A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers La Ceiba vs. San Pedro de Atacama for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit La Ceiba or San Pedro de Atacama?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between La Ceiba and San Pedro de Atacama can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: La Ceiba or San Pedro de Atacama?

La Ceiba

La Ceiba is the third largest city in Honduras, situated on the north Caribbean coast. The city has a population of about a quarter million people. Many people who visit this city do so before heading into Pico Bonito National Park. It hasn't had the best infrastructure for tourists in the past but is developing fast. It is about 200 kilometers from San Pedro Sula, another large city in Honduras.

San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Santiago, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Chile.


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro de Atacama or La Ceiba?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in La Ceiba is $65, while the average daily cost in San Pedro de Atacama is $59. 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 La Ceiba and San Pedro de Atacama in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    La Ceiba $24
    San Pedro de Atacama $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    La Ceiba $48
    San Pedro de Atacama $64
Compare Hotels in La Ceiba and San Pedro de Atacama

Looking for a hotel in La Ceiba or San Pedro de Atacama? 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 La Ceiba


Hotels in San Pedro de Atacama


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: La Ceiba Hotel Prices and San Pedro de Atacama Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    La Ceiba $32
    San Pedro de Atacama $9.15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Ceiba

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Ceiba:

  • Private Transfer from La Ceiba hotels to Banana Coast Cruise Port: $78
  • Private Transfer from Goloson Airport (LCE) to Banana Coast Port: $78

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro de Atacama

Also for San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shared Transfer from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama Airport: $29
  • Calama Airport: Shared Transfer to/from San Pedro de Atacama: $30
  • Transfers to San Pedro de Acatama (shared service): $30
  • Atacama Airport Shuttle Transfer: $34
  • Stargazing Experience with Transfer: $40
  • Puritama Thermal Transfer: $46
  • Calama Airport Transfer to Atacama / Airport Lodging: $60
  • Transfer to the Puritama Hot Springs: $60
  • Direct Transfer Atacama to Uyuni: $128
  • Private transfer San Pedro de Atacama - calama airport: $200
  • 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Transfer: $250

Is it cheaper to fly into La Ceiba or San Pedro de Atacama?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro de Atacama and La Ceiba 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
    La Ceiba $18
    San Pedro de Atacama $14

Typical Food Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Empanadas
    $1.26
  • Lunch
    $10
  • Dinner
    $11
  • Drink
    $0.94
  • Empanada
    $5.24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Dinner Under the Stars: $300

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    La Ceiba $22
    San Pedro de Atacama $21

Tours and Activities in La Ceiba

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Ceiba are as follows:

  • ATV Tour : $110

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro de Atacama's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Sand Boarding
    $56

Tours and Activities in San Pedro de Atacama

For San Pedro de Atacama, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Stargazing Tour with Astronomer in San Pedro de Atacama: $33
  • Astronomical Tour with Guide and Pick Up San Pedro de Atacama: $39
  • Tour to the Valley of the Moon San Pedro de Atacama: $42
  • Astronomical Experience with Astrophotography in Atacama: $42
  • Etno-Astronomical Experience: $43
  • Traditional Ethnoastronomy Experience: $44
  • Traditional Ethnoastronomy Tour in San Pedro de Atacama: $44
  • Valle de la Luna Guided Tour: $44
  • Guided Atacama Desert Stargazing Tour: $44
  • Cejar Lagoon Tour: San Pedro de Atacama: $44
  • Tour Compartido Valle de la Luna: $44
  • Half day Valle de la Luna, Afternoon Tour: $45

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    La Ceiba $5.16
    San Pedro de Atacama $4.94

Typical Alcohol Prices in San Pedro de Atacama

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in San Pedro de Atacama:


  • Alcohol
    $25


When comparing the travel costs between La Ceiba and San Pedro de Atacama, we can see that La Ceiba 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 La Ceiba is in Central America and San Pedro de Atacama is in South 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 La Ceiba Expensive? and Is San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, La Ceiba or San Pedro de Atacama?

La Ceiba has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of San Pedro de Atacama. When comparing the sizes of La Ceiba and San Pedro de Atacama, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.