Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo?
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 Tamarindo. 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 Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Roatan Prices
Honduras PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $42Tamarindo $159
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $42, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $159. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $10Tamarindo $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $20Tamarindo $110
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Roatan or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $17Tamarindo $76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Ultimate West Bay Beach Day: Pass & Transfers Included: $55
- Roatan Island hotels to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
- Roatan West Bay Beach Break with Roundtrip Transfer: $75
- Let's Go Native Roatan City Cultural Tour, Transfer: $80
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99
- Roatan Private Transfers: Airport, Cruise Port or Hotel: $110
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $114
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $123
- King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $130
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $154
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Snorkeling, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Costa Rica Private Guanacaste Airport (LIR) Departure transfer: $5.00
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Mangroove Hotel: $16
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport to Waldorf Astoria Hotel: $16
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Secrets Papagayo: $16
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Riu Guanacaste: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Hotel Luna Llena: $21
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Swiss Captain: $22
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Mar Rey Tamarindo: $24
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Westin Conchal: $24
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport Hotel Arco Iris Tamarindo: $24
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Luna Llena Hotel Tamarindo: $24
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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 $15Tamarindo $62
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
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $245
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $25Tamarindo $19
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Organized trips and adventures: $26
- Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $37
- Roatan Private and Public Action Snorkel Tours and Charters: $39
- Roatan Island Tours, Sightseeing and Shopping Adventures: $39
- Roatán Ron and Chocolate Custom Tour.: $40
- Half Day Roatan Sightseeing and Jungle Island Tour: $41
- Roatan Zipline & Eco walk/Suspension Bridge Combo Tours: $43
- Customizable Island Tour While on Roatan: $45
- Roatan Jungle Top Wildlife Guided Eco-Park Tour: $45
- Roatán Private costume Tour Chocolate Rum Culture & Local Snacks: $45
- Roatan Private Tour , Culture and Views Experience: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
Tours and Activities in Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- Paintball Experience near Tamarindo: $32
- Tamarind Estero Tour Boat and/or Kayak Tour: $38
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $45
- Boat adventure with wildlife viewing in Tamarindo: $45
- Tamarindo Mangrove Tour: $46
- Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: $47
- Conchal Beach Horseback Riding - 1hr 30min Guided Tour: $50
- Rain Forest Canopy Tour from Zipline, Hanging Bridge: $60
- Tamarindo wildlife Estuary boat ride tour 1 hour and 45 minutes: $62
- Turtle Nesting Tour: $65
- Small-Group Zipline Canopy Tour in Tamarindo's Jungle: $65
- Prívate Beach tour at Guanacaste Province: $65
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $6.56Tamarindo $15
Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
Sample the Local Flavors in Tamarindo
Also in Tamarindo, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Puro Vino - Tamarindo's Wine Tour Ride: $85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roatan and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo 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.