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

Should you visit Mandeville or Tena?

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

Should I visit Mandeville or Tena? 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 Tena?

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.

Tena

Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.


Which place is cheaper, Tena 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 Tena is $51. 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 Tena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandeville $38
    Tena $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandeville $76
    Tena $48
Compare Hotels in Mandeville and Tena

Looking for a hotel in Mandeville or Tena? 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 Tena


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandeville $31
    Tena $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:

  • Transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $42
  • Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15
  • San Andres hotels to San Andres Airport (ADZ) Departure Transfer: $36
  • Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
  • Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
  • Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandeville or Tena?

Prices for flights to both Tena 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
    Tena $15

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandeville $8.31
    Tena $15

Tours and Activities in Tena

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

  • 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
  • Enjoy a Coffee Tour & Santa Fe de Antioquia Colonial Town!!: $135
  • Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
  • Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
  • Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
  • Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240
  • Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
  • Private Guided Tour to Piedra Colgada and Indian Face and Lagoon: $75
  • Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
  • Tour 5 Rosario Islands: $94
  • Unique experience flying paragliding: $50

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandeville $6.51
    Tena $10


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Tena, we can see that Mandeville is more expensive. And not only is Tena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and Tena 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 Tena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tena 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 Tena.

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


Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Tena?

Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and Tena, 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.