A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manaus vs. Arica for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Manaus or Arica?

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

Should I visit Manaus or Arica? 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: Manaus or Arica?

Manaus

Manaus is a Brazilian city, capital of the state of Amazonas, and is located on the Rio Negro a few miles before it meets the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon River. The city is a major departure point for those visiting the Amazon Rainforest, though there are a few sights worth seeing within the city itself as well.

Arica

A mixture of coastline, desert and high Andean plateau, Arica is a seaside resort town, known for its surfing beaches located at the tip of Northern Chile. Arica boasts that it is "the land of the eternal spring," but its temperate climate and beaches are not the only reason to visit this small city. Arica's tourism is still principally geared toward domestic visitors and those from southern Peru and La Paz, who flock to its beaches mid-December through February. It is very easy to spend a few days in Arica in the sand, or seeing the sights in town, at a slow pace but the city also offers plenty of fun activities and exciting day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Brazil, The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best 10-Day Tours in Chile, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, Arica or Manaus?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $61, while the average daily cost in Arica is $78. 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 Manaus and Arica in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manaus $43
    Arica $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manaus $86
    Arica $68
Compare Hotels in Manaus and Arica

Looking for a hotel in Manaus or Arica? 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 Manaus


Hotels in Arica


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: Manaus Hotel Prices and Arica Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manaus $8.12
    Arica $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus

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

  • Transfers from the airport to any place in Manaus City: $40
  • Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $40
  • Transfer 24h hotel - aeroporto em Manaus: $18
  • Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $72
  • Serviço de transfer privativo do Porto -> aeroporto de Mana: $20
  • Serviço de transfer privado 24h em grupo aeroporto -> hotel: $99
  • Private transfer hotel -> port of Manaus: $20
  • Private Transfers Services Airport -Hotel 24h: $20
  • Private Transfer 24h Airport to Hotel in Manaus: $19
  • Private Transfer - Airport - Hotel / Hotel - Airport: $35
  • Private 24-hour transfer from the Hotel to the Airport in Manaus: $19
  • Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $46

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Arica

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Arica are as follows:


  • Short Taxi Ride
    $2.05

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arica

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

  • Private Transfer from Arica Hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $24
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica city hotels: $22
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Hotels: $24
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $28
  • Private Transfer from Arica Cruise Port to Arica Airport (ARI): $31
  • Private Transfer from Arica City hotels to Arica Cruise Port: $22
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port : $28
  • Private Transfer from Arica Airport (ARI) to Arica Cruise Port: $31
  • Arica Airport Private Transfer: $85

Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or Arica?

Prices for flights to both Arica and Manaus 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
    Manaus $13
    Arica $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Manaus

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

  • Folklore Amazonian Dinner Show: $42
  • Food Tour: $50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Manaus -
    Arica $19

Tours and Activities in Manaus

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

  • Jewish Tour in Manaus in the Amazon from 4 to 5 hours: $154
  • Adventure: 4-hour hike in the Amazon rainforest: $150
  • Amazon Experience: meet a native village and swim with porpoises: $80
  • Amazon Jungle Experience with Overnight: $300
  • Amazon Jungle: 3- or 4-Day Tour at Ipanema River Guest House: $200
  • Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
  • Amazon Private Safari by Tuhiri Eco Tour - Leaving Manaus: $199
  • Amazon Waterfalls Tour: $70
  • Amazon and Negro Rivers Experience with Night Exploration Tour: $300
  • City Tour - The Best of Manaus: $64
  • City Tour Plus Amazon River Tour: $100
  • City Tour no Centro Histórico de Manaus com um fotógrafo: $94

Tours and Activities in Arica

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

  • Archaeological Tour: $32
  • Archeological Sightseeing tour in Arica: $103
  • Arica Private Sightseeing Tour : $134
  • Half day Panoramic City Tour: $49
  • Private Tour to Tacna from Arica: $256

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manaus $2.90
    Arica $19


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

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


Which is Bigger, Manaus or Arica?

Manaus has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Arica. When comparing the sizes of Manaus and Arica, 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.