Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Isla de Ometepe?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Isla de Ometepe or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Isla de Ometepe or Cuenca, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Isla de Ometepe or Cuenca?
Isla de Ometepe
Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIsla de Ometepe $34Cuenca $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Isla de Ometepe is $34, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $42. 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 Isla de Ometepe and Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIsla de Ometepe $13Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIsla de Ometepe $26Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Isla de Ometepe and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Isla de Ometepe or Cuenca? 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: Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Isla de Ometepe $11Cuenca $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Cuenca: $47
- Private Transfer from Cuenca to Guayaquil.: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Isla de Ometepe or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca and Isla de Ometepe 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 dayIsla de Ometepe $13Cuenca $15
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Cuenca City Tour & Cooking Class (PRIVATE Tour from Cuenca): $112
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Isla de Ometepe $13Cuenca $16
Tours and Activities in Isla de Ometepe
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla de Ometepe are as follows:
- A great tour day for the ISLAND OF OMETEPE.: $80
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Shared Tour: $25
- Cuenca-Ec- City Tour with Panama Hat factory Half Day: $30
- Cuenca Half-Day City Tour Including Panama Hat Factory: $30
- Private Cuenca City Tour including Turi Viewpoint: $40
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $40
- El Chorro waterfalls and Busa lake tour from Cuenca: $44
- Experience Historical City Tour: $44
- City Sightseeing Tour: $45
- Cuenca, Ecuador Half-Day City Tour: $46
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cuenca City Tour: $48
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIsla de Ometepe $8.85Cuenca $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Isla de Ometepe and Cuenca, we can see that Cuenca is more expensive. And not only is Isla de Ometepe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Isla de Ometepe is in Central America and Cuenca is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Isla de Ometepe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Isla de Ometepe 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 Cuenca would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cuenca than you might in Isla de Ometepe.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Isla de Ometepe Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Isla de Ometepe or Cuenca?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Cuenca in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Isla de Ometepe and Cuenca. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Isla de Ometepe year-round. Cuenca attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Isla de Ometepe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Isla de Ometepe usually receives more rain than Cuenca. Isla de Ometepe gets 144 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Isla de Ometepe is a little warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the summer temperatures in Isla de Ometepe in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Cuenca averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIsla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F)Cuenca 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Cuenca in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Isla de Ometepe as well as Cuenca. Isla de Ometepe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cuenca throughout the year.
Isla de Ometepe receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Isla de Ometepe usually gets more rain in October than Cuenca. Isla de Ometepe gets 197 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Isla de Ometepe is generally much warmer than Cuenca. Daily temperatures in Isla de Ometepe average around 27°C (81°F), and Cuenca fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIsla de Ometepe 27°C (81°F)Cuenca 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Cuenca in the Winter?
Both Cuenca and Isla de Ometepe are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Isla de Ometepe throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cuenca because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Isla de Ometepe usually receives less rain than Cuenca. Isla de Ometepe gets 4 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
The weather in Cuenca can be very cold. Isla de Ometepe is much warmer than Cuenca in the winter. The daily temperature in Isla de Ometepe averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Cuenca fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIsla de Ometepe 26°C (79°F)Cuenca 4°C (39°F)
Should I visit Isla de Ometepe or Cuenca in the Spring?
Both Cuenca and Isla de Ometepe during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Isla de Ometepe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cuenca year-round.
Isla de Ometepe usually gets less rain in April than Cuenca. Isla de Ometepe gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Cuenca receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Isla de Ometepe is much warmer than Cuenca. Typically, the spring temperatures in Isla de Ometepe in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Cuenca averages at about 10°C (50°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIsla de Ometepe 29°C (84°F)Cuenca 10°C (50°F)
Typical Weather for Cuenca and Isla de Ometepe
| Isla de Ometepe | Cuenca | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 144 mm (5.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 31°C (88°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
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.