Which place is cheaper, Zagora or Portimao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Portimao or Zagora?
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 Portimao and Zagora. 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: Portimao or Zagora?
Portimao
The second biggest city in the Alrgarve region of Portugal, Portimao sits on the coast where the Arade River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is renowned for its fresh fish restaurants and is also a popular destination for beachgoers at the Praia da Rocha to the south of the city.
Zagora
A small town in southern Morocco, Zagora is a popular base camp for excursions on foot, by camel, or four wheel drive vehicles into the surrounding desert. One of the most famous and historic treks is the ancient caravan route to Timbuktu, marked by a famous sign at the end of town - indicating a journey of "52 days" by camel.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Portugal, The Best Bicycle Tours in Portugal, The Best Adventure Tours to Morocco, and The Best Cultural Tours in Morocco.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPortimao €152Zagora €47
The average daily cost (per person) in Portimao is €152, while the average daily cost in Zagora is €47. 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 Portimao and Zagora in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPortimao €78Zagora €33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPortimao €156Zagora €66
Compare Hotels in Portimao and Zagora
Looking for a hotel in Portimao or Zagora? 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: Portimao Hotel Prices and Zagora Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Portimao €37Zagora €1.33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Portimao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Portimao:
- Transfer Lagoa - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $34
- Transfer Armação de Pêra - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $34
- Transfer Ferragudo - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $34
- Transfer Lagoa - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $41
- Transfer Ferragudo - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $41
- Transfer Carvoeiro - Alamos Golf (Portimão): $47
- Transfer Alvor - Boavista Golf (Lagos): $49
- Transfer Ferragudo - Boavista Golf (Lagos): $49
- Private Transfer from Armaçao de Pera to Faro (FAO) Airport: $55
- Transfer Alvor - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $58
- Transfer Portimão - Balaia Golf (Albufeira): $59
- Transfer Lagoa - Boavista Golf (Lagos): $60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zagora
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zagora:
- Airport Private Transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Portimao or Zagora?
Prices for flights to both Zagora and Portimao 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 dayPortimao €45Zagora €12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Portimao
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Portimao.
- Algarve wine tour and mountain top trip with lunch or dinner at sunset time: $147
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Portimao €41Zagora €2.67
Tours and Activities in Portimao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Portimao are as follows:
- Stand Up Paddleboard tour in Benagil: $14
- From Portimão to Paradise 60 minutes Sunrise Tour: $15
- SUP - Stand Up Paddle Algarve Adventure: $16
- From Portimão to Paradise 90 minutes Sunrise Tour: $22
- From Portimão to Paradise 90 minutes Sunset Tour: $22
- Kayak Tour around Benagil to see Sunset or Sunrise: $22
- Express Tour - Benagil Cave: $22
- From Portimão Early Birds Benagil Tour By Traditional Boat: $24
- Portimão: Benagil Caves Speedboat Tour: $24
- Portimão to Benagil: Adrenaline Wave - 90Mins Cave Tour: $25
- 2 Hours Cruise Portimão to Benagil Cave & Marinha Beach: $27
- Benagil Cave Kayak Self-Guided Tour: $27
Tours and Activities in Zagora
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zagora are as follows:
- 2 Days Tour to Zagora Desert with sunset from Marrakech: $82
- Marrakech: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour Zagora & BenHaddou: $111
- 2 days tour from Zagora to Erg Chegaga: $136
- Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 (All-inclusive) 2-Days: $164
- Zagora to Erg chigaga desert tour & 4x4 (All-inclusive) 2-Days: $164
- Private Day Camel Trekking Tour in Draa Valley from Zagora: $214
- From 2-Day Desert Tour to Erg Chegaga: $288
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $353
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $356
- From Agadir or Taghazout: 2-Day Sahara Desert Tour to Zagora: $376
- From Agadir 4 Days 3 night Désert Tours to Marrakech: $1,326
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPortimao €30Zagora -
Sample the Local Flavors in Portimao
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Portimao:
- Algarve Wine Tasting & Music Experience: $60
- Algarve Wine Tour of Two Wine Estates: $74
- Algarve wine tour of 2 wine estates and lunch at the countryside: $154
- Alentejo Wine Tour from the Algarve: $210
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Portimao and Zagora, we can see that Portimao is more expensive. And not only is Zagora much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Portimao is in Europe and Zagora is in Africa, 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 Zagora would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zagora 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 Portimao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Portimao than you might in Zagora.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Portimao Expensive? and Is Zagora Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Portimao or Zagora?
Portimao has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Zagora. When comparing the sizes of Portimao and Zagora, 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.