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

Should you visit Ilha Grande or Huaraz?

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

Should I visit Ilha Grande or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz?

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.

Huaraz

Huaraz is a large town in the Cordillera Blanca region of Peru's Central Sierra. Huaraz stands tall at 3100m; travellers from Lima might need a day or two to acclimatize to the change in atmosphere. Nearly wiped out by the earthquake of 1970, the town of 100,000 blends a mix of modern and native culture. Huarez is first and foremost a trekking metropolis. During high season the streets buzz with hundreds of backpackers and adventurers freshly returned from arduous hikes or planning their next expedition. The town has many markets, shops, quality restaurants and hopping bars catering to tourist and local needs. Mountain adventures in the off-season can be equally rewarding, but the vibe is calmer and some places go into hibernation once the rains set in.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Peru, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Huaraz 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 Huaraz is $50. 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 Huaraz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ilha Grande $37
    Huaraz $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ilha Grande $74
    Huaraz $40
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Huaraz

Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Huaraz? 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 Huaraz


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: Huaraz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ilha Grande $18
    Huaraz $10

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
  • 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: $47
  • From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
  • From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $106
  • Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $190
  • Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $38
  • Shuttle Transfer from Ilha Grande (Abraão) to Paraty: $79

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huaraz

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Huaraz are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $2.17

Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Huaraz?

Prices for flights to both Huaraz 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
    Huaraz $18

Typical Food Prices in Huaraz

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


  • Lunch
    $5.97
  • Chips
    $1.49

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ilha Grande $6.61
    Huaraz $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:

  • Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $21
  • From Abraão, Lopes Mendes Beach Tour & Trekking: $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: $48
  • 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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Huaraz

Here are a few typical costs in Huaraz for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Climbing Gear
    $17

Tours and Activities in Huaraz

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

  • 69 Lake Tour of Peru: $26
  • Ancash: Adventure and Climbing to Mountain Alpamayo |6D-5N|: $3,303
  • Ancash: Nevado pastors and puyas Raymondi Tour | Full Day |: $40
  • Ancash: Trek and Adventure to Quillcayhuanca |3Days-2Nights|: $410
  • From Ancash: Fantastic tour Huaraz/Nevado Pastoruri |4D-3N|: $192
  • From Ancash: Huaraz Adventure with meals |3Days-2Nights|: $142
  • From Ancash: Tour Huaraz with Puya Raymondi |4Days-3Nights|: $197
  • From Ancash: Tour fantastic in Huaraz |2Days-1Night|: $92
  • From Ancash: Tour in Huaraz with tickets and Hotel |5D-4N|: $250
  • From Huaraz | Live an adventure between mountains and lakes: $214
  • From Huaraz || Full day tour Laguna 69 in -Cordillera Blanca: $36
  • From Chavín de Huantar fullday tour: $56

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ilha Grande $11
    Huaraz $15


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Huaraz, we can see that Ilha Grande is more expensive. And not only is Huaraz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Huaraz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huaraz 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 Huaraz.

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 Huaraz Expensive?.