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

Should you visit Mandeville or Paracas?

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

Should I visit Mandeville 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: Mandeville or Paracas?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

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 Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.


Which place is cheaper, Paracas or Mandeville?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandeville is $81, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $63. 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 Mandeville and Paracas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $38
    Paracas $22
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $76
    Paracas $44
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Paracas

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville 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 Mandeville


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: Paracas Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandeville $31
    Paracas $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:

  • Private Transfer from Pisko Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $78
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $87
  • Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $78
  • Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
  • Private Transfer From Paracas To Lima With 2 Stops: $175
  • Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
  • Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
  • Oneway Transfer from San Juan Airport, Hotel, Airbnb to Bayamon: $60
  • Lima: Private taxi transfer from Lima airport to Paracas: $129
  • Direct Private Transfer From Paracas to Lima, English Speaking Driver: $163

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Paracas?

Prices for flights to both Paracas and Mandeville 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
    Mandeville $24
    Paracas $23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paracas

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

  • From Lima:Paracas,Ica and cooking class Ceviche semi-private: $139

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandeville $8.31
    Paracas $25

Tours and Activities in Paracas

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

  • 2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín: $49
  • 2D: Tour Ica, Huacachina, Sandboarding, Ballestas Islands: $215
  • 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: $45
  • Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas : $26
  • Ballestas Islands Group Tour from San Martin Port: $50
  • Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride from Paracas: $24
  • Ballestas Islands Tour: $24
  • Ballestas Islands Tour - Paracas: $25
  • Ballestas Islands Tour for passengers of the Puerto San Martin Cruise: $32
  • Ballestas Islands Tour from Puerto San Martin Cruise: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.51
    Paracas $11


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

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


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Paracas?

Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville 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.