Which place is cheaper, Paracas or Quepos?
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 Quepos or Paracas?
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 Quepos and Paracas can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Quepos or Paracas?
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Quepos Prices
Costa Rica PricesParacas Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQuepos $139Paracas $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Quepos is $139, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $84. 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 Quepos and Paracas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQuepos $76Paracas $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQuepos $152Paracas $48
Compare Hotels in Quepos and Paracas
Looking for a hotel in Quepos or Paracas? 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: Quepos Hotel Prices and Paracas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Quepos $9.55Paracas $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $220
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $203
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $99
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $229
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
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Quepos or Paracas?
Prices for flights to both Paracas and Quepos 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 dayQuepos $51Paracas $42
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Quepos $17Paracas $26
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $25
- Quepos Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $26
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $27
- Manuel Antonio Park: Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $27
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $28
- Manuel Antonio National Park Guided Tour: $29
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided tour : $29
- Guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park: $29
- Manuel Antonio Park Tour and its Amazing Wildlife and Beaches: $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park guided Tour: $30
- Manuel Antonio with Mauro / Tickets not Included! : $30
- Manuel Antonio National Park: Guided Tour with Beach Time: $30
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQuepos $15Paracas $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Quepos and Paracas, we can see that Quepos is more expensive. And not only is Paracas much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Quepos is in Central America and Paracas 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 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Quepos Expensive? and Is Paracas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Quepos or Paracas?
Quepos has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Quepos and Paracas, 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.