Which place is cheaper, Galapagos Islands or Ocho Rios?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Ocho Rios or Galapagos Islands?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Galapagos Islands, 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: Ocho Rios or Galapagos Islands?
Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios, or "Ochi" is a town located on the northeastern shore of Jamaica and is a popular hub for cruise ships. It is a great destination for tourists as it has many resorts and beautiful beaches.
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.
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Ocho Rios Prices
Jamaica PricesGalapagos Islands Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $86Galapagos Islands $160
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $86, while the average daily cost in Galapagos Islands is $160. 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 Ocho Rios and Galapagos Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $51Galapagos Islands $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $102Galapagos Islands $130
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Galapagos Islands
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios 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.
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: Ocho Rios Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.41Galapagos Islands $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Luxury Transfer to Sandals Dunn’s River from MBJ Airport: $300
- Kingston Airport (KIN) to Runaway Bay Round-Trip Private Transfer: $244
- Roundtrip Airport Transfer from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay Hotels: $240
- Bob Marley & Nine Mile Heritage Tour with Bus Transfer/Ocho Rios: $225
- Jewels Resorts Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Roundtrip): $200
- Kingston Airport Transfer to Runaway Bay Hotels: $200
- Luxury Ocho Rios Transfer: $180
- Private Airport Transfers Montego Bay (MBJ) Airport to Ocho Rios: $180
- Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer To and from ochi rios: $170
- Private Transfer from Jamaica (MBJ) Airport to Ocho Ríos: $166
- Dunn’s River Falls: River Tubing with Lunch and Transfers: $166
- Runaway Bay Hotels Private Round Trip Transfers from MBJ: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Galapagos Islands
Also for Galapagos Islands, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer in + Visit to the giant turtle nature reserve: $205
- Baltra Airport Transfer & Private Santa Cruz Highlands Tour: $175
- Private Transfer from Baltra Airport to Hotels in Santa Cruz Island: $140
- Private Transfer from Hotels in Santa Cruz to Baltra Airport: $140
- Maritime transfer between the Galapagos Islands: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Galapagos Islands?
Prices for flights to both Galapagos Islands and Ocho Rios 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 dayOcho Rios $28Galapagos Islands $55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Exclusive Sunset Dinner At Reggae Hill: $99
- Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Runaway Bay: $138
- Taste of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15Galapagos Islands $35
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios
For Ocho Rios, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate$11
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Admission to Coyaba Gardens$5.34
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$18
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- 2.5-Hours Nine Miles & Bob Marley's Mausoleum Private Tour: $155
- ATV Adventure Ocho Rios: $150
- ATV Adventure Ride in Ocho Rios Jamaica with Jerk Chicken Lunch: $175
- ATV Adventure and Shopping from Falmouth (Minimum 4 persons): $165
- ATV and Blue Hole Adventure: $190
- ATV, Bamboo Rafting & Horseback Ride Tour From Montego Bay: $411
- ATV, Horseback Riding and Bluehole Adventure Tour: $210
- Appleton Rum Tour and YS Falls: $280
- Aqua Fun Tours Dunns Falls, River Tubing and Horse Back: $170
- Bali Style High Ropes Swing and Dunn's River Fall Adventure: $230
- Bamboo Rafting & Horseback Ride n Swim Guided Tour In Ocho Rios: $95
- Bamboo Rafting & River Tubing Tour Ocho Rios(Entry Fee Included): $195
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: $60
- Beach Wildlife and Snorkel Adventure with Underwater Specialist: $179
- BiciTour Giant Turtles and Lava Tunnel in Galapagos: $90
- Daily diving tour in Gordon Rocks: $280
- Day Land Tour to North Seymour Island in Galapagos: $299
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.52Galapagos Islands $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Galapagos Islands, we can see that Galapagos Islands is more expensive. And not only is Ocho Rios much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocho Rios 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 Ocho Rios.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocho Rios Expensive? and Is Galapagos Islands 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.