A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) vs. Banos for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Banos?

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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Banos. 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: Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Banos?

Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)

An island of the Caribbean Netherlands, St. Eustatius, sometimes called Statia, is a small, relatively unknown destination to the greater tourist areas of the Caribbean. As a result, however, it is its own treasure consisting of a dormant volcano known as the Quill and featuring a lush rainforest, narrow volcanic beaches, many dive sites, and a quaint harbor town.

Banos

Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.


Which place is cheaper, Banos or Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) is $188, while the average daily cost in Banos is $46. 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Banos in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $92
    Banos $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $184
    Banos $32
Compare Hotels in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Banos

Looking for a hotel in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Banos? 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 Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)


Hotels in Banos


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: Banos Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $70
    Banos $10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius):

  • International Airport/Private Jet Terminal Transfers: $67
  • St. Kitts Hotel Transfers: $80
  • Beach Transfer Frigate Bay Beach: $26
  • Catamaran Party Cruise to Nevis from St Kitts with Transfer from Frigate Bay: $150
  • Private Airport Transfer to Belmont Estate Farm, Kititian Hill: $70
  • Private Transfer from St. Kitts Airport to Park Hyatt: $55
  • ST Kitts private Luxury Air Port Transfer: $300
  • Shared or Private St Kitts Airport Roundtrip Transfer : $32
  • St. Christophe Harbour Transfers: $67
  • St. Kitts & Nevis Airport Hotel & Boat Shared/Private Transfers: $45

Is it cheaper to fly into Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Banos?

Prices for flights to both Banos and Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) 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
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $51
    Banos $15

Typical Food Prices in Banos

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:


  • Dinner
    $13
  • Ice cream
    $1.50
  • Coffee
    $2.50

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $37
    Banos $19

Tours and Activities in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius)

Here are a few actual costs in Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Panoramic Shore Tour And Beach: $27
  • St. Kitts Beach Adventure: $30
  • Historical Basseterre and Beach Experience : $40
  • Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of St Kitts: $40
  • Half-Island Tour of St Kitts: $46
  • Capital City Tour and Beach Splash: $49
  • Life In Paradise {Full Panoramic Tour}: $60
  • Full Island Private Tour: $60
  • Basseterre Plantation Private Half Day Tour: $60
  • Rainforest Tours in St. Kitts: $62
  • The Downtown Basseterre Local Cultural Food & Walking Tour: $65
  • The Grand Tour of St. Kitts: $65

Typical Entertainment Prices in Banos

Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Two Rented Bikes for the Day
    $10
  • Cost to see Waterfall
    $2.00
  • Day at the Spa
    $45
  • 2 Bike Rentals (1 Day)
    $10
  • Entrance to Waterfall
    $2.00

Tours and Activities in Banos

Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Adventure Circuit 4 activities in 1. All within an impressive cascade: $25
  • Canopy Ziplining in Puntzan Adventure Park: $26
  • 2 Hours Small-Group Horseback Riding Experience in Banos: $30
  • Canyoning Adventure Tour in the Ravine: $30
  • Private 3-Hour Canyoning Experience in Chamana: $30
  • Private Canyoning Experience in Baños de Agua Santa Ecuador: $30
  • Full Day Jungle Tour: $32
  • Puyo Jungle Tour in 1 Day: $35
  • Full Day Guided Tour in the Ecuadorian Amazon: $35
  • Pailón del Diablo | Waterfall Route | Tour for 3 hours: $35
  • Adventure and Fun River Rafting in Baños Ecuador: $35
  • One day tour in the jungle. all inclusive.: $39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) $26
    Banos $9.74

Typical Alcohol Prices in Banos

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $4.00


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) Expensive? and Is Banos Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) or Banos?

Banos has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius). When comparing the sizes of Oranjestad (Sint Eustatius) and Banos, 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.