Which place is cheaper, Paracas or Salento?
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 Salento or Paracas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Salento or Paracas? 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 Paracas?
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.
Paracas
Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Salento Prices
Colombia PricesParacas Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalento $39Paracas $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Salento is $39, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $84. 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 Paracas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalento $11Paracas $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalento $22Paracas $48
Compare Hotels in Salento and Paracas
Looking for a hotel in Salento or Paracas? 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: Salento Hotel Prices and Paracas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salento $14Paracas $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Salento
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Salento:
- Private Pereira Airport Transfer: To/From Salento: $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
- Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $220
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $220
Is it cheaper to fly into Salento or Paracas?
Prices for flights to both Paracas 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
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Food Meals for one daySalento $16Paracas $42
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salento $12Paracas $26
Tours and Activities in Salento
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Salento are as follows:
- Coffee Tour Salento-Ocaso Farm- English Tour: $15
- Coffee Tour at Finca El Ocaso Finca Tradicional-Español: $15
- Coffee tour in the heart of the coffee region: $30
- Guided Walking Tour with Photography Museum Visit: $46
- Coffee Master Roasting, Brewing and Tasting Tour: $50
- Coffee Farm Shared Tour: $51
- Santa Rita Waterfall and Salento Private Tour: $60
- Tour Valle del Cocora and Salento, including a typical lunch: $61
- From Cocora Valley Shared Tour: $63
- Armenia, Quindio: Coffee Tour, Transportation, and Quimbaya Gold Museum: $64
- Salento & Cocora Valley Tour: $75
- Private Colombian Coffee Farm Tour with Tastings in Armenia: $78
Tours and Activities in Paracas
Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Paracas Desert Bike Adventure: $15
- Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas : $15
- Ballestas Islands and Candelabro Boat Tour: $15
- Ballestas Islands: Peru’s Natural Paradise boat tour: $16
- BALLESTAS ISLANDS TOUR: $16
- Ballestas Islands Guided Boat Tour: $17
- speedboat BALLESTAS ISLANDS TOUR: $17
- From Ballestas Islands tour all Inclusive: $17
- Ballestas Islands tour all Inclusive: $18
- Tours to Ballestas Islands by Speed Boat: $20
- Tour Ballestas Islands: $20
- Ballestas Islands Morning Boat Tour: $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalento $11Paracas $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salento and Paracas, we can see that Paracas is more expensive. And not only is Salento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Paracas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paracas 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 Paracas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Salento or Paracas?
Salento has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of Salento and Paracas, 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.