Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas or Paracas?
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 Paracas or Saint Thomas?
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 Thomas can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Paracas or Saint Thomas?
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 Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Paracas Prices
Peru PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayParacas $84Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Paracas is $84, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParacas $24Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParacas $48Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Paracas and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Paracas or Saint Thomas? 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 $20Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $220
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $220
- Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
- Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cyril E. King Airport STT to Charlotte Amalie RoundTrip Transfer: $204
- Exclusive Airport Transfers (up to 4 persons) One-Way: $135
- PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St. Thomas- Airport Transfer to Ritz Carlton Elysian : $170
- PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $160
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay / Limetree: $110
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St Thomas- Airport Transfer Sapphire / Crystal Cove : $160
- Prince Taxi & Tours St.Thomas Airport transfer to Redhook Ferry: $200
- Prince Taxi ST.Thomas Airport transfer to Yacht Haven/Bluebeards: $175
- Prince Taxi USVI ST.Thomas Airport transfer to Westin : $180
- Prince Taxi USVI-ST.Thomas Airport Transfer to Ritz Carlton : $180
- Private Airport Transfer in Luxury Vehicle- St. Thomas, USVI: $179
Is it cheaper to fly into Paracas or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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 $42Saint Thomas $94
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Flavors: Cultural Cooking Class, St Thomas, USVI, USA : $81
- St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $119
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
- Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
- Pizza Pi Shuttle (Official) - Jet Ski Trip St Thomas: $148
- St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $149
- Christmas Cove and Pizza Pi Happy Hour Sail Tour: $185
- Turtles, Pizza Pi & Sunset trip: $295
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paracas $26Saint Thomas $60
Tours and Activities in Paracas
Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Ballestas Islands Tour by modern boat: $20
- 2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín: $49
- 3-Day Classic Paracas Tour Package: $245
- 4-Hour Guided Tour Paracas National Reserve: $20
- 7-Hours Tour in Paracas National Reserve with Pickup: $38
- ATV Tour Adventure in Reserva Nacional de Paracas: $35
- Adventure in the Paracas National Reserve in private: $30
- BALLESTAS ISLANDS TOUR: $16
- Ballestas & Paracas Reserve from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $100
- Ballestas & Tambo Colorado from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $110
- Ballestas Islands & Tambo Colorado from PISCO CRUISESHIP TERMINAL: $110
- Ballestas Islands Boat Tour for Pisco Cruise Travelers: $32
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- Nature and Sightseeing Tour at Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden: $16
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
- Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
- Cruise Ship Shuttle to Ferry going to St. John: $34
- Rum Tasting Experience in the Old Barrel House: $35
- Admission Ticket to Coral World & Coki Point Beach with Snorkeling: $40
- St. Thomas Sightseeing Tour with a Guide: $40
- Guided Tour of Coral World Ocean Park & Happy Hour: $40
- St. Thomas Ghost Tour of Historic Charlotte Amalie : $41
- Prince taxi & Tours St.Thomas Virgin Islands-Island Scenic Tour: $45
- Guided Kayak Tour from Margaritaville: $48
- Guided Kayak Tour from Elysian: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParacas $12Saint Thomas $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paracas and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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 Thomas 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 Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas 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 Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Paracas or Saint Thomas?
Saint Thomas has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Paracas and Saint Thomas, 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.
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.