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

Should you visit San Ignacio or San Pedro La Laguna?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or San Pedro La Laguna, 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 San Pedro La Laguna?

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!

San Pedro La Laguna

Located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a beautiful volcanic lake ringed by small towns and villages that are highly frequented by backpackers. Panajachal is one of the best known of the towns, as well as the main entry point of the region, while others like San Pedro La Laguna are quieter and more off the beaten path. Lake Atitlan and its villages attract visitors for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities, and Mayan culture nearby.

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


Which place is cheaper, San Pedro La Laguna or San Ignacio?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $72, while the average daily cost in San Pedro La Laguna is $36. 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 San Pedro La Laguna in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Ignacio $19
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Ignacio $38
    San Pedro La Laguna $16
Compare Hotels in San Ignacio and San Pedro La Laguna

Looking for a hotel in San Ignacio or San Pedro La Laguna? 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 Ignacio


Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna


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 Ignacio $3.11
    San Pedro La Laguna $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:

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

Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or San Pedro La Laguna?

Prices for flights to both San Pedro La Laguna 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    San Ignacio $21
    San Pedro La Laguna $11

Typical Food Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lemonade
    $2.06
  • Cake
    $1.29
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $2.96

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Guatemalan street food tour with a local bilingual guide: $40
  • Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
  • Guatemalan Cooking Class around Lake Atitlan: $50
  • Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $55

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Ignacio $100
    San Pedro La Laguna $22

Tours and Activities in San Ignacio

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

  • ATM Cave Tour from San Ignacio: $159
  • ATV Excursions in Cayo with Waterfalls Experience: $174
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour and Picnic: $125
  • Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour from San Ignacio : $120
  • Barton Creek Tour: $98
  • 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 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
  • From Xunantunich Mayan Tour & Optional Combos: $75
  • Full Day at Tikal Mayan Ruin Tour from San Ignacio: $250

Typical Entertainment Prices in San Pedro La Laguna

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for San Pedro La Laguna's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Canopy Tour (for 2)
    $39
  • Kayaking (for 2)
    $1.93
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $6.95

Tours and Activities in San Pedro La Laguna

For San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
  • Tour a NGO non profit Vocational Training Center Amigos de Santa Cruz and explore the Mayan village: $33
  • Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
  • Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
  • Private Tour of Lake Atitlán by Mototaxi: $50
  • Sololá Colourful Market Day Tour: $50
  • 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
  • Lake Atitlan Lower Mayan Trail Hiking Tour from Panajachel: $51
  • Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51
  • Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $52
  • sunset tour : $55
  • Lake Atitlan Villages Tour on ATV: $57

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Ignacio $17
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.58


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and San Pedro La Laguna, we can see that San Ignacio is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to San Pedro La Laguna would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in San Pedro La Laguna 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 Ignacio would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Ignacio than you might in San Pedro La Laguna.

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 San Pedro La Laguna Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Ignacio or San Pedro La Laguna?

San Ignacio has a larger population, and is about 74% larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of San Ignacio and San Pedro La Laguna, 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.