A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guatemala City vs. Isla de Ometepe for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guatemala City or Isla de Ometepe?

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

Should I visit Guatemala City or Isla de Ometepe? 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: Guatemala City or Isla de Ometepe?

Guatemala City

Referred to by the locals as "Guate," Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala, as well as its capital. While the atmosphere of the place is big, dirty, and dangerous with city fumes and skyscrapers, it is the hub of the country. It is the place where travelers first step foot into Guatemala and, though it is a place of modern chaos, it does have some of the best galleries and museums as well as a selection of bars, cafes, and restaurants.

Isla de Ometepe

Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.


Which place is cheaper, Isla de Ometepe or Guatemala City?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Guatemala City is $44, while the average daily cost in Isla de Ometepe is $35. 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 Guatemala City and Isla de Ometepe in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guatemala City $24
    Isla de Ometepe $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guatemala City $48
    Isla de Ometepe $26
Compare Hotels in Guatemala City and Isla de Ometepe

Looking for a hotel in Guatemala City or Isla de Ometepe? 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 Guatemala City


Hotels in Isla de Ometepe


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: Guatemala City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guatemala City $6.17
    Isla de Ometepe $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guatemala City

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guatemala City:

  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Guatemala City Airport to Antigua: $16
  • PRIVATE Group Transfer From Guatemala City to La Antigua: $20
  • Private Ground Transfer Airport - Antigua Guatemala: $23
  • Private Airport Transfer La Aurora airport to Guatemala: $24
  • Private Transfer From Airport to Hotel in Guatemala City: $30
  • Shared Departure Transfer: Guatemala City Hotels to Airport: $40
  • Private one way transfer in Guatemala: $45
  • Guatemala Airport Roundtrip Transfer to Antigua Guatemala: $56
  • Private transfer to Antigua: $74
  • Guatemala City Airport GUA to San Felipe de Lara-Arrival Transfer: $77
  • Transfer from Airport to Antigua: $80
  • Private Transfer from La Aurora Airport to Antigua Guatemala: $120

Is it cheaper to fly into Guatemala City or Isla de Ometepe?

Prices for flights to both Isla de Ometepe and Guatemala City 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
    Guatemala City $15
    Isla de Ometepe $13

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guatemala City

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

  • Taste Antigua Guatemala Walking Food Tour : $75
  • Small-Group Cooking Class in Antigua from Guatemala City: $120
  • Antigua Market, Cooking Class and Choco Museum from Guatemala City: $178
  • Pacaya Volcano Vistas + Enjoy Pizza Cooked Under Volcanic Heat: $180

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guatemala City $1.21
    Isla de Ometepe $13

Tours and Activities in Guatemala City

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

  • Culinary Experience in Guatemala City: $15
  • Half Day Antigua Guatemala Tour: $17
  • Guided Walking Tour in Guatemala City: $25
  • Half Day Guatemala City Tour: $27
  • 2-Hour Culture and Historical Tour From Guatemala: $29
  • Guatemala city Walking Tour and public bus: $30
  • Half-Day Guatemala City Explorer Tour: $34
  • Graffiti Walking Tour in 4 Grados Norte Guatemala City : $35
  • UNESCO JEWELS: Antigua Half Day Tour from Guatemala City: $38
  • Guatemala city walking tour on afternoon 14.00, 2 persons and up: $39
  • City walking tour Guatemala City and Relieff Map: $47
  • Tour around antigua's villages: $50

Tours and Activities in Isla de Ometepe

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla de Ometepe are as follows:

  • A great tour day for the ISLAND OF OMETEPE.: $80

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guatemala City $6.84
    Isla de Ometepe $8.86


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guatemala City and Isla de Ometepe, we can see that Guatemala City is more expensive. And not only is Isla de Ometepe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Isla de Ometepe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Isla de Ometepe 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 Guatemala City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guatemala City than you might in Isla de Ometepe.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guatemala City Expensive? and Is Isla de Ometepe Expensive?.