Which place is cheaper, Boquete or San Pedro La Laguna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Boquete?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Boquete? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: San Pedro La Laguna or Boquete?
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.
Boquete
Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama, and The Best Adventure Tours to Panama.
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San Pedro La Laguna Prices
Guatemala PricesBoquete Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro La Laguna $45Boquete $67
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $45, while the average daily cost in Boquete is $67. 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 Pedro La Laguna and Boquete in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro La Laguna $8.32Boquete $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro La Laguna $17Boquete $46
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Boquete
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Boquete? 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: Boquete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $13Boquete $5.22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro La Laguna
Also for San Pedro La Laguna, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Transfer From Panajachel Atitlan to Antigua: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Boquete?
Prices for flights to both Boquete and San Pedro La Laguna 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 Pedro La Laguna $19Boquete $32
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:
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Lemonade$2.08
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Cake$1.30
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Ice cream$0.39
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Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread$2.99
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:
- Temazcal sauna and dinner, cultural sharing experience: $44
- Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $50
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $22Boquete $17
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:
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Canopy Tour (for 2)$39
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Kayaking (for 2)$1.95
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Coffee Tour (for 2)$7.03
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
- Lake Atitlan Guided Tour by Boat from Panajachel: $35
- Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
- Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $36
- Tour in the Atitlan Nature Reserve : $40
- Tour of San Juan Lake Atitlan: $40
- Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
- Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $47
- Private Tour of Lake Atitlán by Mototaxi: $50
- 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
- Authentic tour of Mayan art and culture in Lake Atitlan: $50
- Sololá Colourful Market Day Tour: $50
Tours and Activities in Boquete
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:
- Boquete E-bike Panoramic Tour: $65
- Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $45
- Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
- Boquete Panoramic Tour: $200
- Boquete Rock climbing tour: $80
- Boquete, Panama: Self-Guided E-Bicycle Half-Day Tour: $48
- Cangilones Mini Canyons Tour: $38
- Cloud Forest Wildlife Hike Tour: $36
- Family Tour (Experiences in caldera): $85
- Guided E-Bike Panoramic Tour: $75
- Coffee Tasting Experience-Los Molinos Hotel-Panama's Top Product: $25
- Dirtbike adventure in Boquete (half day): $165
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $5.64Boquete $4.45
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro La Laguna and Boquete, we can see that Boquete 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 Boquete would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boquete 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 Pedro La Laguna Expensive? and Is Boquete Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or Boquete?
San Pedro La Laguna has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna and Boquete, 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.
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.