Which place is cheaper, Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Salento or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo?
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.
Tamarindo
Tamarindo is a small beach town in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica on the Pacific Coast. This town is usually sought out by surfers, fishers, couples, and families. There are delicious restaurants, beautiful beaches, and friendly Tico's and Tica's (local Costa Rican nicknames) everywhere.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Colombia, The Best Adventure Tours to Colombia, The Best Luxury Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica.
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Salento Prices
Colombia PricesTamarindo Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySalento $39Tamarindo $144
The average daily cost (per person) in Salento is $39, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo is $144. 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 Tamarindo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSalento $11Tamarindo $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSalento $22Tamarindo $100
Compare Hotels in Salento and Tamarindo
Looking for a hotel in Salento or Tamarindo? 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 Tamarindo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Salento $14Tamarindo $69
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 Tamarindo
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:
- Costa Rica Private LIR Airport Departure transfer : $6.00
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Secret Papagayo: $13
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport to Hotel Riu Guanacaste: $15
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Riu Guanacaste: $16
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Hotel Mar Rey Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Pastiempo Tamarindo: $20
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Palapa in Tamarindo: $21
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Selina Tamarindo: $21
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Hotel Mar Rey Tamarindo: $22
- Private Transfer Liberia Airport To Hotel Pas Tiempo Tamarindo: $22
- Private Transfer from Liberia Airport to Hotel Luna Llena: $22
- Private Transfer From Liberia Airport To Westin Conchal: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Salento or Tamarindo?
Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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 $16Tamarindo $56
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 Tamarindo
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Tamarindo.
- Online Class on Zoom: Cooking Costa Rica Homemade Food: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Salento $12Tamarindo $17
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 Tamarindo
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:
- 1 Hour Private Horseback Riding Tour in Playa Conchal: $30
- Tamarindo Estuary Tour: $45
- Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
- Tamarindo Estuary Boat Tour: $47
- Morning Moka -Tamarindo's Morning Coffee Tour: $62
- Hiking Tour of La Leona Waterfall with Lunch: $65
- Turtle Watching Tour: $70
- ATV Tour through the Flamingo Potrero and Brasilito Area: $70
- Zipline Canopy Tour from Guanacaste: $70
- Private Wildlife Tour in Avellanas Beach: $75
- Kayak and SUP Private Tour: $75
- Tamarindo River Boat Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySalento $11Tamarindo $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salento and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo is in Central 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 Tamarindo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tamarindo 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 Tamarindo Expensive?.
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.