Which place is cheaper, Isla de Ometepe or Punta Cana?
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 Punta Cana or Isla de Ometepe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Punta Cana or Isla de Ometepe? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Punta Cana or Isla de Ometepe?
Punta Cana
Punta Cana, located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is renowned for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant culture. This Caribbean paradise offers a diverse range of experiences that cater to all types of travelers, whether you're on a tight budget, seeking thrilling activities, exploring local cuisine, or figuring out the best ways to get around.
Isla de Ometepe
Ometepe is a dramatically beautiful island in Lake Nicaragua in the country of Nicaragua. The island is the largest in the lake and is formed by two dramatic twin volcanoes that climb high from the water's surface. The two volcanoes are Concepcion and Maderas, and they are joined by an isthmus to make one island with an area of 276 square kilometers. The island is 31 kilometers long and between 5 and 10 kilometers wide. There are several small settlements on the island as well as a few coffee plantations. It is also one of the top sights in the country and makes for a unique travel destination.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best Adventure Tours to Dominican Republic, The Best 2-Week Tours in Nicaragua, and The Best Adventure Tours to Nicaragua.
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Punta Cana Prices
Dominican Republic PricesIsla de Ometepe Prices
Nicaragua Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPunta Cana $170Isla de Ometepe $43
The average daily cost (per person) in Punta Cana is $170, while the average daily cost in Isla de Ometepe is $43. 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 Punta Cana and Isla de Ometepe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPunta Cana $95Isla de Ometepe $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPunta Cana $190Isla de Ometepe $26
Compare Hotels in Punta Cana and Isla de Ometepe
Looking for a hotel in Punta Cana or Isla de Ometepe? 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: Punta Cana Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Punta Cana $6.39Isla de Ometepe $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Punta Cana
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Punta Cana:
- Private Transfers Punta Cana Airport and Cap Cana Hotels: $6.00
- Private Transfers Punta Cana Airport & Hotels in Uvero Alto: $6.00
- One Way Shared Transfer from Punta Cana : $9.34
- Private Transfers from Punta Cana : $13
- Private Punta Cana Airport Ground Transfers: $14
- Transfer From Airport To Destination In Punta Cana: $14
- Private Punta Cana Airport Transfers & Hotels : $14
- Affordable Punta Cana Airport Transfers, Taxis and Shuttles: $15
- Private Round-Trip Airport Transfer from Punta Cana Airport (PUJ): $15
- Private Transfers From Punta Cana Airport to Punta Cana Hotels: $15
- Private Punta Cana Airport Round Trip Transfer to Punta Cana Hotels: $15
- Round trip Transfer from Punta Cana Airport To hotels in Dominican Republic: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Punta Cana or Isla de Ometepe?
Prices for flights to both Isla de Ometepe and Punta Cana 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 dayPunta Cana $64Isla de Ometepe $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Punta Cana
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Punta Cana.
- Origen Tasting Adventure Dinner or Lunch of 8 Courses Dom Cuisine: $85
- Taste of DR Street Food Tour: $125
- Sunset Buggies Adventure with Dinner from Punta Cana: $130
- Punta Cana Night Tour Polaris Ride Dinner Music and Open Bar: $169
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Punta Cana $30Isla de Ometepe $13
Typical Entertainment Prices in Punta Cana
Here are a few typical costs in Punta Cana for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Dune Buggy Adventure$51
Tours and Activities in Punta Cana
Here are a few actual costs in Punta Cana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Pickup: $4.80
- Shopping Tour in Punta Cana with Round Trip Transportation: $5.00
- Guided Shopping Tour - Rum tasting, chocolate factory, Cigar factory: $5.00
- Tour de Compras: Chocolate, Café y Artesanías en Punta Cana.: $5.00
- Shopping Tour In Don Lucas Cigar Factory, Rum tasting, Cocoa factory, Souvenirs : $5.00
- Punta Cana Souvenir Shopping Tour with Free Pickup: $6.00
- Tour of Souvenirs, Shopping in Punta Cana with Transportation Included: $10
- Punta Cana Shopping Tour : $15
- Punta Cana Shopping Tour with Transportation: $15
- ATV Buggy Adventure in Punta Cana with Cultural Experience: $24
- ATV Buggy Adventure to Macao Beach and Blue Water Cave: $25
- ATV & Buggy adventure in Punta Cana + Water Cave + Macao Beach: $25
Tours and Activities in Isla de Ometepe
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Isla de Ometepe are as follows:
- A great tour day for the ISLAND OF OMETEPE.: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPunta Cana $10Isla de Ometepe $8.82
Sample the Local Flavors in Punta Cana
Also in Punta Cana, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl in Punta Cana: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Punta Cana and Isla de Ometepe, we can see that Punta Cana is more expensive. And not only is Isla de Ometepe much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Punta Cana is in Caribbean Islands and Isla de Ometepe is in Central 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 Isla de Ometepe would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Isla de Ometepe 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 Punta Cana would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Punta Cana than you might in Isla de Ometepe.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Punta Cana Expensive? and Is Isla de Ometepe 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.