Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Boquete?
Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Boquete? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Boquete or San Pedro La Laguna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $29, while the average daily cost in Boquete is $43. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for San Pedro La Laguna and Boquete in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $13 in San Pedro La Laguna For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Boquete is $36. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
San Pedro La Laguna $6.62
Boquete $18
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
San Pedro La Laguna
$13
Boquete
$36
Food
In San Pedro La Laguna travelers spend around $8.80 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Boquete food costs typically run travelers around $15 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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
$2.07
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Cake
$1.29
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Ice cream
$0.39
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Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
$2.97
Local Transportation
San Pedro La Laguna's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $11 per person, per day on transportation in San Pedro La Laguna.
The average price of local transportation around Boquete is $4.18 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in San Pedro La Laguna can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $17 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Boquete's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $14 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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)
$1.94
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Coffee Tour (for 2)
$6.98
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:
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Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy):
$51
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Indian Nose Hiking Adventure (custom and private tour):
$51
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Horseback Riding Tour:
$51
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Chichicastenango Market Day Tour:
$60
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Camping, Short hike & Watch the sunrise on the top of Indian Nose (Private tour):
$85
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Lake Atitlan Village Tour - from Panajachel:
$205
Tours and Activities in Boquete
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:
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Dirtbike adventure in Boquete (half day):
$165
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Specialized Birdwatching Tour:
$102
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Whale Watching (July 15 to October 15), and Island Tour in the Gulf of Chiriqui:
$85
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting San Pedro La Laguna spend on average $4.49 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $3.56 on alcoholic beverages in Boquete per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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.
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