Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo or Grande-Terre?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Grande-Terre or Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGrande-Terre €145Tamarindo €115
The average daily cost (per person) in Grande-Terre is €145, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is €115. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGrande-Terre €82Tamarindo €47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGrande-Terre €164Tamarindo €94
Compare Hotels in Grande-Terre and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Grande-Terre or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Grande-Terre €9.00Tamarindo €65
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Airport Transfer from Liberia Airport to Andaz Papagayo Hyatt (Round Trip): $163
- Airport Transfer from Liberia Airport to Secrets Papagayo Resort: $135
- Flamingo/Tamarindo to Liberia Airport(LIR)- Departure Transfer: $38
- From Hotel Transfer to Liberia Guanacaste Airport: $62
- Guanacaste Airport transfer to Jw Marriott Guanacaste: $130
- Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Gulf of Papagayo Costa Rica: $125
- Liberia Airport To Andaz Papagayo Resort, Private Transfer: $128
- Liberia Airport To Tamarindo Private Transfer: $55
- Monteverde: Transfer to Tamarindo: $65
- Playa Conchal & Flamingo From Liberia Airport, Transfer Service: $168
- Playa Grande to Liberia Airport (LIR) Departure Private Transfer: $31
- Private Airport Transfer from Liberia to Tamarindo beaches Areas & surrounding : $140
Is it cheaper to fly into Grande-Terre or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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 €48Tamarindo €31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
- Traditional Cooking Class In Tamarindo: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Grande-Terre €45Tamarindo €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 Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Sea turtle watching tour near playa grande: $44
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $44
- Tour of the Mangroves and Wetlands of Tamarindo by Boat: $45
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Birdwatching Crocodiles and Monkey Tour: $50
- ATV Beach and Mountain Tour!: $62
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- Howler Monkey Mangrove Kayaking Tour: $65
- UTV Side By Side Off Road Tour Tamarindo Beach & Flamingo Beach: $65
- ATV and UTV Beach Tour from Tamarindo, Flamingo and Conchal Beach: $67
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayGrande-Terre €12Tamarindo €13
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Tamarindo Bar Crawl Experience: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grande-Terre and Tamarindo, we can see that Grande-Terre is more expensive. And not only is Tamarindo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Grande-Terre is in Caribbean Islands and Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo.
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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Grande-Terre or Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Grande-Terre and Tamarindo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Grande-Terre year-round. Tamarindo attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Tamarindo receives a lot of rain in the summer. Grande-Terre gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Grande-Terre usually receives less rain than Tamarindo. Grande-Terre gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Grande-Terre, it's very sunny this time of the year. Grande-Terre usually receives more sunshine than Tamarindo during summer. Grande-Terre gets 245 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Tamarindo in the summer. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyGrande-Terre 27°C (81°F)Tamarindo 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Tamarindo in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Grande-Terre as well as Tamarindo. Grande-Terre attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tamarindo throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Tamarindo. Grande-Terre receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Grande-Terre usually gets less rain in October than Tamarindo. Grande-Terre gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 254 mm (10 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 autumn, Grande-Terre often gets more sunshine than Tamarindo. Grande-Terre gets 217 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 169 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Grande-Terre is around the same temperature as Tamarindo. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Grande-Terre in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Tamarindo averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGrande-Terre 27°C (80°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Tamarindo in the Winter?
Both Tamarindo and Grande-Terre are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Grande-Terre throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Tamarindo because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Grande-Terre usually receives more rain than Tamarindo. Grande-Terre gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Tamarindo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually receives less sunshine than Tamarindo during winter. Grande-Terre gets 236 hours of sunny skies, while Tamarindo receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Grande-Terre is generally cooler than Tamarindo. Daily temperatures in Grande-Terre average around 24°C (76°F), and Tamarindo fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGrande-Terre 24°C (76°F)Tamarindo 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Grande-Terre or Tamarindo in the Spring?
Both Tamarindo and Grande-Terre during the spring 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 Tamarindo year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Grande-Terre. Grande-Terre usually gets more rain in April than Tamarindo. Grande-Terre gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Tamarindo receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Tamarindo, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Grande-Terre. In the spring, Grande-Terre often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tamarindo. Grande-Terre gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tamarindo receives 255 hours of full sun.
Grande-Terre is cooler than Tamarindo in the spring. The daily temperature in Grande-Terre averages around 26°C (78°F) in April, and Tamarindo fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilGrande-Terre 26°C (78°F)Tamarindo 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Tamarindo and Grande-Terre
| Grande-Terre | Tamarindo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.