Which place is cheaper, Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) or Merida?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Merida or Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Merida or Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park), this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Merida or Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)?
Merida
Merida is the largest city on the Yucatan Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea. It is also the capital of the state of Yucatan as a whole. There is a population of 750,000 and is very rich in diversity and culture.
Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)
Situated in the Golfo Dulce, Puerto Jiminez has grown from a logging and gold mining town in the 1960s to become the largest town on Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula. Today, it serves as a main gateway to Corcovado National Park, a last stopping point before visitors enter the park. Puerto Jiminez also has a lively night life, a beach, and easy access to a number of outdoors activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMerida $88Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Merida is $88, while the average daily cost in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) is $115. 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 Merida and Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMerida $44Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMerida $88Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $98
Compare Hotels in Merida and Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)
Looking for a hotel in Merida or Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)? 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.
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: Merida Hotel Prices and Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Merida $18Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Merida
Also for Merida, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Merida hotels to Mérida International Airport (MID) - Private Departure Transfer: $33
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida airport to central Merida: $41
- Mexico Private Transfer from Merida hotels to Merida airport: $41
- Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel in Merida One Way: $47
- Private Transfer From Uxmal to Merida, English Speaking Driver: $73
- One-way Airport Transfers to Merida Hotels: $120
- Merida Rejon Airport (MID) to Tulum hotels - Round Trip Transfer: $227
Is it cheaper to fly into Merida or Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)?
Prices for flights to both Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) and Merida 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
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Food Meals for one dayMerida $29Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Merida
For Merida, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Merida Walking Food Tour. Authentic & Local Cuisine: $62
- Taste of the Yucatan: Merida Cooking Class and Market Visit: $89
- Private Yucatecan Cooking Lesson in a Local Merida Home: $90
- Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class in Merida with Transfers: $126
Typical Food Prices in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)
Some typical examples of dining costs in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) are as follows:
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Dinner at Finca Exotica$54
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Merida $16Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) $119
Typical Entertainment Prices in Merida
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Merida's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Train at the Zoo$0.12
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Uxmal Entrance (for 2)$20
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Mayan Village Entrance (for 2)$6.01
Tours and Activities in Merida
For Merida, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of Merida: $8.00
- Mérida Scavenger Hunt and Sights Private Self-Guided Tour: $8.95
- Walking Tour Across the Historic Center in Merida: $22
- Walking Tour in the City of Mérida: $22
- Merida Private Tour on a Budget : $29
- Mérida Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $35
- 3 Hour Tour in The Sotuta de Peón Live Museum: $60
- Merida Street Food Walking Tour: $65
- Tour to Uxmal + Choco Story Chocolate Museum: $67
- Private Walking Tour in City of Merida: $75
- Day of the Dead Tour & Taco buffet: $80
- Tour to progreso, corchito and salt ponds: $81
Tours and Activities in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) are as follows:
- 30-minute Corcovado National Park Tour by Plane: $256
- 4 Hour Private Guided Tour in Osa Jungle : $120
- Bio-Luminescence and Sunset Kayak Tour: $62
- Corcovado day tour- Sirena Station With Lunch- Small Group : $160
- Day tours Corcovado Total Adventure: $150
- Kayak experience on Playa Blanca in Puerto Jiménez: $65
- One Day Tour To Caño Island From Drake Bay: $125
- One Day Tour to Corcovado (La Leona Station) From Puerto Jiménez: $299
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMerida $16Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Merida and Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park), we can see that Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) is more expensive. And not only is Merida much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Merida is in North America and Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) is in Central 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 Merida would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Merida 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 Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) than you might in Merida.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Merida Expensive? and Is Puerto Jimenez (Corcovado National Park) Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.