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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $139, while the average daily cost in Galapagos Islands is $138. 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 $106
    Galapagos Islands $65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Negril $212
    Galapagos Islands $130
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 $8.71
    Galapagos Islands $54
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:

  • Royalton Negril Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $280
  • Montego Bay: Private Transfer from Airport to Negril: $250
  • Fun Holiday Beach Resort Montego Bay Airport Transfer: $205
  • Private Airport transfer to/from all hotels in Negril round trip: $170
  • Montego Bay Airport Transfers to Negril Hotels: $134
  • Club Kingston VIP Lounge & Fast Track with Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $112
  • Transfers between Montego Bay Airport and Negril Hotels: $107
  • Private Airport Transfer To Negril Hotels : $107
  • From Montego Bay Airport (MBJ): Private Transfer to Negril: $105
  • Airport Round Trip Transfer from Montego Bay to Grand Palladium: $105
  • Airport Round-Trip Transfers To Negril From Sangster’s International Airport : $90
  • Private Roundtrip Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort in Jamaica: $80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galapagos Islands

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

  • Private Transfer from Hotels in Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport: $159
  • Private Transfer from Baltra Airport to Hotels in Santa Cruz Island: $159
  • Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $64
  • Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to Isabela Island: $55
  • Transfer from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island: $48

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 $23
    Galapagos Islands $33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril

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

  • Club2727 Nightlife Experience with Optional Dinner in Montego Bay: $60
  • The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $85
  • Zimbali Mountain Cooking Studio: $105
  • Local food tour and local fields : $164

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Negril $27
    Galapagos Islands $35
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.

  • YS Falls and Sightseeing Tour Day Adventure: $138
  • Appleton Estate Rum Tour: $275
  • Appleton Estate Rum Tour [Transportation services]: $125
  • Appleton Estate Rum Tour and Tasting from Negril: $232
  • Appleton Estate Rum and Black River Safari Private Tour : $185
  • Appleton Rum Factory and Black River Safari Tour: $280
  • Appleton Rum Factory, YS Falls, and Reggae Horseback Ride & Swim Combo Tour: $195
  • Appleton and Y.S Falls Tour from Negril Hotels: $261
  • Atv Adventure and Ricks Cafe with Private Transportation: $367
  • Atv Adventure and Ziplines with Private Transportation: $414
  • Atv, Seven Mile Beach and Rick’s Cafe Tour & Transportation: $334
  • Atv, Seven Mile Beach and Ricks Cafe Private Tour: $294

Tours and Activities in Galapagos Islands

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

  • Isla Pinzón - Day Tour - From Santa Cruz - Islas Galápagos: $250
  •  Tour of the city to Isabela + Tintoreras from Santa Cruz: $256
  • Bay Tour in Santa Cruz - Galapagos Islands: $60
  • Beach Wildlife and Snorkel Adventure with Underwater Specialist : $129
  • Cabo Rosa (Tuneles) Hiking & Snorkeling Tour from Isabela: $199
  • Daily diving tour in Gordon Rocks: $280
  • Day Tour to Floreana Island with Snorkeling and Fishing: $249
  • Day Tour to Isabela Island with Tintorera Islet, Snorkeling Wetlands & Flamingos: $249
  • Day Tour to Santa Fe Island and Hidden Beach with snorkeling and fishing: $219
  • Day tour to Pinzón Island and La Fé/Palmitas Bay with snorkeling and fishing: $239
  • Day tour to San Cristobal Island with private Land Tour and snorkeling: $249
  • FERRY TICKET From: Isabela / To: Santa Cruz (AM): $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Negril $10
    Galapagos Islands $15


When comparing the travel costs between Negril and Galapagos Islands, we can see that Negril is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Galapagos Islands is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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?.