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

Should you visit Ilha Grande or Salento?

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

Should I visit Ilha Grande or Salento? 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 Salento?

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.

Salento

Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Salento 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $83, while the average daily cost in Salento is $44. 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 Salento in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ilha Grande $37
    Salento $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ilha Grande $74
    Salento $26
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Salento

Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Salento? 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 Salento


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: Salento Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ilha Grande $18
    Salento $16

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
  • Regular transfer from Isla Grande (Abraão) x Rio de Janeiro: $48
  • Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $50
  • Departure private transfer from Costa do Sol to Rio GIG Airport: $160

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:

  • Private Pereira Airport Transfer: To/From Salento: $109

Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Salento?

Prices for flights to both Salento 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 $36
    Salento $18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salento.

  • Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46
  • Cooking Classes Food and Cocktail Tasting: $88

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ilha Grande $6.57
    Salento $13

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
  • Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $59
  • Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
  • Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $64
  • Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $67
  • Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $74
  • Angra Super Blue Lagoon Speedboat Tour: $79

Tours and Activities in Salento

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

  • Book a Private Tourist Guide through the Coffee Region: $158
  • CANNABIS EXPERIENCE: $69
  • Carbonera Valley Salento Local Farm & Hiking Experience: $110
  • Cocoa and Coffee Farm Tours from Pereira or Armenia: $211
  • Cocora Valley Highlights: Horseback Riding, Hiking, & Coffee Farm Experience: $245
  • Cocora Valley and Premium Sightseeing Tour with Transportation and Entrance Fees: $60
  • Cocora Valley, Coffee Farm, and Salento Tour: $335
  • Cocora, Salento and Filandia Tour: $140
  • Coffee Cupping Experience: Taste Coffee Like a Professional in Salento: $52
  • Coffee Farm Experience & Filandia Cultural Tour from Salento: $230
  • Coffee Farm Tour at Finca El Ocaso from Salento: $93
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $88

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ilha Grande $11
    Salento $13


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

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 Salento Expensive?.