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

Should you visit Negril or Galapagos Islands?

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 Galapagos Islands. 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 Galapagos Islands?

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!

Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are a small archipelago of islands belonging to Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The Galapagos archipelago is world-renowned for its unique and fearless wildlife, much of which was inspiration for Charles Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection. Thanks to a lack of natural predators, friendly wildlife such as sea lions and gigantic sea tortoises let visitors get up close. This archipelago of about 19 islands and many smaller islets found over 620 miles off Ecuador's coast in the Pacific Ocean is a double World Heritage site, where both land and sea are protected. Each island boasts its own unique landscape, ranging from black, volcanic rocks to white sand beaches and gemstone-blue waters. There is no bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands but the busiest months for tourism tend to be June, July and August, as well as mid-December to mid-January. This is when prices are at their highest.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Ecuador, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Galapagos Islands or Negril?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Negril Prices
    Jamaica Prices
    Galapagos Islands Prices
    Ecuador Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Negril $152
    Galapagos Islands $29,200

The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $152, while the average daily cost in Galapagos Islands is $29,200. 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 Galapagos Islands in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Negril $103
    Galapagos Islands $12,681
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Negril $206
    Galapagos Islands $
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Compare Hotels in Negril and Galapagos Islands

Looking for a hotel in Negril or Galapagos Islands? 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 Galapagos Islands


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Negril $8.48
    Galapagos Islands $3,523
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Negril

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


  • Taxi From Airport
    $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril

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

  • Fun Holiday Beach Resort Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $205
  • Grand Palladium Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $200
  • Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain Jamaica From Negril Hotels: $200
  • Private, Round-Trip Negril Airport Transfer: $200
  • Chukka and Rafting Ocho Rios with Private Transfer Negril Hotels: $200
  • Private Transfers-Negril and Runaway Bay hotels(Round Trip): $180
  • Private Transfer from Negril to Jamaica (MBJ) Airport: $173
  • Private Transfer from Jamaica (MBJ) Airport to Negril: $173
  • Luxury Grand Palladium Transfer: $144
  • Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer Negril Hotels: $141
  • Private Customizable Transfer from Sangster Intl Airport - Negril: $140
  • Montego Bay Airport (MBJ) to Negril hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $138

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galapagos Islands

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

  • Private Transfer from Baltra Airport to Hotels in Santa Cruz Island: $137
  • Private Transfer from Hotels in Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport: $137
  • Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $95
  • Maritime transfer between the Galapagos Islands: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Galapagos Islands?

Prices for flights to both Galapagos Islands 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 $38
    Galapagos Islands $11,857

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: $80
  • Cultural Food Tour & Seven Mile Beach At Negril’s Margaritaville: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Negril $26
    Galapagos Islands $7,364
Typical Entertainment Prices in Negril

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


  • 2 Hr Horseback Ride
    $43

Tours and Activities in Negril

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

  • 7Mile Beach/Ricks Cafe Tour with Free Shopping from Montego Bay: $115
  • ATV's, Shopping, Seven Mile Beach,Catamaran Cruise to Ricks Cafe: $130
  • Appleton Estate Rum Tour [Transportation services]: $125
  • Appleton Estate Rum and Black River Safari Private Tour: $185
  • Appleton and Y.S Falls Tour from Negril Hotels: $261
  • Bamboo Rafting and Rick Cafe Negril Private Tour: $161
  • Bambuza ATV, Zipline and Horseback Adventure from Negril: $190
  • Blue Hole Mineral Springs, Rick's Café, and Shopping Combo Tour: $75
  • Boat tour: $123
  • Bob Marley 9 miles with French tour guide: $260
  • Bob Marley Museum Tour From Negril Hotel: $215
  • Bob Marley's Nine Mile Day-Trip w/Admission & Guided Tour from Grand Palladium: $145

Tours and Activities in Galapagos Islands

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

  • Bay Tour in Santa Cruz - Galapagos Islands: $57
  • Beach Wildlife and Snorkel Adventure with Underwater Specialist: $179
  • BiciTour Giant Turtles and Lava Tunnel in Galapagos: $90
  • Day Tour to Floreana Island with Highland Tour and Snorkeling: $259
  • Day Tour to Floreana Island with Snorkeling and Fishing: $259
  • Day Tour to Isabela Island with Tintorera Islet, Snorkeling Wetlands & Flamingos: $285
  • Day Tour to Santa Fe Island and Hidden Beach with snorkeling and fishing: $229
  • Day tour to Pinzón Island and La Fé/Palmitas Bay with snorkeling and fishing: $249
  • Day tour to San Cristobal Island with private Land Tour and snorkeling: $285
  • Full Day Floreana Tour: $220
  • Full Day Santa Fe Playa escondida snorkeling tour: $230
  • Full Day Tour Pinzon Island + La Fe/Las Palmas - Snorkeling & Fishing: $188

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Negril $9.85
    Galapagos Islands $2,906

Sample the Local Flavors in Negril

Also in Negril, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Negril One Love Bus Bar Crawl: $26


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

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