Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Paracas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Paracas or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Paracas and Saint John can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Paracas or Saint John?
Paracas
Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayParacas $63Saint John $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Paracas is $63, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $192. 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 Paracas and Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParacas $22Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParacas $44Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Paracas and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Paracas or Saint John? 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: Paracas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paracas $19Saint John $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
- Direct Private Transfer From Paracas to Lima, English Speaking Driver: $163
- Lima: Private taxi transfer from Lima airport to Paracas: $129
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan Airport, Hotel, Airbnb to Bayamon: $60
- Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Private Transfer From Paracas To Lima With 2 Stops: $175
- Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $78
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $78
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $87
- Private Transfer from Pisko Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Paracas or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John and Paracas 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 dayParacas $23Saint John $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paracas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paracas.
- From Lima:Paracas,Ica and cooking class Ceviche semi-private: $139
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paracas $25Saint John $23
Tours and Activities in Paracas
Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Ballestas Islands Guided Boat Tour: $20
- 4-Hour Guided Tour Paracas National Reserve: $20
- Ballestas Islands Morning Boat Tour: $20
- Boat Tour of the Ballestas Islands in Paracas: $20
- Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride from Paracas: $24
- Ballestas Islands Tour: $24
- Islas Ballestas Boat Tour - The Galapagos of Peru: $25
- Ballestas Islands Tour - Paracas: $25
- From Scenic Boat Tour to Ballestas Island: $25
- Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas : $26
- From Ballestas Islands Guided Tour: $26
- Ica: Ballestas Island Adventure | Watch Sea Lions: $30
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- USVI: Island & Beach Tours in St. Thomas & St. John (2 Days): $199
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParacas $11Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paracas and Saint John, we can see that Saint John is more expensive. And not only is Paracas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Paracas is in South America and Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Paracas would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paracas 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John than you might in Paracas.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Paracas Expensive? and Is Saint John 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.