A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Negril vs. Boquete for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Negril or Boquete?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Negril and Boquete. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Negril or Boquete?

Negril

Negril is a town in western Jamaica known for its miles of white sand beaches and cliffs. It is certainly one of the more laid back towns on the island yet still attracts a lot of tourists. The hotels are as close to the water as you can get, and the sand gets whiter and whiter the further away from populated areas you get. The water is unbelievably clear and warm in Negril!

Boquete

Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Panama City.


Which place is cheaper, Boquete or Negril?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $141, while the average daily cost in Boquete is $54. 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 Negril and Boquete in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Negril $107
    Boquete $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Negril $214
    Boquete $46
Compare Hotels in Negril and Boquete

Looking for a hotel in Negril or Boquete? 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 Negril


Hotels in Boquete


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: Negril Hotel Prices and Boquete Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Negril $8.79
    Boquete $5.24
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:


  • Taxi From Airport
    $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril

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

  • Grand Palladium Airport Transfer: $37
  • Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfer to Lucea Resorts: $37
  • Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium: $40
  • Grand Palladium Private Transfers from MBJ Airport: $40
  • Montego Bay Airport Transfer To Negril Hotels Private: $47
  • Private Airport Transfer Grand Palladium/ Lady Hamilton Jamaica: $47
  • Grand Palladium Private Airport Transfer: $48
  • Private Airport Transfers to Negril Hotels: $48
  • One-Way & Round-Trip Private Transfer from Montego Bay to Negril *42O VIP Option: $50
  • Private Airport Transfer to Sunset at the Palms Resort: $53
  • Private Airport Transfer to Beaches Negril Resort: $53
  • Private Airport Transfer to Couples Swept Away Resort Negril: $53

Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Boquete?

Prices for flights to both Boquete and Negril 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
    Negril $23
    Boquete $18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril

For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $85
  • Club2727 Nightlife Experience with Optional Dinner in Montego Bay: $85
  • Zimbali Mountain Cooking Studio: $105
  • Private 3-5h Natural Herbs Tour, Shopping & Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
  • Local food tour and local fields : $164

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Negril $27
    Boquete $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril

For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • 2 Hr Horseback Ride
    $44

Tours and Activities in Negril

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.

  • Cruise Ship Excursion in Montego Bay : $41
  • From Negril/Palladium: Negril Beach and Ricks Cafe Tour: $49
  • Negril Beach Experience & Rick's Cafe from Negril: $59
  • Buddle's Taxi and Tours : $60
  • Zimbali's Rasta Tour Lunch: $65
  • Blue Hole Mineral Springs, Rick's Café, and Shopping Combo Tour: $75
  • Negril Beach and Catamaran Cruise: $79
  • Negril guided day tour:7 mile beach and sunset at Ricks Cafe: $80
  • Ricks Cafe Sunset Catamaran Cruise Negril Palladium Montego Bay: $85
  • Jamwest JamCulture Tour from Negril: $89
  • Negril Catamaran Adults Only Cruise, Snorkeling and Rick's Cafe from Negril: $110
  • Must Do-Accompong Town Maroon Village Tour & Celebration from Negril: $112

Tours and Activities in Boquete

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

  • 2-Hour Private Mezcal and Geisha Liqueur Tasting Experience: $65
  • 3-Hour Private Tour to La Estrella Lake from Boquete on E Bike: $84
  • 3-hour Private Tour to the Peque Doraz Butterfly Garden by Ebike: $90
  • Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
  • Boquete Panoramic Tour: $200
  • Boquete Private 360° View Tour: $40
  • Dirtbike adventure in Boquete (half day): $165
  • E-Bike tour in Boquete and we culminate with a coffee experience: $90
  • Guided Market Tour with Sensory Coffee Tasting Boquete: $48
  • Hiking Experience in Caldera Transportation Included: $90
  • Private honey tasting bike tour and butterfly garden walk: $130
  • Schumann's BOTANICAL PARK TOUR: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Negril $10
    Boquete $4.47


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

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


Which is Bigger, Negril or Boquete?

Boquete has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the sizes of Negril and Boquete, 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.