Which place is cheaper, Montanita or Ilha Grande?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ilha Grande or Montanita?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Montanita? 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 Montanita?
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.
Montanita
Montanita is a small village located on Manglaralto parish along the southern coast of Ecuador. The Pacific Coast of Ecuador is lined with beach towns, either small villages with local fisherman or larger towns more set up for foreign travellers like Montanita. With one of the best beaches in Ecuador, one of the best surf breaks in the region, and a great laid-back atmosphere Montanita is a great little getaway, especially for the hippies of the world. It has also become a popular weekend destination for English teachers and Spanish students coming from Guayaquil and Quito. The beachfront village of Montanita has a laid-back atmosphere and steady stream of cosmopolitan backpackers, with as many South Americans as gringos.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $68Montanita $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $68, while the average daily cost in Montanita is $96. 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 Montanita in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Montanita $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Montanita $82
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Montanita
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Montanita? 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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Montanita $39
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 Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Van: $246
- Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $187
- Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $187
- Departure Private Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $116
- From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $104
- Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $56
- From Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $37
- From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
- From Angra dos Reis: Speedboat Transfer to Araçatiba: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Montanita?
Prices for flights to both Montanita 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
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Food Meals for one dayIlha Grande $21Montanita $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.61Montanita $31
Tours and Activities in Ilha Grande
For Ilha Grande, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 360 Tour of Ilha Grande - Speed Boat Tour: $74
- Angra Dos Reis Daily Tour To Paradise. Boat Trip Lunch And Fruits Included: $69
- Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $79
- Angra dos Reis with Speedboat Tour and Paradise Islands: $58
- Boat Tour To The Beaches Of Angra Dos Reis: $21
- From Abraão, Lopes Mendes Beach Tour & Trekking: $21
- From Ilha Grande - Paradise Island 7 h - Speedboat tour: $55
- From Rio: Full-Day Angra dos Reis Cruise & Island Tour: $76
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $67
- Half-Day Blue Lagoon Schooner Tour: $40
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $40
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Montanita $7.86
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Montanita, we can see that Montanita is more expensive. And not only is Ilha Grande much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ilha Grande would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ilha Grande 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 Montanita would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montanita than you might in Ilha Grande.
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 Montanita Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.