A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Santa Marta vs. La Serena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Santa Marta or La Serena?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Santa Marta and La Serena can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Santa Marta or La Serena?

Santa Marta

Santa Marta is a city in the Magdalena Department of Colombia's Costa Norte. Over the last decade, security has steadily been replacing the shadow of the Colombia's violent past. One destination in Colombia's northeast region is now attracting more international visitors: the coastal Caribbean area of Santa Marta. Established in 1525 by the Spanish as a base of conquest, Santa Marta sits at the foot of the world's highest coastal mountain range, the towering Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is South America's oldest European-founded town and the second most important colonial city on Colombia's Caribbean coast. While many travelers complain about Santa Marta's horrible traffic and unsightly urban sprawl, the city holds a numerous amounts of great hotels, bars and restaurants and holds a few fantastic destinations nearby to which you can go during the daytime.

La Serena

La Serena is a charming town in Northern Chile. It is Chile's second-oldest city and the thriving capital of Region IV. With its beautiful architecture, its long golden shoreline, dignified stone churches, tree-shaded avenues and pretty plazas, La Serena has everything you could ask for!

Chileans on holidays flood in the city in January and February, though it is fairly peaceful outside the summer rush. Some of the city's architecture is from the colonial era, but most is actually neocolonial thanks to president Gabriel Gonzalez Videla, born in La Serena, and her 'Plan Serena' of the late 1940s.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Colombia, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Colombia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Chile, and The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Chile.


Which place is cheaper, La Serena or Santa Marta?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Santa Marta is $32, while the average daily cost in La Serena is $85. 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 Santa Marta and La Serena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Santa Marta $14
    La Serena $41
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Santa Marta $28
    La Serena $82
Compare Hotels in Santa Marta and La Serena

Looking for a hotel in Santa Marta or La Serena? 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 Santa Marta


Hotels in La Serena


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: Santa Marta Hotel Prices and La Serena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Santa Marta $5.17
    La Serena $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Santa Marta

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Santa Marta:


  • Gas
    $5.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santa Marta

Also for Santa Marta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfers to Palomino, Tayrona Park, Buritaca Guachaca from Santa Marta: $23
  • Transfers SANTA MARTA AIRPORT TO HOTEL IN SANTA MARTA: $21
  • Transfer in private minivan from Santa Marta city to Santa Marta Airport (SMR): $21
  • Transfer in private minivan from Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to Santa Marta city: $21
  • Transfer in Private Car from Santa Marta city to Santa Marta Airport (SMR): $14
  • Transfer in Private Car from Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to Santa Marta city: $14
  • Tayrona / Santa Marta Transfer: $86
  • Santa Marta to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $35
  • Santa Marta to or from Tayrona Park Private Transfer: $40
  • Santa Marta Airport to Santa Marta - Arrival Private Transfer: $32
  • Round trip transfer in private minivan from-to Santa Marta Airport (SMR) to city: $43
  • Private transfer between Santa Marta and Barranquilla (or viceversa): $180

Is it cheaper to fly into Santa Marta or La Serena?

Prices for flights to both La Serena and Santa Marta 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
    Santa Marta $9.82
    La Serena $26
Typical Food Prices in Santa Marta

For Santa Marta, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $3.08

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santa Marta

For Santa Marta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City Half-Day : $66
  • Flavors of Colombia - Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $75
  • Santa Marta Street Food Tour: $75
  • Food Tour in Santa Marta Old City: $76

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Santa Marta $14
    La Serena $23

Tours and Activities in Santa Marta

For Santa Marta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • "Chocoserrano" Chocolate Tour 1 day -- Santa Marta: $115
  • "Gabo Márquez" Tour - Aracataca and Cienaga: $205
  • 1-Hour Pirate Ship Experience from Santa Marta: $28
  • 2 days 1 night tour - in Trompito, I meet indigenous community Kogui Uldezhaxa.: $192
  • 2-Day Cultural Tour to Gotsezhy from Santa Marta: $198
  • 2-Day Tour to Ancestral Heritage from Santa Marta: $190
  • 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $374
  • 4 Days Adventure; Medellin to Santa Marta- Beach of the Dead: $337
  • Amazing full day tour to Minca with a private guide: $178
  • Ancestral Thought Tour: $180
  • Ancestral Thought Tour (Indigenous life in Kogui people) Santa Marta: $192
  • Ancestral Thought Tour two days and one night: $200

Tours and Activities in La Serena

For La Serena, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Tour to the internationally renowned Pangue Observatory: $139
  • Daily tour to go Whale Watching all inclusive: $130
  • Elqui Valley Full Day Tour: magical towns, pisco and mountains: $89
  • Elqui Valley Grand-Tour: $189
  • Elqui Valley Tour from La Serena: $120
  • Elqui Valley and Vicuña Private Tour Including Lunch: $183
  • Elqui Valley: Pisco Tour, Wine, Beer: $174
  • Full Day History and Flavors Tour in the Elqui Valley: $50
  • La Serena & Coquimbo City Tour - Short excursion for cruise ships: $128
  • La Serena and Coquimbo City Tour (SIB): $66
  • La Serena and Coquimbo Guided City Tour: $76
  • La Serena and Coquimbo Private City Tour Including Lunch, Shore Excursion: $194

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Santa Marta $6.58
    La Serena $22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Santa Marta

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Santa Marta from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $0.57
  • Beer
    $2.31


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Marta and La Serena, we can see that La Serena is more expensive. And not only is Santa Marta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Marta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Marta 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 La Serena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in La Serena than you might in Santa Marta.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santa Marta Expensive? and Is La Serena Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Santa Marta or La Serena?

Santa Marta has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of La Serena. When comparing the sizes of Santa Marta and La Serena, 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.