Which place is cheaper, Tena or Roatan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Roatan or Tena?
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 Tena. 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 Tena?
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.
Tena
Tena is the capital of the Napo Province, an attractive and quiet city in the Amazon rainforest, and is known as the "cinnamon capital" of Ecuador. Tena has a friendly population, lots of backpacker infrastructure, a gorgeous setting surrounded by jungle-covered hills and a high concentration of surrounding rivers where white-water lovers from around the world come to paddle and kayak. The town provides a gateway to exploration into Ecuador's most accessible part of the great Amazon rainforest, which does not leave visitors disappointed. Beyond being a base for discovering the jungle and its wildlife, Tena is also a hub for adventure sports which are abundant in the area. Tena is a charming place where many travelers find themselves hanging around quite happily before or after a trip into the rainforest.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best G Adventures Tours to Colombia, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bogota.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $38Tena $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $38, while the average daily cost in Tena is $51. 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 Tena in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $11Tena $24
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $22Tena $48
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Tena
Looking for a hotel in Roatan or Tena? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $19Tena $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
-
Water Taxi$4.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- AJ's Sloth & Monkeys Family Excursion, City Tour & Private Transfer: $57
- Chocolate Factory, Rum Factory, Markets, Island Tour, Private Transfer: $50
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $110
- East Sightseeing, Mangrove Tunnel Snorkel, Hole in the Wall, with Transfer: $130
- Ground transfers and ticket ferry to Utila or La Ceiba: $80
- Honduras Airport(RTB) to Honduras -Arrival Private Transfer: $38
- Honduras to Honduras Airport (RTB)-Departure Private Transfer: $38
- Horseback Riding, Beach with Palapa and Transfer: $130
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $76
- Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
- Mayan Eden Eco Wildlife Park, City Tour & Private Transfer: $67
- North Side Blue Channel & Starfish Snorkeling, 20min JetSki, Transfer Included: $165
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tena
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tena:
- Transfer in Private Car from Bucaramanga Palonegro Airport (BGA) to Bucaramanga: $15
- Round trip transfer in Private Car from-to Palonegro Airport(BGA) to Bucaramanga: $29
- San Andres hotels to San Andres Airport (ADZ) Departure Transfer: $36
- Transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $42
- Roundtrip transfer in private minivan Medellin airport (MDE)- Guatape: $84
- Private Transfer from Villavieja to San Agustín: $150
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
- Popayan to Cali Private Transfer: $272
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Tena?
Prices for flights to both Tena 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
-
Food Meals for one dayRoatan $9.43Tena $15
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Tiki Boat Sunset Cruise in Roatan with Snorkeling and Dinner : $100
- Cooking classes from a Local!: $200
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $27Tena $15
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Shore Excursion: Roatan VIP Customizable Island Tour: $35
- Half Day Roatan Sightseeing and Jungle Island Tour: $41
- Eco-Walk Nature Tour: $41
- Private Tour in Roatan with Pick Up: $44
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Shore Excursion: Private Half-Day Sightseen Tour and Beach: $45
- Monkeys and Sloth Hang Out with Island Tour in Roatan: $49
- Monkeys & sloth hangout,Chocolate Factory,Rum Factory, island tour/Beach : $49
- Roatan City Tour-Viewpoints, Landmarks, Chocolate and Rum Tasting: $50
- Guided Tour to Discover Roatán Starting from the Center: $50
- Goodman's Island Style Roatan Highlights Tour: $50
- Roatan Shore Excursion: Kayak Harbor Adventure and Reef Snorkel: $51
Tours and Activities in Tena
Here are a few actual costs in Tena for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full Day Adventure Laguna Negra-Páramo de Ocetá from Mongua: $20
- 4-Hour Private Walking Tour along Ruta de Las Flores: $42
- Unique experience flying paragliding: $50
- Gastronomic Private Walking Tour in Popayán: $50
- Private 2-hour Diving Experience with Instructor: $65
- Private Guided Tour to Piedra Colgada and Indian Face and Lagoon: $75
- Tour 5 Rosario Islands: $94
- Scuba Diving Private Tour in San Andres: $130
- Enjoy a Coffee Tour & Santa Fe de Antioquia Colonial Town!!: $135
- Popayán Tour from Cali: $216
- Popayan and Silvia Town Private Tour from Cali: $240
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $7.07Tena $10
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
- Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roatan and Tena, we can see that Tena is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Roatan is in Central America and Tena 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 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 Tena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tena 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 Tena Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Roatan or Tena?
Roatan has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Tena. When comparing the sizes of Roatan and Tena, 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.