Which place is cheaper, Guayaquil or San Pedro La Laguna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Guayaquil?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Guayaquil? 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 Guayaquil?
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.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and seaport. From a tourist perspective, the city acts primarily as a transportation gateway to the country and the Galapagos Islands. While the city can be skipped altogether, should you have a free day to spend here, there are a few noteworthy things to do, as well as some terrific dining and nightlife options. Guayaquil’s main tourist attraction is Las Penas, a hill with old, colorfully painted buildings at the north end of the Malecon, where you can walk the 400 steps to the lighthouse at the top for good views of the city. The neighborhood is filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and art galleries and is relatively safe. Other important sights include the Malecon 2000, a massive urban development project that has brought new life to the riverside in the city center and the Parque Seminario, filled with fountains, trees and iguanas, located at 10 de Agosto Ave and Chile Ave.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best G Adventures Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Ecuador.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro La Laguna $36Guayaquil $95
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $36, while the average daily cost in Guayaquil is $95. 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 Guayaquil in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro La Laguna $8.23Guayaquil $32
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro La Laguna $16Guayaquil $64
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Guayaquil
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Guayaquil? 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: Guayaquil Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $13Guayaquil $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guayaquil
Also for Guayaquil, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Guayaquil airport to the hotel and vice versa: $30
- Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $12
- Transfer Cuenca - Guayaquil (or Vice versa) With Visit To Cajas National Park: $128
- Shared transfer from Hotel to Airport in Guayaquil: $47
- Shared transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $47
- Private transfer Guayaquil - Montañita: $250
- Private Transfers to and from the Airport in Guayaquil: $25
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $98
- Private Transfer from Guayaquil Airport(GYE) to Manta Cruise Port: $89
- Private Transfer Out From Hotel to Guayaquil Airport: $25
- Private Transfer In From Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $25
- Private Airport Transfer from Guayaquil Airport to Hotel: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Guayaquil?
Prices for flights to both Guayaquil 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 $11Guayaquil $29
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$2.06
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Cake$1.29
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Ice cream$0.39
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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
- Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Guayaquil Culinary Adventure, Cacao Cooking Class: $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $21Guayaquil $21
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)$1.93
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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:
- Lake Atitlan Boat tour from Puerto Quetzal (Group): $125
- 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
- Authentic local experience with a community of women.: $68
- Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
- Bicycle Tour Around Lake Atitlan with Weaving Coops and Coffee Plantations: $112
- Biking tour through the towns of Santa Catarina and San Antonio: $46
- Boat tour in Mayan villages: $85
- Chichicastenango Market Day Tour from Panajachel: $83
- Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
- Day of the Dead Giant Kite Festival Cultural Experience: $35
- Full Day Tour to Chichicastenango from Panajachel : $152
- Get fun with an Adventure Tour - Zip Line (Canopy): $51
Tours and Activities in Guayaquil
For Guayaquil, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1-hour Pacari Wine and Chocolate Tasting Experience: $20
- City Tour Guayaquil: $40
- City Tour around Guayaquil: $75
- Cocoa and Gastronomy Tour at Hacienda CacaoyMango: $155
- Dolphin Watching Experience in Puerto El Morro from Guayaquil: $165
- Exclusive private luxury cocoa experience: $187
- From Cloud Forest/Waterfalls Private Tour & Lunch: $159
- From Montañita: Paragliding Experience: $55
- Full Day Ayangue Tour with Snorkeling in The Pelado's Islote: $295
- Full Day Private Churute Mangroves Reserve and Cocoa Farm Tour: $255
- Full Day Zhagal Thermal Baths Tour from Guayaquil: $263
- Full day private tour Mangroves, dolphins and birds from guayaquil : $215
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $5.58Guayaquil $17
Sample the Local Flavors in Guayaquil
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Guayaquil:
- Wine Tasting Experience with Tasting Menu: $55
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro La Laguna and Guayaquil, we can see that Guayaquil is more expensive. And not only is San Pedro La Laguna much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since San Pedro La Laguna is in Central America and Guayaquil is in South America, 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 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 Guayaquil would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guayaquil 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 Guayaquil Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or Guayaquil?
Guayaquil has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of San Pedro La Laguna. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna and Guayaquil, 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.