A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Pedro La Laguna vs. Roatan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Pedro La Laguna or Roatan?

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

Should I visit San Pedro La Laguna or Roatan? 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 Roatan?

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.

Roatan

Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Guatemala, The Best Eco Tours in Guatemala, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.


Which place is cheaper, Roatan 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro La Laguna is $45, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Pedro La Laguna $8.38
    Roatan $10
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Pedro La Laguna $17
    Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna and Roatan

Looking for a hotel in San Pedro La Laguna or Roatan? 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.

Hotels in San Pedro La Laguna


Hotels in Roatan


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: Roatan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $13
    Roatan $17

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 Guatemala City: $50
  • Transfer from SanPedro Lago de Atitlan and airport Guatemala: $50
  • Private One Way Transfer Lake Atitlán to Antigua Guatemala: $74
  • Private transfer from Panajachel to Antigua Guatemala: $75
  • Private transfer from Panajachel to Airport or Capital city: $78
  • Private Transfer from Lake Atitlán to Guatemala Airport (GUA): $96

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $3.95

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:

  • Ultimate West Bay Beach Day: Pass & Transfers Included: $55
  • Roatan West Bay Beach Break with Roundtrip Transfer: $75
  • Roatan Private Transfers: Airport, Cruise Port or Hotel: $110
  • Roatan Island hotels to Mahogany Bay Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $62
  • Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99
  • Roatan Buggy Adventure, Snorkeling, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
  • Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $154
  • Mayan Eden Eco Park, Chocolate Factory & Transfer: $65
  • Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $123
  • Let's Go Native Roatan City Cultural Tour, Transfer: $80
  • King Kong Extreme Zipline, City Tour and Transfer: $130
  • Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $114

Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro La Laguna or Roatan?

Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 day
    San Pedro La Laguna $19
    Roatan $15
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
    $2.10
  • Cake
    $1.31
  • Ice cream
    $0.39
  • Hot Cocoa & Banana Bread
    $3.02

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: $60
  • Maya Cooking Class from Panajachel: $66

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.

  • Private Roundtrip Transfer to West End for Dinner and Nightlife: $70
  • Cooking classes from a Local!: $245

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Pedro La Laguna $22
    Roatan $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)
    $1.97
  • Coffee Tour (for 2)
    $7.08

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:

  • San Juan La Laguna Magic Town Walking Tour: $28
  • Beading Class and tour a Non-profit vocational training center a Fun cultural sharing experience: $28
  • Indian Nose Tour Maya Face at Sunrise: $30
  • Tour of San Juan Lake Atitlan: $32
  • Coffee, Chocolate and Textile Tour in Lake Atitlan: $35
  • Coffee Walk Tour in San Juan La Laguna: $35
  • La Nose of the Indian Mountain Tour: $36
  • Tour in the Atitlan Nature Reserve: $40
  • Sunrise Hike Tour on Indian's Nose Mountain: $40
  • Sunrise Tour in Indian Nose Hike and Views of Lake Atitlan: $40
  • Lake Atitlan Guided Tour by Boat from Panajachel: $40
  • Tour Golden Dawn Indian nose: $40

Tours and Activities in Roatan

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

  • 2 Hour Zip Lining Private Tour in Mahogany Bay: $65
  • 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkel Experience in Roatan: $50
  • ATV & community adventure, Mangrove tour, food tasting and Beach: $139
  • ATV Adventure , Zip Line , Horseback Ride Combo Tour: $175
  • ATV Safari and Horseback Adventure at Mahogany Bay: $132
  • ATV-Off Road + Roatan City Tour: $120
  • ATVS, Sloths and Monkeys, Beach Break Private Tour: $130
  • Atv Island Tour: $140
  • Catamaran Cruise, Open Bar, Food and Snorkeling: $165
  • Crazy Clem Sloths, Monkeys & Island Adventure With a local guide: $85
  • Cruise Excursion – 2 Scuba Dives with transport (for certified divers): $185
  • Cruise Ship Combo: Sloths, Chocolate Factory, City Tour, Beach, Private Shuttle: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Pedro La Laguna $5.68
    Roatan $6.56

Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:

  • Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $80


When comparing the travel costs between San Pedro La Laguna and Roatan, we can see that San Pedro La Laguna is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Central America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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 Roatan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, San Pedro La Laguna or Roatan?

San Pedro La Laguna has a larger population, and is about 29% larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of San Pedro La Laguna and Roatan, 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.