Which place is cheaper, Tena 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.
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Should you visit Ilha Grande or Tena?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ilha Grande or Tena? 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 Tena?
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.
Tena
Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.
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Ilha Grande Prices
Brazil PricesTena Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIlha Grande $83Tena $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Ilha Grande is $83, while the average daily cost in Tena is $77. 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 Tena in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIlha Grande $37Tena $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIlha Grande $74Tena $60
Compare Hotels in Ilha Grande and Tena
Looking for a hotel in Ilha Grande or Tena? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ilha Grande $18Tena $21
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 from Angra dos Reis to Rio de Janeiro: $50
- Regular transfer from Isla Grande (Abraão) x Rio de Janeiro: $48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:
- Private transfer to Medellín Airport: $45
- Private transfer service from or to Medellín Airport: $56
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Medellin private transfer from Medellin airport: $30
- Medellin Transfer Airport - shuttle - pick up - Drop off (MDE): $20
- Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Ilha Grande or Tena?
Prices for flights to both Tena 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 $36Tena $33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ilha Grande $6.59Tena $18
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
- Escuna Tour to Angra Beaches of Dos Reis & Grand Island: $20
- Shared Speedboat Tour - Paradise Island Tour: $28
- Ilha Grande - From Abrãao: Lopes Mendes beach tour & trekking: $35
- Half-Day Ilha Grande Schooner Tour: $45
- 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
- Speedboat Tour Super Lagoa Azul Route in Angra: $65
- Angra Islands Speedboat Tour from Paraty: $65
- Full-Day Ilha Grande Northern Coast Speedboat Tour: $66
- Angra dos Reis Island Hopping Speedboat Tour from Ilha Grande: $74
Tours and Activities in Tena
Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
- Coffee Night Plan 2D/1N -2H to Medellin-Real Coffee Experience!: $239
- Coffee Tour from Bogota at La Palma Plantation and El Tucan: $119
- Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
- Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
- Hanging Stone Private Guided Tour Susa Cundinamarca: $55
- Paragliding tour in Medellín, fly and live a great experience: $69
- Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
- Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240
- Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
- Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
- Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIlha Grande $11Tena $13
When comparing the travel costs between Ilha Grande and Tena, we can see that Ilha Grande 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. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Tena 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.