Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or San Fernando?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Fernando or Guayaquil?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or Guayaquil, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Fernando or Guayaquil?
San Fernando
As the industrial capital of Trinidad & Tobago, San Fernando is an oil city which attracts more business visitors than tourists. While it is primarily focused on industry, the city has a certain charm with its old buildings and sloping streets that frame pretty views of the sea. It is the big city of Trinidad's southern half with plenty to offer in nightlife, especially during Carnival.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Fernando $153Guayaquil $95
The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $95. 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 San Fernando and Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Fernando $74Guayaquil $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Fernando $148Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in San Fernando or Guayaquil? 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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Fernando $50Guayaquil $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer Guayaquil - Montañita: $250
- Guayaquil Airport (GYE): Transfer to Guayaquil hotels: $129
- Transfer Cuenca - Guayaquil (or Vice versa) With Visit To Cajas National Park: $128
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $98
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $89
- Guayaquil Airport Private Transfer Service: $80
- Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Guayaquil - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $59
- Guayaquil Airport (GYE) to Guayaquil hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
- Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
- Transfer from Guayaquil airport to the hotel and vice versa: $30
- Guayaquil Airport GYE to Guayaquil city -Arrival Private Transfer: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil and San Fernando 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 daySan Fernando $48Guayaquil $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Fernando $28Guayaquil $21
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-hour Pacari Wine and Chocolate Tasting Experience: $20
- City Tour Guayaquil: $40
- City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
- Cocoa and Gastronomy Tour at Hacienda CacaoyMango: $155
- Dolphin Watching Experience in Puerto El Morro from Guayaquil: $165
- Exclusive private luxury cocoa experience: $187
- From Cloud Forest/Waterfalls Private Tour & Lunch: $159
- From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
- Full Day Ayangue Tour with Snorkeling in The Pelado's Islote: $295
- Full Day Private Churute Mangroves Reserve and Cocoa Farm Tour: $255
- Full Day Zhagal Thermal Baths Tour from Guayaquil: $263
- Full day private tour Mangroves, dolphins and birds from guayaquil : $215
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Fernando $22Guayaquil $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $55
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and Guayaquil, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is Guayaquil much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guayaquil 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 San Fernando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Fernando than you might in Guayaquil.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Fernando Expensive? and Is Guayaquil Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Fernando or Guayaquil?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of San Fernando. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando and Guayaquil, 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.
When is the best time to visit San Fernando or Guayaquil?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit San Fernando or Guayaquil in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and Guayaquil. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. Guayaquil attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Guayaquil receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Fernando gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Fernando usually receives more rain than Guayaquil. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, San Fernando is a little warmer than Guayaquil. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Fernando in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 23°C (73°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Guayaquil in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as Guayaquil. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Guayaquil throughout the year.
San Fernando receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Fernando usually gets more rain in October than Guayaquil. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, San Fernando is generally a little warmer than Guayaquil. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 27°C (81°F), and Guayaquil fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Guayaquil 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Guayaquil in the Winter?
Both Guayaquil and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Guayaquil because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guayaquil. In January, San Fernando usually receives less rain than Guayaquil. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
San Fernando is around the same temperature as Guayaquil in the winter. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Guayaquil fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Fernando 26°C (78°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Fernando or Guayaquil in the Spring?
Both Guayaquil and San Fernando during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Fernando because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Guayaquil year-round.
Guayaquil gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Fernando usually gets less rain in April than Guayaquil. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Guayaquil receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, San Fernando is around the same temperature as Guayaquil. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Fernando in April average around 27°C (81°F), and Guayaquil averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Fernando 27°C (81°F)Guayaquil 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Guayaquil and San Fernando
| San Fernando | Guayaquil | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (78°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 230 mm (9.1 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 252 mm (9.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 225 mm (8.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 203 mm (8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
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.