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

Should you visit Salento or Saint Croix?

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

Should I visit Salento or Saint Croix? 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 Saint Croix?

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.

Saint Croix

Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.

The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.

This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.

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


Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix or Salento?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Salento Prices
    Colombia Prices
    Saint Croix Prices
    USVI Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Salento $39
    Saint Croix $277

The average daily cost (per person) in Salento is $39, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $277. 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 Saint Croix in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Salento $11
    Saint Croix $149
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Salento $22
    Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Salento and Saint Croix

Looking for a hotel in Salento or Saint Croix? 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 Saint Croix


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 Saint Croix Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Salento $14
    Saint Croix $35

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 Saint Croix

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:

  • St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $84
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $87
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Port to St. Croix Airport (STX): $87
  • St. Croix to St. Croix Airport (STX) - Departure Private Transfer: $91
  • St.Croix Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Arrival Private Transfer: $91
  • Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $167
  • Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $175
  • Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $175
  • Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $180

Is it cheaper to fly into Salento or Saint Croix?

Prices for flights to both Saint Croix 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 $16
    Saint Croix $97

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 Saint Croix

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

  • A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
  • A Morning Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
  • C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $131
  • Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $145

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Salento $12
    Saint Croix $58

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 Saint Croix

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

  • Christiansted's Artisan Shopping Tour: $33
  • St. Croix Ghost Tour of Historic Christiansted: $45
  • Frederiksted Moke Tour: $75
  • The Frederiksted St. Croix Sea Turtles Snorkeling Tour: $89
  • Guided Kayak Tour of Salt River Bay Ecology and History: $115
  • St Croix Island Tour: $118
  • Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
  • Horseback Riding Experience: $160
  • Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $175

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Salento $11
    Saint Croix $27

Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Croix

Also in Saint Croix, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Farm to Bottle Tour at Prosperity Farm Distillery: $35


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salento and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix Expensive?.