Which place is cheaper, Salento or Ilha Grande?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $68Salento $33
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $68, while the average daily cost in Salento is $33. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Salento $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Salento $22
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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Salento $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande
Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Angra dos Reis: Speedboat Transfer to Araçatiba: $27
- From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
- From Araçatiba: Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $27
- Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $37
- From Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
- From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $56
- Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
- From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $104
- Departure Private Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Sedan Car: $116
- 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 Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Van: $246
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:
- Pereira Airport Private Transfer Service: $55
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
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Food Meals for one dayIlha Grande $21Salento $9.56
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.61Salento $12
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 Salento
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:
- Book a Private Tourist Guide through the Coffee Region: $140
- Cocoa and Coffee Farm Tours from Pereira or Armenia: $187
- Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
- Cocora Valley and Salento Horseback Riding Day Tour: $137
- Cocora Valley, Salento and Coffee Farm Day Tour : $124
- Cocora, Salento and Filandia Tour: $100
- Coffe Experience: Daily departure from Salento: $90
- Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
- Coffee Tour and Salento Walking Tour with lunch: $95
- Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $28
- Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $62
- Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $105
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Salento $12
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?.
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.