Which place is cheaper, Boquete or Roatan?
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 Roatan or Boquete?
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 Roatan and Boquete. 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: Roatan or Boquete?
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
Boquete
Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Panama, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Panama City.
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Roatan Prices
Honduras PricesBoquete Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $44Boquete $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $44, while the average daily cost in Boquete is $67. 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 Roatan and Boquete in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $11Boquete $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $22Boquete $46
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Boquete
Looking for a hotel in Roatan or Boquete? 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: Roatan Hotel Prices and Boquete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $18Boquete $5.23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$4.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Transfers to West End by night from hotels in West Bay or Sandy Bay: $25
- Round trip transfers from airport or ferry to hotel: $40
- Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
- Roatan Sun & Fun, Sloths & Monkeys, Beach & Private Transfer: $63
- AJ's Sloth & Monkeys Family Excursion, City Tour & Private Transfer: $64
- West Bay Beach, Chocolate, & Rum Factory & Transfer: $67
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $73
- Roatan Island hotels to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $73
- Honduras Airport(RTB) to Honduras -Arrival Private Transfer: $73
- Let's Go Native Roatan City Cultural Tour, Transfer: $80
- Roatan Private Catamaran Shipwreck, Blue Channel and Starfish with Transfer: $90
- West Bay Aquarium Snorkeling, Chocolate & Rum Factory, City Tour plus Transfer: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Boquete?
Prices for flights to both Boquete and Roatan 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 dayRoatan $16Boquete $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Private Roundtrip Transfer to West End for Dinner and Nightlife : $70
- Catamaran Tiki Boat Sunset Snorkeling Dinner Cruise in Roatan: $127
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $27Boquete $17
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- 1 Stop Snorkel Adventure with Beach Break: $40
- West Side Tour - Chocolate Factory Rum Factory Views Shoppinga and Sunsets: $40
- Roatan Night Snorkel Adventure: $40
- Big Daddy Private Tour Roatan Island in Honduras: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Roatan Jungle Top Wildlife Guided Eco-Park Tour: $45
- Roatan Private Sightseeing City Tour: $45
- Make your day, Your way Roatan city freestyle tour: $49
- Roatan City Tour : $50
- 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
- Roatán Custom Private Island Tour: Rum, Chocolate, & Culture: $50
- Roatan Reef Snorkel Adventure : $50
Tours and Activities in Boquete
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:
- garden experience: $22
- Schumann's BOTANICAL PARK TOUR: $30
- Small, Hands-on Coffee Tour : $40
- Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $45
- Self-Guided Half-Day Boquete Tour E-Bicycle: $46
- Boquete, Panama: Self-Guided E-Bicycle Half-Day Tour: $48
- Guided Market Tour with Sensory Coffee Tasting Boquete: $48
- Boquete E-bike Tour History Culture and Scenic Views: $52
- Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
- 2-Hour Private Mezcal and Geisha Liqueur Tasting Experience: $65
- Private E-Bike Coffee Tour in Boquete: $75
- The Local Flavors of Boquete E-Bike Tour (4 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $6.90Boquete $4.46
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roatan and Boquete, we can see that Boquete is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Boquete would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boquete than you might in Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Roatan Expensive? and Is Boquete Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Roatan or Boquete?
Roatan has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Roatan and Boquete, 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.