A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Guayaquil vs. Iquique for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Guayaquil or Iquique?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Guayaquil or Iquique, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Guayaquil or Iquique?

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.

Iquique

Located in a golden crescent of coastline, the beautiful beach city with an ocean that's several shades of blue and a historic centre that offers the perfect balance of culture and relaxation is counted among Chile's premier beach resorts. The city is home to the duty free zone called "Zofri" and a growing number of high rise resort hotels along its beaches. Slightly more expensive and polluted than neighboring population centers, such as Arica, Iquique and its chaotic duty-free shopping zone (zona franca) have become the perfect summer holiday destination for Chilean families.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Iquique or Guayaquil?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Guayaquil is $95, while the average daily cost in Iquique is $94. 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 Guayaquil and Iquique in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Guayaquil $32
    Iquique $42
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Guayaquil $64
    Iquique $84
Compare Hotels in Guayaquil and Iquique

Looking for a hotel in Guayaquil or Iquique? 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 Guayaquil


Hotels in Iquique


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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Guayaquil $15
    Iquique $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil

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

  • Private transfer Guayaquil - Montañita: $250
  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE): Transfer to Guayaquil hotels: $131
  • Transfer Cuenca - Guayaquil (or Vice versa) With Visit To Cajas National Park: $128
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil hotels to Manta Cruise Port: $99
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $99
  • Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $89
  • Guayaquil Airport Private Transfer Service: $80
  • Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Guayaquil - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
  • Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $53
  • Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
  • Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
  • Transfer from Guayaquil airport to the hotel and vice versa: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Iquique

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

  • Sandboard activity in Iquique with transfer: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Guayaquil or Iquique?

Prices for flights to both Iquique and Guayaquil 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
    Guayaquil $29
    Iquique $33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil

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

  • Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Guayaquil $21
    Iquique $27

Tours and Activities in Guayaquil

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

  • City Tour Guayaquil: $40
  • City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
  • Cocoa and Gastronomy Tour at Hacienda CacaoyMango: $155
  • Dolphin Watching Experience in Puerto El Morro from Guayaquil: $165
  • From Cloud Forest/Waterfalls Private Tour & Lunch: $159
  • From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
  • Full Day Zhagal Thermal Baths Tour from Guayaquil: $169
  • Full day private tour Mangroves, dolphins and birds from guayaquil : $215
  • Full day tour Mangroves, dolphins and cocoa farm from guayaquil: $225
  • Full-Day Cuenca and Traditional Craft Beer Tasting Tour: $241
  • Guayaquil City Tour: $40
  • Guayaquil City Tour: $90

Tours and Activities in Iquique

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Iquique.

  • City Tour in Iquique: $89
  • City tour of Iquique with navigation to the Esmeralda buoy: $50
  • Guided City Tour with Boat Trip to Esmeralda Buoy: $60
  • Pintados Geoglyphs, Humberstone and Salar Crespo tour: $140

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Guayaquil $17
    Iquique $20

Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:

  • Taste and discover the factory of a craft brewery: $65


When comparing the travel costs between Guayaquil and Iquique, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Guayaquil Expensive? and Is Iquique Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Guayaquil or Iquique?

Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Iquique. When comparing the sizes of Guayaquil and Iquique, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.