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

Should you visit Ilha Grande or Rosario Islands?

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

Should I visit Ilha Grande or Rosario Islands? 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 Rosario Islands?

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.

Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands, also referred to as Coral Islands of Rosario, is an archipelago located off the coast of Colombia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Cartagena. The Rosario Islands are integrated by 28 islands and all of them form one of the 46 Natural National Parks of Colombia, created to protect one of the most important coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Only three of these islands are property of the Colombian state. Before establishing the national park in 1977, wealthy families used this natural paradise to build their summer houses, but then the government allowed them to keep their properties, only if they paid annual rent and taxes to be there, and complied with certain rules to preserve the ecosystem of the islands. People can visit the national park area of the islands, and tours are available. Isla Rosario has an aquarium and open-sea oceanarium that people can visit. Activities on the Rosario Islands include swimming, snorkeling and fishing, among others. The best time to visit Colombia in general, and especially the Rosario Islands is the dry-season months from December to March. These uninterrupted sunny days are just perfect for a Caribbean coastal experience and to enjoy all the activities it has to offer.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Rosario Islands 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 Rosario Islands is $89. 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 Rosario Islands in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ilha Grande $37
    Rosario Islands $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ilha Grande $74
    Rosario Islands $68
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Rosario Islands

Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Rosario Islands? 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 Rosario Islands


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: Rosario Islands Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ilha Grande $18
    Rosario Islands $47

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 Rosario Islands?

Prices for flights to both Rosario Islands 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
    Rosario Islands $28

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ilha Grande $6.61
    Rosario Islands $14

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 Rosario Islands

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

  • One-day tour to Playa Blanca by land Popular sector: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ilha Grande $11
    Rosario Islands $6.12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ilha Grande and Rosario Islands, we can see that Rosario Islands 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 Rosario Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rosario Islands 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 Rosario Islands Expensive?.