A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Fernando vs. San Ignacio for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Fernando or San Ignacio?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Fernando or San Ignacio, 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 San Ignacio?

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.

San Ignacio

So you want a tropical getaway, but also don't want to lay around with nothing to do. You want an adventure! You want relaxation and exploration.

You want to visit the small town of San Ignacio, Belize.

This section of the Cayo region is really more of a jungle than a typical Belize beach getaway. Located close the ancient Mayan ruins on the western and inland side of Belize, this town is most popular for its many outdoor adventures including hiking, climbing, and caving!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.


Which place is cheaper, San Ignacio or San Fernando?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in San Fernando is $153, while the average daily cost in San Ignacio is $72. 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 San Ignacio in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Fernando $74
    San Ignacio $19
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Fernando $148
    San Ignacio $38
Compare Hotels in San Fernando and San Ignacio

Looking for a hotel in San Fernando or San Ignacio? 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 San Fernando


Hotels in San Ignacio


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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Fernando $50
    San Ignacio $3.11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:

  • From Van Transfer To Flores Peten in Guatemala: $20
  • San Ignacio Hotel to Belize City Transfer: $20

Is it cheaper to fly into San Fernando or San Ignacio?

Prices for flights to both San Ignacio 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Fernando $48
    San Ignacio $21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Ignacio

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

  • Xunantunich & Food Tour with local chocolate experience: $150

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Fernando $28
    San Ignacio $100

Tours and Activities in San Ignacio

Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • ATV Excursions in Cayo with Waterfalls Experience: $174
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic: $125
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour from San Ignacio : $125
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal with Local Tour guide & Belizean Lunch: $120
  • Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
  • Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch: $125
  • Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
  • Cave Tubing Adventure at Nohoch Che'en and Jaguar Paw : $115
  • Cave Tubing and Zip line Adventure from San Ignacio: $144
  • Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
  • Deluxe Cave Tubing combo Adventure: $125
  • Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Fernando $22
    San Ignacio $17


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Fernando and San Ignacio, we can see that San Fernando is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Fernando is in Caribbean Islands and San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Ignacio 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 San Ignacio.

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 San Ignacio Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Fernando or San Ignacio?

San Fernando has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Fernando and San Ignacio, 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 San Ignacio?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit San Fernando or San Ignacio in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to San Fernando as well as San Ignacio. San Fernando attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. San Fernando receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Fernando usually gets more rain in July than San Ignacio. San Fernando gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Fernando this time of the year. In the summer, San Fernando often gets less sunshine than San Ignacio. San Fernando gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Ignacio receives 226 hours of full sun.

San Fernando is around the same temperature as San Ignacio in the summer. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and San Ignacio fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    San Fernando 27°C (81°F) 
    San Ignacio 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit San Fernando or San Ignacio in the Autumn?

Both San Ignacio and San Fernando are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Fernando throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in San Ignacio. It's quite rainy in San Fernando. In October, San Fernando usually receives less rain than San Ignacio. San Fernando gets 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 255 mm (10 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Fernando. San Fernando usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Ignacio during autumn. San Fernando gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while San Ignacio receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, San Fernando is around the same temperature as San Ignacio. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Fernando in October average around 27°C (81°F), and San Ignacio averages at about 26°C (80°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    San Fernando 27°C (81°F) 
    San Ignacio 26°C (80°F)

Should I visit San Fernando or San Ignacio in the Winter?

Both San Ignacio and San Fernando during the winter 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 San Ignacio year-round.

San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. San Fernando usually gets less rain in January than San Ignacio. San Fernando gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in San Fernando. In the winter, San Fernando often gets more sunshine than San Ignacio. San Fernando gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Ignacio receives 199 hours of full sun.

In January, San Fernando is generally around the same temperature as San Ignacio. Daily temperatures in San Fernando average around 26°C (78°F), and San Ignacio fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    San Fernando 26°C (78°F) 
    San Ignacio 24°C (74°F)

Should I visit San Fernando or San Ignacio in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Fernando and San Ignacio. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Fernando year-round. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, San Fernando usually receives around the same amount of rain as San Ignacio. San Fernando gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while San Ignacio receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Ignacio this time of the year. In San Fernando, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Fernando usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Ignacio during spring. San Fernando gets 238 hours of sunny skies, while San Ignacio receives 256 hours of full sun in the spring.

San Fernando is around the same temperature as San Ignacio in the spring. The daily temperature in San Fernando averages around 27°C (81°F) in April, and San Ignacio fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    San Fernando 27°C (81°F) 
    San Ignacio 27°C (80°F)

Typical Weather for San Ignacio and San Fernando

San Fernando San Ignacio
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (78°F) 71 mm (2.8 in) 24°C (74°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 43 mm (1.7 in) 24°C (76°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)
Mar 26°C (80°F) 34 mm (1.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Apr 27°C (81°F) 51 mm (2 in) 27°C (80°F) 52 mm (2 in)
May 28°C (82°F) 117 mm (4.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 252 mm (9.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 258 mm (10.2 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 266 mm (10.5 in) 28°C (82°F) 243 mm (9.6 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 225 mm (8.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 187 mm (7.4 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 203 mm (8 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 199 mm (7.8 in) 26°C (80°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 228 mm (9 in) 25°C (77°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Dec 26°C (79°F) 155 mm (6.1 in) 25°C (76°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)