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

Should you visit Ilha Grande or San Ignacio?

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

Should I visit Ilha Grande or San Ignacio? 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 San Ignacio?

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.

San Ignacio

So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.

You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.

This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.


Which place is cheaper, San Ignacio 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.

  • Ilha Grande Prices
    Brazil Prices
    San Ignacio Prices
    Belize Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Ilha Grande $85
    San Ignacio $87

The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $85, while the average daily cost in San Ignacio is $87. 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 San Ignacio in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ilha Grande $37
    San Ignacio $19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ilha Grande $74
    San Ignacio $38
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and San Ignacio

Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or San Ignacio? 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 San Ignacio


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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ilha Grande $18
    San Ignacio $3.11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande

Also for Ilha Grande, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Departure private transfer from Costa do Sol to Rio GIG Airport: $160
  • From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $46
  • Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $51
  • Rio to Araçatiba Round-Trip Transfer with Flexboat: $131

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:

  • Transfer from Belize Airport to San Ignacio: $210

Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or San Ignacio?

Prices for flights to both San Ignacio 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 $37
    San Ignacio $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio

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

  • Maya Fish Cooking Experience: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ilha Grande $6.72
    San Ignacio $100

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: $47
  • Tour Of The Motorboat The Paradisiac Islands Of Angra Dos Reis: $52
  • 6-Hour Speedboat Tour to Blue and Green Lagoons: $55
  • Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
  • Schooner Cruise with Caipirinha drinks by the Blue Lagoon: $61
  • 7h Speedboat Tour of Paradise Islands: $61
  • Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $65
  • Rio de Janeiro: Ilha Grande with Boat Tour & Optional Lunch: $68

Tours and Activities in San Ignacio

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

  • 5 Waterfall Adventure at Dreaming Giant Falls Belize: $145
  • 7 Mile Cave Kayaking Adventure Belize Hummingbird Expedition Tour: $138
  • ATM Cave Tour from San Ignacio Actun Tunichil Muknal: $155
  • ATV Excursions in Cayo with Waterfalls Experience: $174
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic: $145
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour from San Ignacio: $140
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch: $145
  • Adventure Sun Set Horse Ride: $90
  • All Inclusive Lamanai Tour from San Ignacio, River Cruise & Lunch: $215
  • Authentic Mayan Cuisine Cultural Tour: $170
  • Barton Creek Tour: $146
  • Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $95

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ilha Grande $11
    San Ignacio $17


When comparing the travel costs between Ilha Grande and San Ignacio, we can see that San Ignacio is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Ilha Grande is in South America and San Ignacio is in Central America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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 San Ignacio Expensive?.