A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ilha Grande vs. Cajamarca for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ilha Grande or Cajamarca?

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

Should I visit Ilha Grande or Cajamarca? 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: Ilha Grande or Cajamarca?

Ilha Grande

Ilha Grande is a large, beautiful, island located off the southeast coast of Brazil. The island has few inhabitants, resulting in mostly unadulterated beaches and landscapes. There are over a dozen trails and beaches to explore, some of which have been called the best beaches in Brazil. Due to the limited number of inhabitants, ATMs are sparse on the island, so be sure to have cash with you before getting there.

Cajamarca

Located in the northern highlands of Peru, Cajamarca is a town of about 100,000 people. The city's mild weather and fertile soil is ideal for agriculture, which is a major industry in the area. The city is also well known for its cheeses and dairy products. Cajamarca is the site of the Battle of Cajamarca which led to the execution of the Inca emperor Atahualpa and the end of the infamous Inca empire. Today, the area is appealing to visitors in part because of its lovely churches, nice hot springs, and interesting Inca Baths.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru, and The Best Cultural Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Cajamarca or Ilha Grande?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Ilha Grande Prices
    Brazil Prices
    Cajamarca Prices
    Peru Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Ilha Grande $85
    Cajamarca $97

The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $85, while the average daily cost in Cajamarca is $97. 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 Ilha Grande and Cajamarca in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ilha Grande $37
    Cajamarca $26
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ilha Grande $74
    Cajamarca $52
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Cajamarca

Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Cajamarca? 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 Ilha Grande


Hotels in Cajamarca


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ilha Grande $18
    Cajamarca $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande

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

  • From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
  • Shared transfer from Isla Grande (Abraão) x Rio de Janeiro: $48
  • Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $51
  • Departure private transfer from Costa do Sol to Rio GIG Airport: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Cajamarca?

Prices for flights to both Cajamarca and Ilha Grande 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
    Ilha Grande $37
    Cajamarca $53

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ilha Grande $6.72
    Cajamarca $29

Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande

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

  • Regular Schooner Ride - Ilha Grande Tour: $13
  • Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $20
  • Shared Speedboat Tour - Paradise Island Tour: $27
  • Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $35
  • Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $46
  • Tour Of The Motorboat The Paradisiac Islands Of Angra Dos Reis: $52
  • 6-Hour Speedboat Tour to Blue and Green Lagoons: $55
  • Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
  • Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $60
  • 7h Speedboat Tour of Paradise Islands: $60
  • Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $65
  • Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $67

Tours and Activities in Cajamarca

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

  • Cajamarca : Sulluscocha extreme adventure.: $63
  • Cajamarca Valley Tour – San Nicolas Lagoon: $40
  • Cajamarca in its Splendor: San Nicolas Lagoon Tour: $40
  • City Tour: $67
  • Guided tour of the city + pick-up: $48
  • La Colpa, Llacanora & Baños del Inca Tour: $34
  • Namora Valley Tour + Guitar Workshop & San Nicolas Lagoon: $28
  • Pocon and Otuzco farm tour: $39
  • Sulluscocha Extreme Activities Full-Day Adventure: $65
  • Tour to Hacienda La Colpa and Baños del Inca: $35
  • Tour to the Pre Inca Otuzco Necropolis, Botanical Garden and Hacienda: $28
  • From City Tour Cajamarca: $47

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ilha Grande $11
    Cajamarca $18


When comparing the travel costs between Ilha Grande and Cajamarca, we can see that Cajamarca 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 Ilha Grande Expensive? and Is Cajamarca Expensive?.