A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Salento vs. La Paz for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Salento or La Paz?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Salento or La Paz? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Salento or La Paz?

Salento

Founded in 1850, Salento is one of the oldest towns in Quindio. This colonial Colombian town has retained much of its old world charm, with its colorful buildings, large square and, of course, the obligatory church. Because the main route between Cali and Bogota which used to pass through Salento was diverted, the town didn't develop as quickly as others in the Quindio region. This gave Salento the opportunity to evolve into a thriving community of craftsmen and artisans as well as remaining one of the region's most prolific coffee producers. Salento is located 24 km northeast of the departmental capital Armenia. However, unlike its colorful neighbor, Armenia itself has very little to offer tourists. Salento attracts those wishing to learn about the coffee regions and for those who simply admire breathtaking scenery, and especially the stunning Cocora Valley.

La Paz

La Paz is the capital of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It has a population of about 215,000 people and is a significant commercial center for the region. The city has a good economy and a high standard of living when compared to much of Mexico. Much of the economy is focused on eco-tourism and there are many protected marine environments in the area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Budget Tours to Mexico, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, La Paz or Salento?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Salento is $33, while the average daily cost in La Paz is $118. 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 Salento and La Paz in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salento $11
    La Paz $52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salento $22
    La Paz $104
Compare Hotels in Salento and La Paz

Looking for a hotel in Salento or La Paz? 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.

Hotels in Salento


Hotels in La Paz


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: Salento Hotel Prices and La Paz Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salento $14
    La Paz $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:

  • Pereira Airport Private Transfer Service: $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in La Paz

Some specific examples of transportation prices in La Paz:

  • Roundtrip Transfer to La Paz International Airport: $73
  • La Paz Airport to Costa Baja Private Roundtrip Transfer: $89
  • La Paz Int. Airport (LAP): Private Transfer to La Paz hotels: $174
  • Private Transfer from La Paz to Cabo San Lucas: $240
  • La Paz Airport: Private Roundtrip Transfer to La Ventan: $259

Is it cheaper to fly into Salento or La Paz?

Prices for flights to both La Paz and Salento 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 day
    Salento $9.56
    La Paz $38

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Salento

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Salento.

  • Cooking Stories - Cocinando Historias: $46

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in La Paz

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in La Paz.

  • 4 Hours of Guided La Paz Street Food Tour: $81

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salento $12
    La Paz $13

Tours and Activities in Salento

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:

  • City tour + Nature: $25
  • Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $28
  • Santa Rita Waterfall and Salento Hike Tour: $49
  • Filandia and Salento Coffee Towns Tour: $62
  • Private Colombian Coffee Farm Tour with Tastings in Armenia: $78
  • Cocora Valley and Salento Hike Tour: $79
  • Coffee Tour at Finca El Ocaso: $84
  • Coffee Farm and Salento Walking Tour with Lunch: $87
  • Coffe Experience: Daily departure from Salento: $89
  • Pereira: Cocora Valley and Salento Guided Hiking Tour: $89
  • Private birding tour for beginners and intermediate: $90
  • Coffee Tour and Salento Walking Tour with lunch: $94

Tours and Activities in La Paz

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for La Paz are as follows:

  • Transparent Boat Tour with Mushroom Rock: $64
  • Pearls of Pearl Farm Experience: $64
  • Half Day Sandboarding and Paddleboarding Experience in La Paz: $81
  • Unique Mexican Spirits Tasting & Pairing Experience: $85
  • Sunset Sandboarding at La Paz Dunes Tour: $89
  • City Tour & Beaches from La Paz: $91
  • Supercombo 2-Day City Tour: $105
  • Half Day Private Tour of the Beaches of La Paz: $113
  • From Los Cabos: City Tour La Paz, Balandra and Todos Santos: $115
  • holy spirit island tour: $116
  • Los Cabos Tour from La Paz: $119
  • Snorkel Tour with Whale Shark in La Paz: $119

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salento $12
    La Paz $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salento and La Paz, we can see that La Paz is more expensive. And not only is Salento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Salento is in South America and La Paz is in North 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 Salento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Salento 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 La Paz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Paz than you might in Salento.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Salento Expensive? and Is La Paz Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Salento or La Paz?

La Paz has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Salento. When comparing the sizes of Salento and La Paz, 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.