Which place is cheaper, Tilcara or Roatan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Roatan or Tilcara?
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 Tilcara. 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 Tilcara?
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.
Tilcara
Tilcara signifies shooting star in Quechua. At 2465m of altitude, the little town of Tilcara is one of the most animated place of the area of the quebrada de humahuaca. Many South American backpackers and tourists from all around the world come to visit Tilcara and its pucara, the forteresse built by the Incas at the top of the hill, providing a stunning walk around the town. Tilcara hosts many festivals for different occasions such as the celebration of the Pachamama in August, the semana santa (Holy Week) in April, and the Enero Tilcareno, held in January as its name indicates, which is probably the busiest month of the year for the little town. If you enjoy concerts, parades and folklorique parties then definitely try to visit Tilcara during a festival month and avoid them if you prefer a calm and more relaxed holiday. There are many available activities around Tilcara including horseback riding, VTT, and you could also even try a ride in a caravan pulled by llamas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Argentina, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Argentina.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $38Tilcara $8.25
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $38, while the average daily cost in Tilcara is $8.25. 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 Tilcara in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $11Tilcara $3.25
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $22Tilcara $6.50
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Tilcara
Looking for a hotel in Roatan or Tilcara? 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 Tilcara Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $19Tilcara $2.19
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:
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Snorkeling, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Monkey & Sloth Park, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
- North Side Blue Channel & Starfish Snorkeling, 20min JetSki, Transfer Included: $165
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $142
- Horseback Riding, Beach with Palapa and Transfer: $130
- East Sightseeing, Mangrove Tunnel Snorkel, Hole in the Wall, with Transfer: $130
- Parasailing adventure with round trip transfers included: $130
- South Side Horseback Riding, Beach Break & Roundway Transfer: $120
- Roatan Special Catamaran for Cruise Ship Passengers plus Transfer: $113
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $110
- Transfers, Zip Line and Monkey Park: $110
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Tilcara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Tilcara:
-
Taxi Ride$0.01
Is it cheaper to fly into Roatan or Tilcara?
Prices for flights to both Tilcara 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 $9.43Tilcara $3.41
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
Typical Food Prices in Tilcara
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tilcara:
-
Sandwich$0.01
-
Burger$0.01
-
Fruit$0.01
-
Sandwich$0.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tilcara
For Tilcara, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Northern Argentine cooking experience: $70
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Roatan $27Tilcara $1.95
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Mangrove cruise garífuna Culture sightseeing and Lunch : $89
- Shore Excursion: VIP Island City Tour and Drift Snorkel : $60
- Shore Excursion: Zip & Dip Adventure: $69
- Sloths Sanctuary/Monkeys Play + Dune Buggy/ATV Adventure & Private Beach Resort: $139
- 2 Hour Zip Lining Private Tour in Mahogany Bay: $65
- 4-Hour East Side Roatan Private Guided Tour with Canoe Ride: $120
- ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $110
- Adventures of Roatan ATV Pineapple beach break: $120
- Animal Sightings and Walking Tour at Gumbalimba Park with Addons: $90
- Atv Island Tour: $85
- Cruise Excursion – 2 Scuba Dives with transport (for certified divers): $175
- Cruise Ship Family Sloth & Monkeys, West Tour, Beach plus Private Vehicle: $75
Tours and Activities in Tilcara
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tilcara.
- 2 hours cycling tour trough the rural area: $20
- Purmamarca Night Experience: $30
- Serranías del Hornocal + Citytour Humahuaca: $30
- Bike Adventure through Juella with lunch: $35
- Half day mountain bike tour with lunch: $35
- Private Full Day Tour to Salinas de Grandes and Barrancas: $130
- Full-Day Tour to Laguna de los Pozuelos from Tilcara: $162
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $7.07Tilcara $1.07
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 Tilcara, we can see that Roatan is more expensive. And not only is Tilcara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Roatan is in Central America and Tilcara 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 Tilcara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tilcara 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 Roatan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Roatan than you might in Tilcara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Roatan Expensive? and Is Tilcara Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Roatan or Tilcara?
Roatan has a larger population, and is about 33% larger than the population of Tilcara. When comparing the sizes of Roatan and Tilcara, 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.