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

Should you visit Manaus or Paracas?

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

Should I visit Manaus or Paracas? 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 Paracas?

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.

Paracas

Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Paracas or Manaus?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Manaus is $66, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $84. 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 Paracas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manaus $41
    Paracas $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manaus $82
    Paracas $48
Compare Hotels in Manaus and Paracas

Looking for a hotel in Manaus or Paracas? 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 Paracas


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 Paracas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manaus $7.63
    Paracas $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus

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

  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $55
  • 24-hour Hotel Transfer to Manaus Airport: $16
  • 24-hour transfer from airport to hotel in Manaus: $17
  • 24h Private Transfer Service Hotel to Manaus Airport: $23
  • Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
  • Manaus private Airport transfer: $60
  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
  • Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
  • Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $109
  • Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $71
  • Privado Transfer Aeroporto to Hotel Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge: $171
  • Private Transfer Group 24h Hotel to Airport in Manaus: $112

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:

  • Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $220
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $220
  • Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
  • Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
  • Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16

Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or Paracas?

Prices for flights to both Paracas 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 $21
    Paracas $42

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: $60

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Manaus -
    Paracas $26

Tours and Activities in Manaus

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

  • Manaus Private Walking Tour with a Local: $30
  • Walking Tours in Manaus: $36
  • MUSA and INPA Museums with Observation Tower Tour: $50
  • Half-Day City Tour: $54
  • Full-Day Tour on the Amazon River: $55
  • Amazon Negro River Half-Day Expedition Tour: $55
  • City Tour in Manaus at Teatro Amazonas and Praça da Matriz: $55
  • Manaus City Tour e Musa: $60
  • Manaus Sightseeing Tour: $64
  • Meeting of the Waters & Pink Dolphin Tour with Lunch: $65
  • Solimoes River Piranha Fishing and Alligator Watching Tour: $66
  • Full-Day Package Tour in Presidente Figueiredo : $67

Tours and Activities in Paracas

Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2-Hour Ballestas Islands Tour by modern boat: $20
  • 2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín: $49
  • 3-Day Classic Paracas Tour Package: $245
  • 4-Hour Guided Tour Paracas National Reserve: $20
  • 7-Hours Tour in Paracas National Reserve with Pickup: $38
  • ATV Tour Adventure in Reserva Nacional de Paracas: $35
  • Adventure in the Paracas National Reserve in private: $30
  • BALLESTAS ISLANDS TOUR: $16
  • Ballestas & Paracas Reserve from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $100
  • Ballestas & Tambo Colorado from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $110
  • Ballestas Islands & Tambo Colorado from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $110
  • Ballestas Islands Boat Tour for Pisco Cruise Travelers: $32

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manaus $2.72
    Paracas $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manaus and Paracas, we can see that Paracas 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 Paracas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paracas 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 Paracas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Manaus or Paracas?

Manaus has a larger population, and is about 1340 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Manaus and Paracas, 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.