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

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Should you visit San Ignacio or Tamarindo?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Ignacio or Tamarindo, 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.

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!

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.

Which city is cheaper, Tamarindo or San Ignacio?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in San Ignacio is $57, while the average daily cost in Tamarindo 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Ignacio and Tamarindo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Ignacio $15
    Tamarindo $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Ignacio $30
    Tamarindo $60

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Ignacio $2.48
    Tamarindo $41

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Ignacio

Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Ignacio:

  • Shared Departure Transfer: San Ignacio Hotel to Belize International Airport: $60
  • Shared Arrival Transfer: Belize International Airport to San Ignacio Hotels: $70
  • Shared Departure Transfer: San Ignacio Hotels to Belize International Airport: $70

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tamarindo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tamarindo:

  • Liberia Airport Private Transfer To Or From Tamarindo: $86
  • Private Premium Transfer: From Tamarindo Zone: $85
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer: Liberia Airport to Tamarindo with Free Drinks: $89
  • Private Transfer to Tamarindo Beach from Liberia Airport: $100
  • Private transfer from Tamarindo to Hotels in San Jose or the Airport: $265
  • Transfer Liberia to Tamarindo: $90
  • Transfer TO or FROM Tamarindo Area to SJO Airport: $325
  • Volcano Adventure Sisisi Transfers & Tours Costa Rica: $155

Is it cheaper to fly into San Ignacio or Tamarindo?

Prices for flights to both Tamarindo 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 $16
    Tamarindo $19

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 from San Ignacio: $135

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Ignacio $80
    Tamarindo $10

Tours and Activities in San Ignacio

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

  • Cultural and Historical Walking Tour: $36
  • Xunantunich Maya Site with Local Tour guide: $48
  • Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio: $62
  • Cave Tubing with local tour Guide and Belizean Lunch: $70
  • Belize Cave Tubing Adventure from San Ignacio: $72
  • Farm Ride plus Xunantunich tour: $75
  • Full-Day Mountain Pine Ridge Tour from San Ignacio with Lunch: $76
  • Xunantunich Riding tour: $85
  • Barton Creek Tour: $87
  • Horseback Riding and Tour in San Lorenzo Organic Farm: $91
  • Cave Tubing Adventure: $93
  • Mopan River Kayaking and Xunantunich Tour from San Ignacio: $100

Tours and Activities in Tamarindo

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tamarindo are as follows:

  • Skip the Line: Monkey Park Admission Ticket: $27
  • Kayak Tour: $45
  • Turtle Watching Tour: $45
  • Turtle Nesting Tour: $46
  • Night Turtle Nesting Tour from Tamarindo: $46
  • Tamarindo River Boat Tour: $50
  • Canopy Tour Costa Rica: $55
  • Tamarindo Kayak Estuary Mangrove Tour: $56
  • Tamarindo Kayaking Tour with Snorkeling at Captain Island: $60
  • Premium Tour: Turtle Nesting Tour: $62
  • Early Bird Watching Tour: $65
  • Private Buggy/ATV Sunset Tour at Tamarindo: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Ignacio $14
    Tamarindo $8.23

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Ignacio and Tamarindo, we can see that Tamarindo is more expensive. And not only is San Ignacio much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 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 San Ignacio.

Budget Your Trip

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San Ignacio vs. Tamarindo Travel Comparison

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