A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Machu Picchu vs. Bonaire for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Machu Picchu or Bonaire?

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 Machu Picchu and Bonaire can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Machu Picchu or Bonaire?

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.

Bonaire

An island municipality of the Netherlands, Bonaire resides in the Caribbean, east of Central America and north of Venezuela. It is a part of the ABC Islands together with Aruba and CuraƧao, and is best known as a tropical vacation destination with many great dive spots, beaches, lagoons, and wildlife.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Bonaire or Machu Picchu?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Machu Picchu is $101, while the average daily cost in Bonaire is $256. 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 Machu Picchu and Bonaire in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Machu Picchu $42
    Bonaire $155
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Machu Picchu $84
    Bonaire $310
Compare Hotels in Machu Picchu and Bonaire

Looking for a hotel in Machu Picchu or Bonaire? 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 Machu Picchu


Hotels in Bonaire


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: Machu Picchu Hotel Prices and Bonaire Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Machu Picchu $30
    Bonaire $65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bonaire

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bonaire:

  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk City to Kralendijk Cruise Port: $59
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk Cruise Port to Kralendijk city : $59
  • Private Transfer from Kralendijk Port to Bonaire Airport (BON): $59
  • Airport Transfer Return Included: $44
  • Private Transfers from Bonaire airport to any address on Bonaire: $43

Is it cheaper to fly into Machu Picchu or Bonaire?

Prices for flights to both Bonaire and Machu Picchu 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
    Machu Picchu $19
    Bonaire $59

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Machu Picchu $74
    Bonaire $40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu

For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Gardens of Mandor
    $2.71

Tours and Activities in Bonaire

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

  • 2 Hours Private Kitesurfing Adventure: $265
  • 4 Hours Open Air Party Bus Tour with Beach Stop in Caribbean: $39
  • Bonaire CaveTour Climb, Snorkel & Explore the Hidden Gems : $83
  • Bonaire Essentials Island Tour: $49
  • Bonaire Landsailing Adventures: $79
  • Bonaire Shore Excursion: The Bonaire Highlights Tour: $83
  • Guided Night Snorkeltour With Tarpons on the Hunt: $70
  • Brunch & Snorkel Catamaran Tour: $115
  • Catamaran Snorkel & BBQ Sail (cruise friendly): $105
  • Cave Adventure: Walk, Climb & Swim: $75
  • Cave Exploration Tour & Snorkeling: $100
  • Cave Tour with Local Guide: $94

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Machu Picchu $6.90
    Bonaire $33


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Machu Picchu and Bonaire, we can see that Bonaire is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Machu Picchu is in South America and Bonaire is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Machu Picchu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Machu Picchu 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 Bonaire would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bonaire than you might in Machu Picchu.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Machu Picchu Expensive? and Is Bonaire Expensive?.