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

Should you visit Ilha Grande or Copacabana?

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

Should I visit Ilha Grande or Copacabana? 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 Copacabana?

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.

Copacabana

Copacabana, Bolivia, is a small, bright and enchanting town located on the Bolivian shore of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Situated relatively close to the capital of La Paz, it is a popular resort mostly destination for foreign travellers, meaning that you may feel like there are more Argentinians and Americans than locals. Copacabana is the perfect jump-off point for visiting Isla del Sol and Isla de la Luna and makes a pleasant stopover between La Paz and Puno or Cusco. Featuring beautiful nature walks, ancient sites, stunning sunsets and quaint little restaurants, Copacabana is a travelers' favorite destination to soak in the panoramic views, savor freshly caught trucha, and explore what the Incas believed to be the birthplace of their empire.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Bolivia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Bolivia.


Which place is cheaper, Copacabana or Ilha Grande?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $68, while the average daily cost in Copacabana is $42. 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 Copacabana in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ilha Grande $37
    Copacabana $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ilha Grande $74
    Copacabana $22
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Copacabana

Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Copacabana? 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 Copacabana


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: Copacabana Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ilha Grande $18
    Copacabana $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande

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

  • All Private Transfer from Ilha Grande to Rio de Janeiro: $275
  • Departure Private Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $116
  • Departure Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Van: $246
  • From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $56
  • From Angra dos Reis: Speedboat Transfer to Araçatiba: $27
  • From Araçatiba: Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
  • From Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
  • From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
  • From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $104
  • Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $187
  • Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $187

Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Copacabana?

Prices for flights to both Copacabana 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 $21
    Copacabana $17

Typical Food Prices in Copacabana

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Copacabana:


  • Lunch
    $3.61
  • Sandwich
    $1.16

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ilha Grande $6.61
    Copacabana $19

Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande

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

  • From Abraão, Lopes Mendes Beach Tour & Trekking: $21
  • Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $21
  • Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $25
  • Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $40
  • Half-Day Blue Lagoon Schooner Tour: $40
  • Six hour speedboat tour of Ilha Grande. Be amazed by the Blue and Green Lagoons: $40
  • Tour Of The Motorboat The Paradisiac Islands Of Angra Dos Reis: $43
  • Rio de Janeiro: Ilha Grande with Boat Tour & Optional Lunch: $47
  • Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $50
  • From Ilha Grande - Paradise Island 7 h - Speedboat tour: $55
  • Angra dos Reis with Speedboat Tour and Paradise Islands: $58
  • Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60

Tours and Activities in Copacabana

Here are a few actual costs in Copacabana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • CONDORIRI Mountain 5650m. 2 DAYS 1 NIGHT. TREKKING. English guide. Shared Tour: $300
  • From La Paz: Cable car ride tour with tasting food.: $49
  • Full Day Tour of Sun Island in Copacabana from La Paz: $100
  • Full day tour of Copacabana and Sun Island: $90
  • Titicaca Lake & Isla del Sol Catamaran Tour: $293
  • Titicaca Touristic Bus from Copacabana to La Paz_Everyday_1:00 p.m.: $12

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ilha Grande $11
    Copacabana $12

Typical Alcohol Prices in Copacabana

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Copacabana from other travelers:


  • Wine
    $2.89


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

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 Copacabana Expensive?.