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

Should you visit Manaus or Salento?

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

Should I visit Manaus or Salento? 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 Salento?

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.

Salento

Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Brazil, The Best G Adventures Tours to Brazil, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Salento 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 Salento is $39. 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 Salento in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manaus $41
    Salento $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manaus $82
    Salento $22
Compare Hotels in Manaus and Salento

Looking for a hotel in Manaus or Salento? 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 Salento


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 Salento Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manaus $7.63
    Salento $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Manaus

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

  • 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
  • Transfer service from Iberostar (Port) to Manaus Airport: $23
  • Serviço de Transfer Privado 24h Aeroporto - Hotel em Manaus: $25
  • Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) to Manaus - Arrival Private Transfer: $36
  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) - Departure Private Transfer: $36
  • Transfer from Manaus Airport to Manaus City: $45
  • Manaus to Ponta Pelada Airport (PLL) -Departure Private Transfer: $55
  • Manaus Airport(MAO) to Manaus hotels- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $57
  • Manaus private Airport transfer: $60
  • Shared Round-Trip Transfer: Eduardo Gomes International Airport: $64

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:

  • Private Pereira Airport Transfer: To/From Salento: $54

Is it cheaper to fly into Manaus or Salento?

Prices for flights to both Salento 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
    Salento $16

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salento.

  • Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Manaus -
    Salento $12

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 Salento

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

  • Armenia, Quindio: Coffee Tour, Transportation, and Quimbaya Gold Museum: $64
  • Book a Private Tourist Guide through the Coffee Region: $141
  • Cocoa and Coffee Farm Tours from Pereira or Armenia: $188
  • Cocora, Salento and Filandia Tour: $115
  • Coffee Farm Tour at Finca El Ocaso from Salento: $90
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour: $88
  • Coffee Tour Salento-Ocaso Farm- English Tour: $15
  • Coffee Tour at Finca El Ocaso Finca Tradicional-Español: $15
  • Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $30
  • Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $87
  • Filandia, Salento and Cocora Valley Private Tour: $144
  • Filandia, Salento and Cocora Valley Tour: $214

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manaus $2.72
    Salento $11


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

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


Which is Bigger, Manaus or Salento?

Manaus has a larger population, and is about 390 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Manaus and Salento, 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.