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

Should you visit Ilha Grande or Santa Marta?

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

Should I visit Ilha Grande or Santa Marta? 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 Santa Marta?

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.

Santa Marta

Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Santa Marta or Ilha Grande?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $70, while the average daily cost in Santa Marta is $32. 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 Santa Marta in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ilha Grande $38
    Santa Marta $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ilha Grande $76
    Santa Marta $28
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Santa Marta

Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Santa Marta? 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 Santa Marta


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: Santa Marta Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ilha Grande $18
    Santa Marta $5.17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ilha Grande

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

  • Shuttle Transfer from Ilha Grande (Abraão) to Paraty: $79
  • Regular Transfer Angra dos Reis x Rio de Janeiro and Airports: $39
  • Private Transfer from GIG to anywhere in the City Angra dos Reis: $195
  • Private Transfer from Angra dos Reis to Airport GIG in Rio : $195
  • Private Transfer Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $91
  • From Rio de Janeiro:Shared Roundtrip Transfer to Araçatiba: $108
  • From Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $28
  • From Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $48
  • From Araçatiba: Speedboat Transfer to Angra dos Reis: $28
  • From Angra dos Reis: Speedboat Transfer to Araçatiba: $28
  • From Angra dos Reis: Shared Transfer to Rio de Janeiro: $56
  • Departure Transfer: Angra dos Reis to GIG or SDU Airport by Van: $246

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Marta

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:


  • Gas
    $5.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Marta

Also for Santa Marta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfers to Palomino, Tayrona Park, Buritaca Guachaca from Santa Marta: $23
  • Transfers SANTA MARTA AIRPORT TO HOTEL IN SANTA MARTA: $21
  • Transfer in private minivan from Santa Marta city to Santa Marta Airport (SMR): $21
  • Transfer in private minivan from Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to Santa Marta city: $21
  • Transfer in Private Car from Santa Marta city to Santa Marta Airport (SMR): $14
  • Transfer in Private Car from Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to Santa Marta city: $14
  • Tayrona / Santa Marta Transfer: $86
  • Santa Marta to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $35
  • Santa Marta to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $40
  • Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
  • Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to city: $43
  • Private transfer between Santa Marta and Barranquilla (or viceversa): $180

Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Santa Marta?

Prices for flights to both Santa Marta 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
    Santa Marta $9.82

Typical Food Prices in Santa Marta

For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $3.08

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Marta

For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City Half-Day : $66
  • Flavors of Colombia - Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $75
  • Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $75
  • Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City: $76

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ilha Grande $6.77
    Santa Marta $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:

  • 360 Tour of Ilha Grande - Speed Boat Tour: $74
  • Angra Dos Reis Daily Tour To Paradise. Boat Trip Lunch And Fruits Included: $72
  • 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
  • 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
  • Ilha Grande - Private Historical Walking Tour with Natural Pool.: $60
  • Walking Abraão Historical Tour and Natural Pool: $80

Tours and Activities in Santa Marta

For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • "Chocoserrano" Chocolate Tour 1 day -- Santa Marta: $115
  • "Gabo Márquez" Tour - Aracataca and Cienaga: $205
  • 1-Hour Pirate Ship Experience from Santa Marta: $28
  • 2 days 1 night tour - in Trompito, I meet indigenous community Kogui Uldezhaxa.: $192
  • 2-Day Cultural Tour to Gotsezhy from Santa Marta: $198
  • 2-Day Tour to Ancestral Heritage from Santa Marta: $190
  • 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $374
  • 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $337
  • Amazing full day tour to Minca with a private guide: $178
  • Ancestral Thought Tour: $180
  • Ancestral Thought Tour (Indigenous life in Kogui people) Santa Marta: $192
  • Ancestral Thought Tour two days and one night: $200

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ilha Grande $11
    Santa Marta $6.58

Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Marta

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.57
  • Beer
    $2.31


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

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 Santa Marta Expensive?.