Which city is cheaper, Bocas del Toro or San Pedro?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Pedro vs. Bocas del Toro for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit San Pedro or Bocas del Toro?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Pedro or Bocas del Toro, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: San Pedro or Bocas del Toro?
San Pedro
San Pedro is the largest town on Ambergris Caye, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belize. Here you can find a tropical paradise with warm weather, clear blue waters, plenty of activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving, and a host of hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
Bocas del Toro
The capital of the Bocas del Toro province, this city of the same name sits in the Caribbean West region of Panama. Bocas del Toro, or Bocas Town, is in the district of Bocas del Toro, which also includes the towns of Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel, and Tierra Oscura. The district has a population of about 17,000 and covers a total area of 433.2 square kilometers, and the town has a population of about 13,000. The area is a tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, excellent snorkeling and diving, and interesting culture.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySan Pedro $135Bocas del Toro $77
The average daily cost (per person) in San Pedro is $135, while the average daily cost in Bocas del Toro is $77. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Pedro and Bocas del Toro in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSan Pedro $66Bocas del Toro $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSan Pedro $132Bocas del Toro $66
Compare Hotels in San Pedro and Bocas del Toro
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro or Bocas del Toro? 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: Bocas del Toro Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.San Pedro $34Bocas del Toro $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Pedro
Some specific examples of transportation prices in San Pedro:
- Cave Tubing Adventure Air Transfer: $255
Typical Local Transportation prices in Bocas del Toro
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bocas del Toro:
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Water Taxi$3.01
Is it cheaper to fly into San Pedro or Bocas del Toro?
Prices for flights to both Bocas del Toro and San Pedro 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 $40Bocas del Toro $27
Typical Food prices in Bocas del Toro
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Bocas del Toro:
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Lunch$15
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Breakfast$14
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.San Pedro $33Bocas del Toro $22
Tours and Activities in San Pedro
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for San Pedro are as follows:
- Altun Ha Cave Tubing and Zip line Tours from San Pedro Ambergris Caye: $220
- Ambergris Caye Sunset Sail Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $62
- Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye: $107
- Cave Tubing and Zip line Adventure from San pedro Ambergris caye: $208
- Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure: $190
- Caves Kayaking Zipline Experience from Ambergris Caye San Pedro: $142
- Crossing the highlands: From Cusco to Puno or Viceversa - Private tour: $421
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $67
- Jungle Tour in the City - from San Jose: $45
- Mexico Rocks Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat: $67
- The Best of San Jose Walking Tour: $509
- The best of San Pedro Town walking tour: $496
Typical Entertainment prices in Bocas del Toro
For Bocas del Toro, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Island Boat Tour$25
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Starfish Island Boat Trip$20
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Yoga Class$5.02
Tours and Activities in Bocas del Toro
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Bocas del Toro.
- Small-Group Speed Boat and Snorkel Tour from Bocas del Toro: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySan Pedro $16Bocas del Toro $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Pedro and Bocas del Toro, we can see that San Pedro is more expensive. And not only is Bocas del Toro much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bocas del Toro would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bocas del Toro 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 San Pedro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Pedro than you might in Bocas del Toro.
When is the best time to visit San Pedro or Bocas del Toro?
Both destinations experience a warmer tropical climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit San Pedro or Bocas del Toro in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to San Pedro as well as Bocas del Toro. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Bocas del Toro throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Bocas del Toro. San Pedro receives a lot of rain in the summer. San Pedro usually gets less rain in July than Bocas del Toro. San Pedro gets 243 mm (9.6 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 408 mm (16.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Pedro this time of the year. In the summer, San Pedro often gets more sunshine than Bocas del Toro. San Pedro gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bocas del Toro receives 124 hours of full sun.
San Pedro is around the same temperature as Bocas del Toro in the summer. The temperature in San Pedro is usually 28°C (82°F) in July, and Bocas del Toro stays around 26°C (79°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySan Pedro 28°C (82°F)Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Bocas del Toro in the Autumn?
Both Bocas del Toro and San Pedro are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to San Pedro because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Bocas del Toro because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bocas del Toro. It's quite rainy in San Pedro. In October, San Pedro usually receives more rain than Bocas del Toro. San Pedro gets 255 mm (10 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 198 mm (7.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than Bocas del Toro during autumn. San Pedro gets 196 hours of sunny skies, while Bocas del Toro receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, San Pedro is around the same temperature as Bocas del Toro. Typically, the autumn temperatures in San Pedro in October are around 26°C (80°F), and Bocas del Toro is about 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSan Pedro 26°C (80°F)Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Bocas del Toro in the Winter?
Both Bocas del Toro and San Pedro during the winter are popular places to visit. San Pedro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. Bocas del Toro attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
Bocas del Toro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Pedro. San Pedro usually gets less rain in January than Bocas del Toro. San Pedro gets 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 319 mm (12.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, San Pedro often gets more sunshine than Bocas del Toro. San Pedro gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bocas del Toro receives 159 hours of full sun.
In January, San Pedro is generally around the same temperature as Bocas del Toro. Temperatures in San Pedro average around 24°C (74°F), and Bocas del Toro stays around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySan Pedro 24°C (74°F)Bocas del Toro 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit San Pedro or Bocas del Toro in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both San Pedro and Bocas del Toro. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to San Pedro throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Bocas del Toro throughout the year.
Bocas del Toro receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, San Pedro usually receives less rain than Bocas del Toro. San Pedro gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Bocas del Toro receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In San Pedro, it's very sunny this time of the year. San Pedro usually receives more sunshine than Bocas del Toro during spring. San Pedro gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Bocas del Toro receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.
San Pedro is around the same temperature as Bocas del Toro in the spring. The temperature in San Pedro is usually 27°C (80°F) in April, and Bocas del Toro stays around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSan Pedro 27°C (80°F)Bocas del Toro 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Bocas del Toro and San Pedro
| San Pedro | Bocas del Toro | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 319 mm (12.6 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (76°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 201 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 193 mm (7.6 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (80°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 243 mm (9.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 408 mm (16.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 187 mm (7.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (80°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Nov | 25°C (77°F) | 183 mm (7.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 367 mm (14.4 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (76°F) | 138 mm (5.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 402 mm (15.8 in) |
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