Which place is cheaper, Paracas or San Pedro La Laguna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Paracas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Paracas? 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 Paracas?
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.
Paracas
Paracas, also known as El Chaco, is a resort town on the Southern coast of the country, about 150 miles south of Lima. The town in located in one of the oldest regions of Peru, with a history dating back to 900 BC and offers many pre-Inca cultural sites throughout the area. Paracas is possibly best known for being home to the Paracas National Reserve, a nature reserve boasting one of the most abundant and diverse ecosystems in the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Guatemala, The Best Tours for Seniors to Guatemala, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro La Laguna $36Paracas $63
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $36, while the average daily cost in Paracas is $63. 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 Paracas in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro La Laguna $8.23Paracas $22
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro La Laguna $16Paracas $44
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Paracas
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Paracas? 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: Paracas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $13Paracas $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paracas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Paracas:
- Private Transfer from Pisko Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $78
- Private Transfer from Pisco Port to Jorge Chavez Airport (LIM): $87
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima hotels: $87
- Private Transfer from Pisco Cruise Port to Lima City Hotels: $78
- Private Transfer From San Juan Airport (SJU) to /from San Juan: $44
- Private Transfer From Paracas To Lima With 2 Stops: $175
- Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Paracas Bus Station Private Transfer: $16
- Oneway Transfer from San Juan Airport, Hotel, Airbnb to Bayamon: $60
- Lima: Private taxi transfer from Lima airport to Paracas: $129
- Direct Private Transfer From Paracas to Lima, English Speaking Driver: $163
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Paracas?
Prices for flights to both Paracas 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
-
Food Meals for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $11Paracas $23
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
- Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paracas
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Paracas.
- From Lima:Paracas,Ica and cooking class Ceviche semi-private: $139
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro La Laguna $21Paracas $25
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
- Coffee Tour in Lake Atitlán: $35
- 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
- 5-Hour Private Birdwatching Experience in San Juan La Laguna: $50
- Sololá Colourful Market Day Tour: $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
Tours and Activities in Paracas
Here are a few actual costs in Paracas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Hour Tour to the Ballestas Islands from Puerto San Martín: $49
- 2D: Tour Ica, Huacachina, Sandboarding, Ballestas Islands: $215
- 4-Hour Guided Tour Paracas National Reserve: $20
- 7-Hours Tour in Paracas National Reserve with Pickup: $38
- ATV Tour Adventure in Reserva Nacional de Paracas: $45
- Ballestas Islands Group Tour from Paracas : $26
- Ballestas Islands Group Tour from San Martin Port: $50
- Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride from Paracas: $24
- Ballestas Islands Tour: $24
- Ballestas Islands Tour - Paracas: $25
- Ballestas Islands Tour for passengers of the Puerto San Martin Cruise: $32
- Ballestas Islands Tour from Puerto San Martin Cruise: $50
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro La Laguna $5.58Paracas $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro La Laguna and Paracas, we can see that Paracas 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 Paracas 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 Paracas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paracas 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 Paracas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or Paracas?
San Pedro La Laguna has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Paracas. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna and Paracas, 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.