Should you visit Guayaquil or Banos?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil or Banos, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil�s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
Banos
Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.
Which city is cheaper, Banos or Guayaquil?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $76, while the average daily cost in Banos is $37. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Guayaquil and Banos in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Guayaquil can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $25, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $50.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $24 for a double occupancy room in Banos.
Food
In Guayaquil travelers spend around $23 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Food in Banos costs travelers about $12 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Guayaquil $23
Banos $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Homemade Local Food Tour in Guayaquil:
$95
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Cooking Class with Market Visit!:
$103
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Half Day :Eco Cooking Class and culinary Experience (Departure from Guayaquil):
$135
Typical Food prices in Banos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:
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Dinner
$13
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Ice cream
$1.50
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Coffee
$2.50
Local Transportation
Guayaquil's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $12 per person, per day on transportation in Guayaquil.
The average price of local transportation around Banos is $8.27 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Arrival Private Transfer: Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil City by Minivan:
$74
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Departure Private Transfer: Guayaquil City to Guayaquil Airport GYE by Minivan:
$74
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Golf at Lacosta Country Club in Guayaquil with Transfers:
$175
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Guayaquil Airport Private Transfer Service:
$80
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Guayaquil Arrival Transfer:
$15
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Guayaquil Departure Transfer:
$15
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Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels:
$13
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Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels:
$14
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Guayaquil PRIVATE Arrival Transfer from the Airport to Hotels:
$14
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Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport:
$14
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Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport:
$14
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Guayaquil PRIVATE Departure Transfer from Hotels to the Airport:
$13
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Guayaquil can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $17 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Banos's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $15 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Walking Tour in the Artisan Market of Guayaquil:
$9.99
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Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City:
$20
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Guayaquil - City tour:
$20
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City Tour Guayaquil:
$20
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Shared Walking Tour in Guayaquil City:
$20
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Private Guayaquil City Tour:
$27
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Guayaquil City Tour:
$30
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3-Hour City Tour:
$40
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Historical Park tour - Guayaquil:
$40
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Tour to the Zoo El Pantanal in Guayaquil:
$40
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Guayaquil Museum Tour:
$43
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Guayaquil City Tour Including the Light House of Cerro Santa Ana:
$49
Typical Entertainment prices in Banos
Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Banos
Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Adventure in Baños 3 Days 2 Nights:
$335
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Baños's Top Attractions Pass (Save 10% on tickets):
$65
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Chimborazo Volcano from Baños private day Tour:
$102
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Fishing Tour & Local Life in Baños:
$90
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Guayaquil spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Banos may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.79 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
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Process and Wine Tasting in Cellar Two Hemispheres - Puerto El Morro:
$294
Typical Alcohol prices in Banos
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guayaquil and Banos, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is Banos much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Banos would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Banos 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 Guayaquil would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guayaquil than you might in Banos.
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