Which place is cheaper, Ponce or San Ignacio?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Ignacio or Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or Ponce, 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 Ignacio or Ponce?
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!
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Belize, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Belize.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Ignacio $72Ponce $205
The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $72, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $205. 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 Ignacio and Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Ignacio $19Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Ignacio $38Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio or Ponce? 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: San Ignacio Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Ignacio $3.11Ponce $10
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Double ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $279
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to Rio Grande hotel - Arrival Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce and San Ignacio 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 Ignacio $21Ponce $35
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Food Tour : $130
- Private San Juan Cooking Class with a Local Expert: $146
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Ignacio $100Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in San Ignacio
Here are a few actual costs in San Ignacio for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $65
- Xunantunich & Adventure Horse Ride: $75
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $75
- Half-Day Cave Canoeing Adventure: $75
- From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
- Cave Canoeing with Local Tour Guide: $80
- Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $90
- Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $90
- Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $90
- Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $100
- Xunantunich horseback riding tour: $100
- Private Tour:Xunantunich Mayan Ruin from San Ignacio: $103
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Talking Buildings of Old San Juan: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Footsteps in San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Old San Juan Tour (1 Hour) by DUHO: $25
- Salsa Tours PR Sunset Salsa Beach Class in San Juan, Puerto Rico : $29
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Guided City Walking Tour: $32
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Historic Old San Juan Sunset Walking Tour: $39
- Bio Bay Boat Tour with Swimming from La Parguera, Puerto Rico: $50
- Turtle spotting snorkeling adventure- no Jets : $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Ignacio $17Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
- Rum Distillery and Old San Juan Tour: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and Ponce, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Ignacio is in Central America and Ponce 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 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce 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 Ignacio Expensive? and Is Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of San Ignacio. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio and Ponce, 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 Ignacio or Ponce?
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 Ignacio or Ponce in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Ignacio and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Ignacio year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
San Ignacio gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Ponce. San Ignacio gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In San Ignacio, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Ignacio usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during summer. San Ignacio gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.
San Ignacio is around the same temperature as Ponce in the summer. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Ignacio 28°C (82°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to San Ignacio as well as Ponce. San Ignacio attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Ponce. San Ignacio receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Ignacio usually gets more rain in October than Ponce. San Ignacio gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. In the autumn, San Ignacio often gets less sunshine than Ponce. San Ignacio gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, San Ignacio is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Ignacio in October average around 26°C (80°F), and Ponce averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Ignacio 26°C (80°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Ponce in the Winter?
Both Ponce and San Ignacio are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Ignacio throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in San Ignacio. In January, San Ignacio usually receives more rain than Ponce. San Ignacio gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. San Ignacio usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during winter. San Ignacio gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, San Ignacio is generally around the same temperature as Ponce. Daily temperatures in San Ignacio average around 24°C (74°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Ignacio 24°C (74°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit San Ignacio or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce and San Ignacio during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Ignacio because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
San Ignacio usually gets less rain in April than Ponce. San Ignacio gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in San Ignacio. In the spring, San Ignacio often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce. San Ignacio gets 256 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun.
San Ignacio is around the same temperature as Ponce in the spring. The daily temperature in San Ignacio averages around 27°C (80°F) in April, and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Ignacio 27°C (80°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and San Ignacio
| San Ignacio | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.