Should you visit Quito or Banos?
Should I visit Quito or Banos? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Quito
Nestled between two mountain ranges lies the world's highest capital city, Quito, Ecuador. For history lovers, Quito is a very desirable destination as it's home to the Quito Historic Center � one of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas.
Even though Quito is full of people � in fact, it's the second most populous city in the country � very few of its inhabitants speak English. Luckily, however, the citizens of Quito tend to speak a slower and more clear Spanish than surrounding areas. This is the perfect place to practice what you read in your Intro to Spanish book.
Before visiting Quito, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, give yourself a few days to grow accustomed to the elevation. Staying 9,350 feet above sea level takes some getting used to. Second, don't be fooled into thinking that just because you're visiting a town on the equator that you'll need all your summer clothes. Because of the city's elevation, the area keeps a relatively cool climate year round.
Banos
Banos (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean highlands of Ecuador under volcano Tungurahua. Its name, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. It's equally popular with foreigners as with Ecuadorians, and is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. Although it is very touristy, lots of people love it, more for the activities and surroundings than for the city itself. It is an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours.
Which city is cheaper, Banos or Quito?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Quito is $41, while the average daily cost in Banos is $37. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Quito and Banos in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $18. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Quito the cost is $36 on average.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $24 for a double occupancy room in Banos.
Food
In Quito travelers spend around $16 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Food in Banos costs travelers about $12 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Quito $16
Banos $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quito
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Quito.
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Quito Like a Local Cooking Class:
$75
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Ecuadorian Cooking Classes Rooftop (English):
$78
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Quito Best Markets and Local Food Tour:
$81
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Quito Top Ecuadorian Food Tour and Canelazo at “La Ronda”:
$87
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Quito Cooking Class:
$89
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Jacchigua Show Including Dinner + Transfer:
$90
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Ecuadorian Cooking Class in Quito + Local Market Tour & Exotic Fruit Tasting:
$102
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Quito Culinary Tour and Cooking Class:
$105
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Gourmet Cooking Class in Historic Quito + Market Tour with Chef Pancho:
$120
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Cooking Class at the Andes & Roses (PRIVATE DAY TOUR):
$149
Typical Food prices in Banos
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Banos:
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Dinner
$13
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Ice cream
$1.50
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Coffee
$2.50
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Quito is $5.59 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
The average price of local transportation around Banos is $8.27 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Quito
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Quito:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Quito
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Quito:
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2-Night Quito Experience: Transfer, Tour and Mariscal Accommodation:
$140
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7-Day Tour of Galapagos and Quito Including Hotel and Transfers:
$1,240
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8-Day Tour of Galapagos and Quito Including Hotels and Transfers:
$1,318
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Airport Transfer Service in Quito City:
$27
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Arrival Private Transfer: Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito City in 4x4 vehicle:
$42
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Arrival Private Transfer: Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito City in a Minibus:
$25
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Arrival Private Transfer: Quito Airport (UIO) to Quito City in a Minivan:
$70
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Departure Private Transfer: Quito City to Quito Airport (UIO) in 4x4 vehicle:
$42
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Departure Private Transfer: Quito City to Quito Airport (UIO) in a Minibus:
$25
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Departure Private Transfer: Quito City to Quito Airport (UIO) in a Minivan:
$70
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English & Spanish Speaking Transfer Service In & Out All Ecuador:
$48
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Express Transfer: Mariscal Sucre Airport to Quito:
$44
Is it cheaper to fly into Quito or Banos?
Prices for flights to both Banos and Quito 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.
Entertainment
Quito's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $13 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Banos's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $15 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Typical Entertainment prices in Quito
Here are a few typical costs in Quito for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Quito
Here are a few actual costs in Quito for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Skip the Line: La Compañia Church Admission Ticket:
$5.50
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Skip the Line: Capilla del Hombre and Guayasamin's Museum Ticket:
$10
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Tour Guide and Driver:
$10
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Quito City Tour Hop-On Hop-Off:
$12
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Quito 3-Hour City Tour at Night:
$15
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Quito at Night & Urban Legends Tour - "Small Group":
$15
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The Original Quito City Tour in Trolley with Hotel Pick-up - "Small Group":
$15
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Quito Hop-on Hop-off City Bus Tour:
$15
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1914 Original Trolley City Tour of Quito:
$15
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Equatorial Monument: 3-Hour Tour from Quito:
$19
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Middle of the World Tour With Tickets - "Small Group":
$19
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Original Quito City Tour in Trolley:
$20
Typical Entertainment prices in Banos
Here are a few typical costs in Banos for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Banos
Here are a few actual costs in Banos for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Baños's Top Attractions Pass (Save 10% on tickets):
$65
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Fishing Tour & Local Life in Baños:
$90
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Chimborazo Volcano from Baños private day Tour:
$102
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Adventure in Baños 3 Days 2 Nights:
$335
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Quito may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $14 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Banos may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.79 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Quito
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Quito from other travelers:
Typical Alcohol prices in Banos
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Banos from other travelers:
When comparing the travel costs between Quito and Banos, we can see that Quito is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in South America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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