A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ocho Rios vs. Salento for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ocho Rios or Salento?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Ocho Rios or Salento, 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 Salento?

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.

Salento

Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia.


Which place is cheaper, Salento or Ocho Rios?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Ocho Rios is $77, while the average daily cost in Salento is $33. 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 Salento in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ocho Rios $52
    Salento $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ocho Rios $104
    Salento $22
Compare Hotels in Ocho Rios and Salento

Looking for a hotel in Ocho Rios or Salento? 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 Ocho Rios


Hotels in Salento


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 Salento Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ocho Rios $7.60
    Salento $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ocho Rios

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

  • Ocho Rios or Runaway Bay 2-Hour Shopping Transfer: $15
  • Private Transfer from Ian Fleming Airport to Ocho Rios: $20
  • Private Transfer to Mystic Mountain from Ocho Rios: $20
  • Shuttle Transfer From Montego Bay Airport - Runaway Bay: $24
  • AirBnB Roundtrip Shuttle / One Way MBJ Airport Transfers: $25
  • Private Transfer to Konoko Falls Botanical Gardens: $27
  • Relaxing Montego Bay To Ducanon and Juwel Runaway Bay Transfer: $27
  • Airport Transfer Roundtrip Jamaica MBJ: $29
  • Private Airport transfer from Montego Bay To Ocho Rios .: $30
  • Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Ocho Rios and Runnaway Bay Hotels(Private) : $32
  • Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer To Ocho Rios : $33
  • Private Round Trip Transfer to Dunns River Climb and Zipline over the Falls! : $34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:

  • Pereira Airport Private Transfer Service: $55

Is it cheaper to fly into Ocho Rios or Salento?

Prices for flights to both Salento 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Ocho Rios $17
    Salento $9.56

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:

  • From Flavors of Jamaica Guided Food Tour: $89
  • Taste of Jamaica Farm & Food Tour: $98
  • Ocho Ros: Hillside Cooking Class, Jamaican Style: $130
  • Taste of Jamaica Food Tour: $140
  • The Jamaica School of Cooking and Ocho Rios Highlights Tour: $141
  • Ocho Rios Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Dinner: $218

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salento.

  • Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ocho Rios $15
    Salento $12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ocho Rios

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


  • Tour of Brimmer Hall Estate
    $11
  • Admission to Coyaba Gardens
    $5.47
  • 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.

  • Blue Hole Admission Fee Ticket: $25
  • Private Blue Hole and Shopping Tour from Ocho Rios: $30
  • Private Guided Tour To Yaaman Adventures Safari jungle park: $40
  • Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios with Pickup: $40
  • Ocho Rios Sightseeing and Taxi from Runaway Bay & Ocho Rios: $40
  • Half-Day Blue Hole and Secret Falls Tour from Runaway Bay: $46
  • Blue Hole Tour from Ocho Rios: $49
  • Dunn's River Falls and Blue Hole Private Tour from Ocho Rios: $50
  • Private Tour From Ocho Rios To Blue Hole Secret Falls and Shopping: $50
  • Private Tour From Ocho Rios To Konoko Falls And Garden and Shopping: $50
  • Blue hole waterfalls tour from Ocho Rios : $51
  • Irie Blue Hole Tour from Ocho Rios: $55

Tours and Activities in Salento

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

  • Book a Private Tourist Guide through the Coffee Region: $140
  • Cocoa and Coffee Farm Tours from Pereira or Armenia: $187
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Horseback Riding Day Tour: $137
  • Cocora Valley, Salento and Coffee Farm Day Tour : $124
  • Cocora, Salento and Filandia Tour: $100
  • Coffe Experience: Daily departure from Salento: $90
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
  • Coffee Tour and Salento Walking Tour with lunch: $95
  • Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $28
  • Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $62
  • Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $105

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ocho Rios $7.71
    Salento $12


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

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 Salento Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ocho Rios or Salento?

Ocho Rios has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Ocho Rios and Salento, 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.