Which place is cheaper, Rosario 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 Rosario 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 Rosario 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 Rosario 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.
Rosario Islands
The Rosario Islands, also referred to as Coral Islands of Rosario, is an archipelago located off the coast of Colombia, approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) from Cartagena. The Rosario Islands are integrated by 28 islands and all of them form one of the 46 Natural National Parks of Colombia, created to protect one of the most important coral reefs in the Colombian Caribbean Coast. Only three of these islands are property of the Colombian state. Before establishing the national park in 1977, wealthy families used this natural paradise to build their summer houses, but then the government allowed them to keep their properties, only if they paid annual rent and taxes to be there, and complied with certain rules to preserve the ecosystem of the islands. People can visit the national park area of the islands, and tours are available. Isla Rosario has an aquarium and open-sea oceanarium that people can visit. Activities on the Rosario Islands include swimming, snorkeling and fishing, among others. The best time to visit Colombia in general, and especially the Rosario Islands is the dry-season months from December to March. These uninterrupted sunny days are just perfect for a Caribbean coastal experience and to enjoy all the activities it has to offer.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Colombia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia.
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Ocho Rios Prices
Jamaica PricesRosario Islands Prices
Colombia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayOcho Rios $85Rosario Islands $108
The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $85, while the average daily cost in Rosario Islands is $108. 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 Rosario Islands in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personOcho Rios $51Rosario Islands $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomOcho Rios $102Rosario Islands $66
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Rosario Islands
Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or Rosario 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 and Rosario Islands Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ocho Rios $7.32Rosario Islands $46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios
Also for Ocho Rios, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ocho Rios Private Airport Transfer [VIP LUXURY Vehicles]: $158
- Private Airport Transfer to Bahia Principe Grand Hotel : $100
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Ocho Rios: $90
- ATV Tour Ocho Rios - Private Transfer Only (Activity Fee Excluded): $27
- Airport Transfer - From MBJ to Ocho Rios Hotels: $80
- Airport Transfer To Kingston, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay & Negril: $140
- Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica Private Airport transfer : $61
- Bahia Principe Grand and Luxury Airport Transfer: $80
- Bob Marley & Nine Mile Heritage Tour with Bus Transfer/Ocho Rios: $117
- Dunn's River Falls And Shopping Tour From Ocho Rios-Transfer Only: $67
- Grand Bahia Jamaica Airport Transfers Montego Bay MBJ (Private Rountrip): $300
- Grand Bahia Principe Hotel Airport Transfer: $53
Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Rosario Islands?
Prices for flights to both Rosario 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 $28Rosario Islands $48
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:
- Flavors of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $128
- Taste of Jamaica Food Tour from Ocho Rios: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ocho Rios $15Rosario Islands $14
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$5.27
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Tour of Prospect Plantation$17
Tours and Activities in Ocho Rios
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Ocho Rios.
- Ocho Rios Shopping Tour : $21
- Original Blue Hole St. Ann Ocho Rios Jamaica Admission Fee Ticket: $25
- Private Dunn's River Falls, Ocho Rios Sightseeing and shopping : $30
- Luminous Lagoon Boat Tour from Ocho Rios: $40
- Ocho Rios City Bus Tour (Beach, Sightseeing & Shopping): $40
- Blue Hole and Dunn's River Tour (Entrance Fees Not Included): $40
- Skip-The-Line: Dunn's River Falls Adventure Tour from Ocho Rios: $40
- Transportation to Horse Back Ride & Swim Adventure from Ocho Rios: $45
- Luminous lagoon Private & Group tour from Runaway Bay: $45
- Ocho Rios City Tour and Sightseeing: $49
- Shopping and Sightseeing Tour in Ocho Rios: $50
- Dunn's River Falls and Ocho Rios Sightseeing with Shopping: $50
Tours and Activities in Rosario Islands
Here are a few actual costs in Rosario Islands for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- One-day tour to Playa Blanca by land Popular sector: $50
- Tour to Chichen Itza Cenote and Valladolid Plus: $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayOcho Rios $7.43Rosario Islands $5.98
Sample the Local Flavors in Ocho Rios
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ocho Rios:
- Bar Hopping, Pub Crawl, Shopping and Sightseeing Tour Ocho Rios: $113
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocho Rios and Rosario Islands, we can see that Rosario 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 Rosario 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 Rosario Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rosario 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 Rosario 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.