91

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:

  • From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
  • San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or San Ignacio?

Prices for flights to both San Ignacio 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
    San Ignacio 19

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio

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

  • Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grande-Terre 45
    San Ignacio 93

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 San Ignacio

Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $65
  • Xunantunich & Adventure Horse Ride: $75
  • Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $75
  • Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure: $75
  • From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
  • Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
  • Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
  • Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
  • Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
  • Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $100
  • Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $100
  • Private Tour:Xunantunich Mayan Ruin from San Ignacio: $103

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grande-Terre 12
    San Ignacio 16


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

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 San Ignacio Expensive?.



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

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 San Ignacio in the Summer?

Both San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. It's quite rainy in Grande-Terre. In July, Grande-Terre usually receives less rain than San Ignacio. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than San Ignacio during summer. Grande-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while San Ignacio receives 226 hours of full sun in the summer.

Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as San Ignacio in the summer. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Ignacio fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


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

Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Ignacio in the Autumn?

Both San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio year-round.

San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually gets less rain in October than San Ignacio. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Grande-Terre. In the autumn, Grande-Terre often gets more sunshine than San Ignacio. Grande-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Ignacio receives 196 hours of full sun.

In the autumn, Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as San Ignacio. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grande-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and San Ignacio averages at about 26°C (80°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Grande-Terre 27°C (80°F) 
    San Ignacio 26°C (80°F)

Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Ignacio in the Winter?

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

San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Grande-Terre usually receives less rain than San Ignacio. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

In Grande-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than San Ignacio during winter. Grande-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while San Ignacio receives 199 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Grande-Terre is generally around the same temperature as San Ignacio. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and San Ignacio fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Grande-Terre 24°C (76°F) 
    San Ignacio 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit Grande-Terre or San Ignacio in the Spring?

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

Grande-Terre receives a lot of rain in the spring. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in April than San Ignacio. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Grande-Terre this time of the year. In the spring, Grande-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Ignacio. Grande-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Ignacio receives 256 hours of full sun.

Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as San Ignacio in the spring. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and San Ignacio fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Grande-Terre 26°C (78°F) 
    San Ignacio 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for San Ignacio and Grande-Terre

Grande-Terre San Ignacio
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (76°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 24°C (74°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Feb 24°C (76°F) 64 mm (2.5 in) 24°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Mar 25°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in) 26°C (78°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Apr 26°C (78°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 27°C (80°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 27°C (80°F) 148 mm (5.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 118 mm (4.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 258 mm (10.2 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 243 mm (9.6 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 198 mm (7.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 187 mm (7.4 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 236 mm (9.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 26°C (80°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 220 mm (8.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 137 mm (5.4 in) 25°C (76°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)